CHAPTER 297
THE SHADOW OF THE ROOM enveloped Rocco, where he still lay recovering from the coma that had imprisoned him all this time. Beside him, a nurse, a presence hired by Kenji Ito, monitored every heartbeat of Rocco, attentive to signs of his recovery. Ellis Barker's figure entered the silent space, and the atmosphere, laden with mystery, hung like a shadow.
Ellis approached the bed where Rocco lay, a discreet smile adorning her lips. “Rocco, do you know who I am?” she asked, her soft voice cutting through the room's silence.
Rocco's eyes, still weakened by the transition from the world of dreams to harsh reality, are fixed on Ellis. He examined her for a moment, as if searching for connections in the recesses of memory. Finally, a response emerged from his tired lips, “Ellis Barker.”
Ellis's smile widened, revealing a subtle expression of relief. “That's right, Rocco. How are you feeling?” she asked, her tone carrying a mix of concern and curiosity.
“Well, given the circumstances,” Rocco replied, his rough voice betraying the effects of the forced downtime. He glanced at the nurse beside him, implicitly indicating her constant presence.
“Could you give us a moment, please?” Ellis asked the nurse, who nodded silently before exiting, closing the door behind her.
Now, with privacy restored, Ellis focused on Rocco again. “I need to know what happened that night at the warehouse, Rocco,” she said, her words laden with urgency.
Rocco, in turn, stared at Ellis with an intensity that transcended physical weaknesses. “Do you want to know how I escaped the warehouse or about Vittorio?” he inquired, his sharp mind deducing the reasons behind Ellis's visit.
Ellis took a deep breath before responding, her expression serious. “You know the answer.”
Rocco nodded slowly, understanding the weight of the unspoken words. “Vittorio...” he began, but a prolonged pause hung in the air. “Vittorio is no longer with us. It was a chaotic night, Ellis. We were following the plan, but the situation spiraled out of control.”
Ellis Barker's eyes captured the gravity of the revelation, an emotional storm brewing behind her impassive expression. Rocco continued to unravel the events of that night.
***
THREE MONTHS AGO...
The incessant crackling of flames consuming everything was accompanied by screams and snaps, a terrifying cacophony filling the space. Vittorio Amorielle and Rocco, immersed in this impending inferno, were near the exit when the shrill sound of a gunshot cut through the air.
Alerted by the shot, Rocco turned around. His gaze found the dreadful scene: Vittorio, his boss, fell to the ground, hit by a projectile fired by Jacomo, the archenemy of the Amorielle family. A moment of despair and shock froze time as Rocco reacted instinctively. He drew his weapon and aimed at Jacomo, not hesitating to shoot at the assailant of his leader.
Quickly, Rocco ensured that Donna was outside, away from the imminent tragedy, before rushing toward Vittorio. The wounded man held Ellis in his arms; the scene was chaotic and desolate. Rocco approached Vittorio, his heart heavy with anguish, and asked if he was okay.
Vittorio, struggling to breathe, offered a weak smile and assured Rocco that he was relatively fine. That smile, a final act of bravery amid impending danger, brought a mix of emotions to Rocco. Vittorio's words sounded like a frail and urgent sigh.
“Take Ellis out of here,” Vittorio said, his voice weakened but firm.
Reluctant to leave Vittorio behind, Rocco hesitated. He stared at him intensely, ready to face any decision that would come. Vittorio's expression, determined despite pain and imminent death, conveyed an indescribable weight.
“I'll come back for you, boss,” Rocco promised.
Vittorio grabbed Rocco's collar, his eyes locked onto his loyal associate's. With unwavering firmness, he uttered a single word: “Dead.”
Rocco nodded, but reluctance lingered in his eyes. “You know it doesn't have to be this way, Don Vittorio.”
Vittorio held Rocco's collar with a surprising strength given his weakened condition. He looked directly into Rocco's eyes and said with determination, “You need to stick to the plan, Rocco. This is my destiny... to die.”
Rocco was stunned, unable to accept the unfolding situation before his eyes. The idea of losing his leader, friend, and mentor was almost unbearable.
“I can save you, sir. Let me save you,” Rocco murmured desperately, but Vittorio's response remained unshaken.
Vittorio insisted, his voice firm despite the weakness enveloping him. “Stick to the plan, Rocco. This is the destiny I've chosen. This is my Plan B... dead.”
Rocco stared at his leader, the pain, and reluctance weighing on his heart. However, he knew there was no time to lose. With one last look at Vittorio, he took Ellis in his arms and led her out of the unfolding inferno.
The fire roared in a frenzied frenzy, devouring everything in its path, while the corridor was shrouded in shadows of flames. Rocco's heart was heavy, and the anguish was unbearable, but protecting Ellis was his priority.
***
THREE MONTHS LATER...
The atmosphere in the room was laden with the gravity of the past as Ellis Barker faced Rocco, lying in bed. The seriousness in her eyes revealed a mix of complex emotions. Rocco, in turn, seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, aware that the truth he was about to share would shape the course of their destinies.
Rocco sighed deeply before beginning to recount the story of that fateful night in the burning warehouse. He detailed how he pulled Ellis out of the chaos, chaos that soon became uncontrollable with the advance of fire and smoke. His expression carried the memory of the helplessness he felt trying to return to the warehouse, only to be thwarted by the fierce element devouring everything in its path.
“As soon as I managed to get you out of the warehouse, I tried to go back,” explained Rocco, his eyes meeting Ellis's. “But the smoke and the fire were out of control. Something fell on me, and everything went blurry. That's the last thing I remember.”
Ellis listened attentively, her feelings oscillating between relief at knowing Rocco was alive and anguish for Vittorio's uncertain fate. The inevitable question echoed in the room.
“Are you sure Vittorio is dead?” Ellis asked, her expression unwavering.
Rocco sighed, uncertainty marking his face. “I can't be certain. I tried to go back, but the fire was uncontrollable.”
Ellis nodded, absorbing the information. “They found only one charred body in the warehouse,” she revealed. “Alessandro ran DNA tests, and the result doesn't link the body to the Amorielle. However, that brings no comfort since we know Vittorio had no real connection to them, as his father was Giuseppe Denaro.”
Rocco lowered his gaze, a shadow of regret on his face. “I'm sorry, Ellis. I can't help more.”
She remained serious, but her eyes reflected the complexity of emotions she kept contained. The next question she posed was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples of revelations.
“To what extent did the Moli di acqua plan interfere in my life and Donna's life?” Ellis inquired, her voice firm.
Now confronted with the need to reveal the gears of the plan that shaped Ellis's and her daughter's destinies, Rocco didn't hesitate to tell the truth. “Your trip to Seattle with John Smith and Donna wasn't a coincidence. My role was that of a traitor, and I was supposed to be responsible for your death. I needed time to prepare, so I intervened to ensure John didn't stay in New York with you and Donna.”
Ellis listened attentively, her expression remaining impassive even as the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.
“When I finally planned to bring you back, I pulled some strings with Attorney General Joe Garland,” Rocco continued. “The only thing I didn't know was about John's involvement with Olga, but when I found out, I felt that the path to Grecco would be through there. And that's when Vittorio said it was time to activate the Moli plan.”
Rocco's words hung in the air, dense as smoke, as Ellis processed the intricate plot connecting the events of her life. One last question formed on Ellis's lips.
“Were the encounters with Vittorio... part of the plan?” she asked, her gaze penetrating.
Rocco stared directly at Ellis. “Everything was part of it, but Vittorio didn't know everything. He only knew what was necessary... precisely to lure Jácomo Grecco.”
The silent room was permeated by the revelation of the truth about the Moli di acqua plan, showing how she had been manipulated all this time. The plan shaped her life and that of her daughter for the past few years, and now she felt it would forever.