Half an hour earlier—outside the hospital. Leon stood quietly by the roadside, waiting.
A moment later, a black car pulled up and stopped, the door swinging open to reveal Luca's serious expression. He had a phone pressed to his ear, already in the middle of a conversation.
"What's the situation at headquarters in Washington?"
On the other end, Denham sounded confused. "I don't get it either. Some intel's been locked down. All I know is that Washington suddenly tore up the witness protection deal with Buddy. Montgomery's handling this on the New York side, and that guy refuses to tell me anything."
"Montgomery…" Luca frowned slightly. That man was the head of a department at the FBI's New York office, roughly on the same level as Denham now—except he'd been in that position for years, while Denham was still the new guy.
What's his connection to Brian? Direct superior?
From Leon's earlier surveillance, Brian had argued with him at the hotel.
Denham continued, "This operation involving Sparazza pulled in a lot of agents. It's being led by a deputy director at FBI headquarters in Washington, and offices from over a dozen states are participating. Everyone wants the intel from Buddy to crack down on their local Mafia networks. Montgomery's one of the New York representatives."
He still had no idea about Sparazza's true identity; those old secrets were buried so deep that almost no one in the FBI knew anymore.
Denham hesitated, then asked, "Dove… are you deeply tied to the Los Angeles family? I can't get involved in this. Either you eliminate Buddy to avoid future problems, or you cut ties with the L.A. family as soon as possible."
Hearing Denham casually suggest killing someone would've been unthinkable before, even if the target was a ruthless mobster.
Luca actually found it… satisfying.
Denham had changed—he still had principles, but his mindset had adapted. That kind of person could survive in the FBI.
Brian? Not a chance.
"Can you get me detailed info on Sparazza?" Luca asked.
"He's Mafia. You should know him better than I do."
"…Right." Luca realized he'd asked the wrong thing. He actually wanted information about the undercover agent. He corrected himself: "Then check on an FBI agent named Freeman Heller—he was supposedly killed decades ago while undercover in the Los Angeles Mafia by Sparazza."
Denham agreed and went to dig through the archives.
Luca hung up, stepped out of the car, and looked at Leon.
"Where's Brian?"
"He's already inside the hospital."
Luca's expression turned complicated for a moment. Something that should've been solved with a clean hit had spiraled into this mess—and dragged Brian into it.
To the FBI, the eye of the storm was Sparazza and his son.
To Luca, there was only one person that mattered—Brian.
As for Sparazza and Buddy? There was only one ending for them: death. No alternatives.
But Brian… Brian wasn't something Luca could decide on his own. That depended on Brian's choice.
A bond takes two people. One-sided loyalty doesn't count.
"What's the situation inside?" Luca asked.
"The FBI has taken over Sparazza's entire floor," Leon replied. "Agents everywhere—at least fifty field agents, plus local police securing the perimeter."
"That's a pretty big show." Luca's gaze swept across the hospital building. "They're not even pretending anymore, huh?"
The FBI had thrown in that many people just to ensure the transplant went smoothly and to keep other assassins out.
As for Sparazza's intentions? Irrelevant.
Whether he planned to "switch sides" to the FBI or just use them to survive and go back to being a mob boss afterward—none of it mattered.
Dead men don't negotiate.
"What about the Mafia?" Luca asked.
"They've already been pushed out by the FBI," Leon said. "They don't dare confront them directly."
"Don't dare?" Luca smirked. "Then I'll give them some courage. Call them over."
He stepped forward toward the hospital entrance, dialing Arthur at the same time.
"Everything ready?"
Arthur's voice came through. "All set."
"Then move. Take control of the entire hospital."
Inside the ward, silence fell like a guillotine.
Doctors, FBI agents, Brian—everyone stared at Luca standing in the doorway. Alone, yet somehow blocking the entire room like a wall of black steel against the sterile white surroundings.
His hands rested on Montgomery's shoulders, making it look like he'd casually taken him hostage.
Several agents immediately drew their guns, aiming straight at Luca, gripping them like lifelines.
Brian's mind went blank.
In the past, he would've greeted him with a grin—'Dove!'
Now… he didn't even know where to start.
"So this is how the FBI treats its guests?" Luca's voice came from behind Montgomery. "Pulling guns the second we meet?"
Montgomery didn't dare move. Feeling the pressure on his shoulders, he raised a hand to signal his men to stand down while warning, "Luca, don't do anything stupid. This hospital is full of FBI agents."
"You still don't get it." Luca's tone was flat. "The fact that I walked in here should tell you everything you need to know. I said it already—I'm in charge now. No one leaves without my permission."
As his words fell, armed mechanics—some wearing ballistic masks—stepped in behind him, followed by a group of suited Mafia members.
A leader from the L.A. family stepped forward. "Dove, the hospital is under control."
Montgomery felt a chill crawl up his spine.
In broad daylight… this man really dared to do it.
"Dove! Did you kill my men? You're finished! Attacking law enforcement, taking over a hospital—this is terrorism! The federal government won't let you get away with this!"
"What makes you think you speak for the federal government?" Luca sneered, shoving him aside. His eyes flicked to the badge on Montgomery's chest. "That? Or the fact that you think you can carve hearts out of people?"
He leaned closer.
"Let's make a bet. I kill you right here—do you think they'll even bother putting me on a wanted list?"
Montgomery's legs nearly gave out. Only now did he truly feel what it meant to stand in front of Luca.
Luca turned to the glass door, looking at Sparazza and Buddy inside. His voice echoed through the room, dripping with mockery.
"You signed a witness protection deal with Buddy, right? This is your idea of protection? Or are you just protecting his heart?"
He let out a soft laugh.
"I didn't realize the FBI ran an organ-harvesting business. How much did Sparazza pay you? Maybe I should help you advertise—anyone in America needing a transplant can just come to you. Pick a target, make an arrest, roll them into surgery with top surgeons and full federal security. Premium service."
He spread his hands slightly.
"As for the victim's rights? Who cares? Just slap together a cause of death. They should feel honored—donating their hearts to the nation. Even in death, still pumping blood for America."
He turned to an agent.
"What's your blood type?"
The agent froze, forcing an awkward, pale smile before looking away.
Luca moved on to the next. "And you?"
Then another.
And another.
No one answered.
The sarcasm hit harder than any bullet. Some of the younger agents couldn't even meet his eyes.
Finally, Luca looked back at Montgomery.
"So, Mr. Montgomery… what's your blood type?"
"Luca! Stop twisting the facts!" Montgomery snapped, though his voice shook.
This kind of operation was supposed to stay buried. Drag it into the light, and everything fell apart.
Thankfully, Luca only knew about the transplant—not the deeper truth.
But the real problem was this: the FBI, a federal law enforcement agency, had actively enabled it.
And that was something headquarters would never admit.
A thought hit Montgomery like ice water.
Did Dove dare to go this far because he knew the FBI wouldn't dare escalate it?
Just like the agents who died at the hotel—discarded, forgotten.
No accountability. No consequences.
"…What do you want?" Montgomery asked finally, unease tightening his chest. "We can talk."
Luca glanced at the door, dropping the act entirely.
"Clear the room. Your agents, these doctors—everyone out."
These people didn't know the truth about Sparazza. And they weren't supposed to.
Montgomery looked at the Mafia outside, then sighed. "Everyone out."
Agents and doctors began filing out.
"Brian."
Luca's voice cut through the movement.
Brian froze mid-step.
"Stay."
The tone left no room for argument.
"Come here."
Brian stiffened. "Dove… my identity is already obvious."
Montgomery frowned, suspicion flickering. Had Brian leaked something? That shouldn't be possible—he'd only just learned the truth himself.
Seeing Brian hesitate, Luca's gaze darkened—but his voice softened just slightly.
"You've got a choice."
He tilted his head toward the door.
"Walk out of here… or come stand beside me."
A pause.
"If you walk out, we're done. No more ties."
Then, quieter—steadier.
"Stand with me… and whatever happens today, I'll stand up for you."
Brian stared at him, stunned. His vision blurred, eyes reddening.
He's FBI.
And Luca knows it now.
So why…
Why would he still offer him a place at his side?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TN: We hit the milestones last week, so here are 2 bonus chapters for today! Also, the original story ends at Chapter 242, plus one final announcement from the author.
Thanks to Wilnet Duverne for becoming my P Knight, my cats eat a lovely fish tonight
If you guys like this story, Support me on P Site/OrbisTranslate, for three bucks you got 15 advance chapters