The escape
1825 Words
Twenty Years Later
Smoke escaped Lucian's lips in a slow, languid stream.
He stood in the dimly lit room, his eyes fixed on the glass case before him.
Behind the glass lay a body—weak, lifeless, and reduced to a grim reminder of what time could do to a person.
Lucian took another drag from his cigarette and studied the body for several seconds.
Then a faint smirk touched his lips.
“Look how weak you've become.”
The words were quiet.
Almost amused.
Yet something about the sight unsettled him.
His eyes narrowed.
And suddenly—
“Lucian…”
He froze.
The voice echoed somewhere inside his head.
“Lucian…”
His breathing changed.
The room around him seemed to disappear.
“Lucian…”
Beep.
His fingers tightened around the cigarette.
Beep.
His eyes slowly closed.
Beep.
Then—
BOOM.
Lucian's eyes snapped open.
His jaw tightened.
The cigarette nearly broke between his fingers.
He stood completely still.
Twenty years.
Twenty years, and that voice could still find him.
He slowly exhaled.
Then he reached for his phone.
There was one call he needed to make.
---
The Valenti Residence
The house was quiet.
Serena sat in the living room, scrolling through her phone when the house phone rang.
She looked toward it.
Nobody moved.
It rang again.
Serena stood.
“I'll get it.”
She picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Serena frowned.
Then a man's voice finally came through.
Cold.
Deep.
Unfamiliar.
“Remember what you did twenty years ago.”
Serena's expression changed.
“What?”
“I’m coming back.”
Her heart skipped.
“Sorry, who is this?”
Silence.
Then—
“I’m coming for you.”
The line went dead.
Serena stared at the receiver.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
She slowly put it down.
Her father walked into the room.
“Who was that?”
“I don't know.”
“What did they want?”
Serena looked at him.
“They said something about twenty years ago.”
Her father's face changed.
Only for a moment.
Then he quickly composed himself.
“Don't mind it.”
“But, Dad—”
“It was probably a wrong number.”
Serena stared at him.
“A wrong number?”
“Yes.”
He forced a calm expression.
“Don't let strangers frighten you.”
Serena nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
But something about her father's reaction bothered her.
He had looked afraid.
Even if only for a second.
---
The Old Friend
Several hours later, Mr. Valenti sat across from an old friend in a quiet private room.
A bottle sat between them.
The years had changed them both, but their friendship had survived.
Mr. Valenti took a drink and leaned back.
“I thought everything was finally peaceful.”
His friend looked at him.
“It is.”
“No.”
Mr. Valenti shook his head.
“I don't think it is anymore.”
“What makes you say that?”
“That call.”
His friend fell silent.
Mr. Valenti stared at the drink in his hand.
“Twenty years.”
He gave a humorless laugh.
“Twenty years, and suddenly someone is talking about the past.”
His friend waved him off.
“You're overthinking this.”
“Maybe.”
“You got what you wanted.”
Mr. Valenti looked at him.
“The company. The money. The position.”
His friend smiled.
“You became the owner. You built a new life.”
He raised his glass.
“Whatever happened twenty years ago was worth it.”
Mr. Valenti didn't answer.
His eyes remained distant.
His friend lifted his glass again.
“To the past staying buried.”
Mr. Valenti slowly raised his own.
“To the past.”
Their glasses touched.
---
Mr. Valenti stepped outside later that night.
He walked toward his car.
The street was quiet.
He reached for the door handle.
Suddenly—
A motorcycle raced past him.
He stepped back in surprise.
The sound of the engine disappeared into the distance.
Then—
BOOM.
His car erupted.
Mr. Valenti stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
Smoke rose from the vehicle.
His breathing became unsteady.
Then the motorcycle returned.
It slowed just enough for the rider to turn his head.
“Tell the Valentis…”
The rider's voice carried through the night.
“We're coming for you.”
Then the motorcycle disappeared.
Mr. Valenti stared after it.
His face had gone pale.
And then he remembered.
The date.
His eyes widened.
Today.
Twenty years ago today.
The day everything changed.
The day they had done what they believed would secure their future.
He scrambled to his feet.
He pulled out his phone.
“Get everyone together.”
A voice answered immediately.
“Everyone?”
“Everyone.”
“Where?”
“The house.”
He ended the call.
Then he made another.
“Prepare the cars. We're going to the airport.”
Get the guards!!
---
The Escape
The Valenti residence quickly descended into chaos.
Suitcases were pulled from wardrobes.
Documents were gathered.
Phones rang continuously.
Mr. Valenti moved through the house, giving instructions.
“Nothing gets left behind.”
His wife followed him.
“What about the staff?”
“Tell them to leave.”
“And the cars?”
“Take the ones we need.”
Serena came downstairs and stopped.
“What is going on?”
Her father turned.
“Pack your things.”
“Why?”
“We're leaving.”
“Leaving where?”
“Chicago.”
Serena stared at him.
“No.”
Her father frowned.
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
“Serena.”
“I just came back.”
Her voice trembled.
“I just came back home after being away for so long, and now you're telling me we're leaving again?”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it to me!”
Her father went silent.
Serena stepped closer.
“What happened?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“That is exactly what you said earlier.”
She shook her head.
“First that strange call. Then you're suddenly packing everyone up and sending us to Chicago. What's going on?”
Her father looked away.
“It's complicated.”
“I don't care if it's complicated.”
Serena's eyes filled with frustration.
“I want to know the truth.”
“Serena, we're leaving.”
“No.”
Her father stared at her.
She shook her head.
“I'm not going.”
Her younger sister hurried downstairs with a suitcase.
“Serena!”
She looked at her.
“Please come with us.”
“I can't.”
“Please.”
Her sister grabbed her hand.
“You don't even know what's happening. Just come with us.”
Serena gently pulled her hand away.
“I've only just returned.”
Her sister's eyes became watery.
“Please.”
Serena said nothing.
She couldn't.
She was tired of being told what to do without being given an explanation.
Her father walked toward her.
“Serena.”
She stepped back.
“No.”
“Listen to me.”
“No!”
Her voice echoed through the room.
“I am not leaving this house again because everyone refuses to tell me what is happening.”
Her father stared at her.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then his expression changed.
“I'm sorry.”
Serena frowned.
“What?”
He moved quickly.
Before she could understand what he intended, he pressed a handkerchief over her nose and mouth.
Serena struggled briefly.
“Dad…”
Her voice weakened.
Her surroundings began to blur.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
Her knees gave way.
Her father caught her before she hit the floor.
Her sister covered her mouth in shock.
“Dad!”
“Get her into the car.”
“Now.”
Her sister stared at him.
Then at Serena.
She hurriedly brought her sister's inhaler
The family had no more time.
They had to leave.
---
The Moretti Estate
Lucian stood in the center of the main hall.
Adrian stood beside him.
Around them, the Moretti clan had gathered.
Lucian looked at every face in the room.
“The Valentis are moving tonight.”
The room remained silent.
“Another clan is moving against them too.”
Several men exchanged looks.
Lucian continued.
“I don't care who they are.”
His voice was cold.
“I've waited twenty years for this.”
He looked around the room.
“The Valentis are mine to destroy.”
Nobody spoke.
“They belong to no one else.”
Adrian watched him carefully.
Lucian reached inside his jacket and pulled out his gun.
He checked it.
Only two bullets remained.
His eyes rested on them.
“These two…”
He paused.
“…are for Mr. and Mrs. Valenti.”
He slipped the gun back into his pocket.
Then his phone rang.
Lucian answered.
“Speak.”
A voice came through.
“The other clan has already begun moving.”
Lucian's eyes hardened.
“Where?”
“They're heading toward the Valentis.”
Lucian's jaw tightened.
“Then we move now"
He ended the call.
Adrian stepped forward.
“What about the letter?”
Lucian looked at him.
Adrian held up the document.
“I found out where it came from.”
“Who?”
“Your grandfather.”
Lucian's expression changed.
“My grandfather?”
Adrian nodded.
“He sent it.”
Lucian took the letter.
His eyes moved across the words again.
Why?
Why would his grandfather send him a reminder now....
Yes his grandfather knew bought reminding him wasn't necessary....he's no longer weak
Lucian folded the letter.
“Gather everyone.”
“They're ready.”
“Good.”
Lucian turned toward the door.
“We're going after the Valentis.”
Adrian followed.
“And if the other clan gets there first?”
Lucian stopped.
His eyes turned cold.
“Then they become our enemy too.”
---
Outside, the Moretti convoy was already preparing.
Cars lined the driveway.
Engines started one after another.
Adrian approached Lucian.
“Everyone is ready.”
Lucian looked back once.
Through the window, he could see the glass case.
The weak, lifeless body remained exactly where he had left it.
Lucian took one final drag from his cigarette.
Smoke escaped his lips.
“Twenty years.”
He dropped the cigarette.
Then crushed it beneath his shoe.
“It's time.”
He walked toward the waiting cars.
Behind him, the Moretti clan followed.
Across the city, the Valentis were racing toward the airport.
And somewhere between them, another mafia clan was closing in.
Three forces.
One family.
And a revenge twenty years in the making.
Tonight, the past was no longer a memory.
It was coming for all of them.
What chapter of my story is this
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