The Mafia's Undoing-Chapter 188: Lost and Found

We raced through Manhattan in the middle of the night with no ankle monitors, and the alarms were still blaring somewhere behind us.

Katherine was beside me. Early pregnancy, looking terrified but determined.

Our seven-year-old son was out there alone.

My phone rang, and it was from the FBI, Timothy.

"You’re violating bail conditions. Both of you and I have to bring you in."

"Our seven-year-old son is missing and alone in New York City at night. I don’t care about bail."

"Tony-"

"I know what this means. Do what you have to do, but we’re finding Hector first."

Timothy was quiet, then he considered. "I’m sending search teams to help. But you’re in serious trouble. Both of you."

"I know. Thank you."

Luca mobilized every resource from security teams and street cameras to contacts throughout the city.

"Hector was spotted on subway security footage. He was on a downtown train, heading toward Lower Manhattan."

"Where would a seven-year-old go? What’s he thinking?"

"No idea. He’s seven and might not even know himself. Just a kid running."

Katherine was frantic, and her hands were shaking. "He’s trained. Dante trained him before we got him. He has combat basics and survival skills. That might keep him alive."

"Or make him dangerous if cornered," Luca added grimly.

Bella was at our house with Rose.

She called to give updates. "Rose is inconsolable and has been crying for Hector and you both."

"We’re finding him. Tell her we’re bringing him home."

"I will. James is also here helping. We’ll keep Rose safe."

Rose’s voice in the background. "Want Hector! Want Mama and Dada!"

Her cries broke my heart, but we have to find Hector first.

We arrived in an abandoned building in Lower Manhattan by 2 AM.

It was the former Marvin Industries property, the one we haven’t used in years.

Luca’s team reported. "Heat signature detected. Child-sized on the top floor near the northeast corner."

Katherine and I approached carefully and quietly, the FBI teams holding back per our request.

We found him on the top floor in an empty room, and the moonlight shone through broken windows.

Hector was curled in the corner, crying, scared, and cold.

But he was not alone. Three homeless men were surrounding him in threatening postures.

"Leave the kid alone," I said, my voice sounding dangerous and protective. The Alpha in me arising.

One man turned, obviously drunk and aggressive. "This is our spot. The kid’s trespassing."

Hector saw us, and relief flooded his face, then fear, confusion, and conflict.

The men advanced on us, threatening. One held a bottle, the other a makeshift weapon.

I moved between them and Hector. "Walk away. Now, before this gets worse."

"Tough guy? You and what army?"

Katherine was already pulling Hector behind her protectively, her maternal fury in her eyes.

The first man swung, and I counter-dodged. Years of street fighting return instantly.

The second man came at Katherine. She was holding Hector, but she was ready to fight.

Luca’s team bursts in, subduing all three men quickly.

The scene was now secured and safe.

Hector collapsed into Katherine’s arms. "Mama! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!"

"You’re safe. You’re okay. We’ve got you, baby."

He was sobbing, a seven-year-old terrified and exhausted. "I was scared. I didn’t know where to go."

I called Luca. "He’s safe. We have him."

We called Bella. "We found him. He’s okay. Please tell Rose."

Rose’s voice on the phone was excited and relieved. "Hector’s coming home?"

"Hector’s coming home, baby."

The FBI arrived. It was Timothy with several agents.

"You both violated bail and removed monitoring devices. You fled."

"Arrest us if you need to. We don’t care. The most important thing is that our son is safe, and that’s all that matters."

Timothy looked at Hector. Looking small and scared, clinging to Katherine. He was only a child.

"I’ll note in my report that you responded to a legitimate family emergency involving a missing minor child. However, you’re both in dire trouble."

"It was worth it."

We entered the FBI vehicle heading home, and Hector was between Katherine and me.

Katherine asked gently, "Why did you run, sweetheart?"

"I was scared and confused. I thought- I thought if my papa was bad, and you killed him, then maybe I’m supposed to hate you. That’s what I’m supposed to do."

"Oh, Hector-"

"But I don’t. I don’t want to hate you. I want you to be my parents. My real parents, not just people taking care of me."

My throat tightened. "We are your real parents, blood doesn’t make family. Love and choice do. You choose us, and we choose you. That makes us family."

"But kids at school. They said- they said I’m bad because of my papa. Because Dante was evil, they said I’ll be evil too."

Katherine was crying. "You are not bad. You are good. You are kind, smart, and loved. You are ours, Hector. Completely ours."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Forever and always."

"Even though I ran away and said terrible things?"

"Yes, baby, nothing changes that. Nothing."

We arrived home at 4 AM.

Rose woke immediately. She somehow knew and ran downstairs.

"HECTOR!" She launched herself at him, hugging fiercely. "Don’t leave! Don’t ever leave again!"

"I won’t, Rosie. I promise. I’m so sorry I scared you."

"I thought you were gone forever!"

"Never. I’m your big brother. I’ll always come back."

Our family was now together intact and whole.

The FBI monitored as new ankle monitors were installed with stricter conditions and a tighter radius.

But it was completely worth it. Hector was safe and now home. He had chosen us.

By morning, I was on the phone with our lawyer, Larry.

"The prosecutor is moving to revoke bail. You violated conditions, removed monitors, and fled. It’s bad. Really bad."

"We were rescuing our son from danger."

"I know, and I’ll argue that with everything I have, but it’s an uphill battle."

"What’s the worst-case scenario?"

"Prison, pending trial, or no bail at all. You’d be held in jail until the verdict, and it could take months."

Katherine’s hand moved to her stomach, realizing she’d be facing jail time pregnant, which would be a high risk.

"We’ll fight this," I promised her. "We’ll win."

That night. After tucking Hector into bed. Our usual routine and precious normalcy.

He held Katherine’s hand and wouldn’t let go.

"Mama Katherine? I choose you, both of you. Forever and ever."

"We choose you, too, sweetheart. Always."

"And if people say mean things about my papa, about Dante?"

"You remember that you’re not him. You’re you, and you’re Hector Marvin. You’re loved beyond measure."

"Hector Marvin." He smiled slightly. "I like that name."

"Good. Because that’s who you are and that’s who you’ll always be."

Katherine and I were finally alone, trying to process everything happening all at once.

"We’re having another baby during a criminal trial." She said, holding her still flat belly.

"It’s terrible timing," I responded grimly.

"The absolute worst timing possible. But also- maybe the best. It’s a new life and would bring new hope and new beginnings when everything else is falling apart."

"Or another target. We could be another vulnerability for our enemies to exploit." I said it matter-of-factly.

"Tony-"

"I’m serious, Katherine. Everyone we love eventually becomes a target. Rose, Hector, and now this baby. It’s the Marvin curse."

"Then we protect them. Like we’ve always protected everyone we love."

"For how long and until when? When does this actually end?"

"Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe this is just life now, and we make the absolute best of it. For them."

By morning, we were at the bail revocation hearing, standing before the judge.

Both of us were in our ankle monitors and orange jumpsuits again, handcuffed.

"Mr. and Mrs. Marvin, you deliberately violated the terms of your release. Removed court-ordered monitoring devices and fled your residence. I’m strongly inclined to revoke bail entirely."

Larry argued passionately. "Your Honor, they were responding to a legitimate family emergency. Their seven-year-old son ran away. He was missing and in danger. Any parent would have done the same."

"They removed ankle monitors, counselor. They knew exactly what they were doing."

"They were saving their child’s life, Your Honor."

The judge was considering and was about to rule.

When the courtroom doors opened dramatically and purposefully.

Senator Clinton Ashford, walking in smiling, looking confident and assertive.

"Your Honor, I’d like to address the court."

The judge looked surprised. "Senator Ashford. What brings you here?"

"I’m here to withdraw all allegations against the Marvins. I am dropping all charges as new evidence has surfaced that proves their complete innocence."

We were shocked and confused. What?

"Your Honor, this entire situation has been an unfortunate misunderstanding. The Marvins are innocent of all charges. We’ve discovered the real perpetrators of the fraud."

The judge was skeptical but formal. "All charges dismissed and defendants released immediately. The monitoring devices be removed."

We were now free legally.

But Katherine and I knew that this wasn’t mercy.

Ashford approached us smiling, looking malicious and threatening beneath the politeness.

"We’ll talk very soon. About your future... compliance and about how you’ll be helping certain interests going forward." Then he marched out purposefully.

We walked out free... but not free at all.

Traded one prison for another.

"What does he want?" Katherine asked quietly.

"Everything," I answered her. "And we just became his puppets."