Chapter 5 - The Brother Charlotte Never Knew ExistedThe man's name was Adrian.
He was twenty-four.
Charlotte stared at him.
“You're my brother.”
“Yes.”
She stepped closer.
“Where have you been?”
“Everywhere.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
He laughed bitterly.
“I never had a home.”
Vincent watched him carefully.
“You're connected to the Caruso family.”
Adrian nodded.
“They raised me.”
The Carusos.
A rival mafia family.
For years, Vincent had believed they were responsible for the murder of several Moretti men.
Now he understood.
They had raised his enemy's son.
Maybe not as a son.
As leverage.
“Did they hurt you?”
Adrian shook his head.
“They taught me how to survive.”
“Do you work for them?”
He looked at Vincent.
“I used to.”
“Now?”
“I don't know.”
Charlotte touched his arm.
“You remember Mom?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“She sang.”
“She sang to me too.”
“I remember.”
Charlotte smiled through tears.
“I thought I was alone.”
“So did I.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“Why did Vale say you were worth more?”
Adrian looked at him.
“Because I know where the trust is.”
“What trust?”
“The Moretti inheritance.”
Vincent's jaw tightened.
“You know where it is?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Adrian looked at Charlotte.
“Inside her.”
Charlotte froze.
“What?”
“She carries half the key.”
Vincent stared.
“How?”
“Genetic marker.”
“And the other half?”
“Me.”
The two siblings looked at each other.
The missing children were the key.
Not money.
Not power.
Them.
Vale had been hunting both of them.
Victor Moretti had built the system.
Dominic had tried to destroy it.
Elena had hidden Charlotte.
Daniel had hidden Adrian.
And now they were reunited.
But the reunion lasted less than an hour.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Adrian pushed Charlotte down.
Vincent returned fire.
“Move!”
They ran.
The basement filled with smoke.
Someone had set the old hospital on fire.
Vincent grabbed Charlotte.
Adrian followed.
They escaped through the rear tunnel.
Outside, snow covered the ground.
A black SUV waited.
Vincent pushed Charlotte inside.
Adrian climbed in beside her.
Marco drove.
“Who attacked us?”
Adrian stared through the window.
“Caruso.”
Vincent looked at him.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because they don't want me alive.”
“Why not?”
“Because I stole something.”
“What?”
Adrian reached into his coat.
A small metal drive.
“The list.”
“What list?”
“Everyone who bought children.”
Vincent stared.
“How did you get it?”
“From the Caruso vault.”
Charlotte looked at him.
“You stole it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because I realized I wasn't the only one they stole.”
Charlotte's eyes filled.
“I'm sorry.”
Adrian frowned.
“For what?”
“For not finding you.”
He stared at her.
“You were a baby.”
“So were you.”
They smiled sadly.
For a brief moment, the years between them disappeared.
Then Adrian said:
“We need to talk about Dominic.”
Vincent turned.
“What about him?”
“He wasn't killed by the Carusos.”
“I know.”
“Then who?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Your mother.”
Vincent stared.
“Why?”
“She believed Dominic would expose the family.”
Vincent shook his head.
“My mother was protected.”
“By Dominic.”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked away.
“She wasn't protecting you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She was protecting herself.”
Vincent's face hardened.
Adrian handed him the metal drive.
“Open the file marked GRAY.”
Vincent did.
A recording appeared.
His mother.
She was speaking to Edward Vale.
“He doesn't know.”
Vale asked:
“Will he?”
She replied:
“Not if Dominic dies first.”
Vincent froze.
The video continued.
“Charlotte and the boy must remain separated.”
Vale asked:
“And Vincent?”
His mother answered:
“He must believe the past is dead.”
The recording ended.
Vincent stared at the screen.
His mother had known.
She had been involved.
But why?
Adrian whispered:
“Because your father wasn't the mastermind.”
Vincent looked at him.
“Who was?”
Adrian pointed at the list.
“Dominic.”
Charlotte gasped.
“No.”
Adrian nodded.
“Dominic started it.”
Vincent looked horrified.
“Then why did he protect us?”
“Because he changed.”
“And Elena?”
“She helped him change.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“My mother trusted him.”
“So did mine.”
Silence filled the SUV.
Then Vincent said:
“He left me the recorder.”
Adrian nodded.
“Because he wanted you to finish what he couldn't.”
Charlotte looked at him.
“What?”
Adrian smiled sadly.
“Destroy the network.”
The SUV suddenly stopped.
Marco slammed on the brakes.
Three black cars blocked the road.
Vincent reached for his gun.
A woman stepped out.
She wore a white coat.
Her face was familiar.
Charlotte recognized her instantly.
She had seen her in the basement footage.
Standing beside Victor.
Beside Dominic.
Beside Elena.
Her mother.
Elena Hayes.
Alive.
Charlotte's breath stopped.
“Mom?”
The woman stared at her.
May you like
Tears filled her eyes.
“I've been looking for you.”
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