Chapter 4 - The Ghost of Marco Salvatore
The estate was under siege for seventeen minutes.
Seventeen minutes.
That was how long it took for the attackers to realize they couldn't penetrate Alessandro's security perimeter.
But those seventeen minutes changed everything.
The first shot had come through the east window.
The second had struck the stone outside the library.
No one was killed.
Two guards were injured.
Midnight broke out of the stable.
And Elena disappeared.
Alessandro found her three minutes after the final shot.
She was in the stable.
Standing beside Midnight.
Her hand was wrapped around his mane.
The horse stood between her and the open field.
"Elena."
She turned.
"I knew he'd be frightened."
Alessandro walked toward her.
"You should have stayed in the house."
"So should you."
He almost smiled.
"This isn't the time."
"No."
She looked at Midnight.
"He was trying to break out because of the gunshots."
Alessandro looked around.
The stable doors were damaged.
"You could have been killed."
"So could you."
He studied her.
Then his eyes dropped to her belly.
"Come inside."
She didn't move.
"Elena."
"I need you to hear this."
"I heard you."
"No. You heard that Marco is the father."
"Yes."
"You need to know what that means."
Alessandro waited.
Elena took a breath.
"Marco was not working against you."
"I know."
"He was trying to protect you."
Alessandro's face hardened.
"What?"
"Marco discovered Victor Dane had people inside the Salvatore organization."
"How?"
"Through Gabriel."
She explained everything.
Marco had secretly contacted Gabriel after discovering Victor's operation.
Gabriel worked in a construction company owned by one of Victor's associates.
He uncovered records showing that Victor was manipulating contracts and paying officials to target Salvatore businesses.
Marco wanted proof.
He couldn't trust the police.
He couldn't trust the family.
He couldn't even trust Alessandro.
Because Marco believed someone inside Alessandro's own organization was feeding Victor information.
Marco had told Elena to stay away.
She hadn't listened.
They fell in love.
A few months later, she discovered she was pregnant.
Before she could tell anyone, Marco disappeared.
Days later, she received the news that he was dead.
But Elena never believed it.
Neither did Gabriel.
They investigated together.
They discovered the truth.
Marco's death had been staged.
He had gone into hiding.
For years, he worked undercover trying to expose Victor.
Then everything went wrong.
Marco was killed.
And this time he really died.
Before his death, he gave Gabriel something.
Evidence.
A list of names.
And instructions to protect Elena and their unborn child.
Gabriel took those instructions seriously.
He married Elena to give the child a legal father and protection.
But Victor eventually discovered the truth.
He wanted the evidence.
And he wanted the baby.
Because the baby carried Marco's claim to certain Salvatore family assets.
Marco had secretly placed those assets into a trust for his child.
A child Victor believed could eventually become powerful enough to destroy him.
Alessandro sat in silence after hearing everything.
Finally, he asked:
"Why didn't you come to me?"
Elena lowered her eyes.
"Because you were angry with Marco."
"I thought he betrayed me."
"He didn't."
"I know that now."
"By the time I knew, you hated him."
Alessandro looked away.
"I didn't hate him."
"You called him a traitor."
"I was wrong."
Elena's voice softened.
"He knew you'd eventually learn the truth."
Alessandro looked at her.
"How?"
"Because he said you always had a good heart."
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"Your description of me doesn't match what people usually say."
"Marco knew you."
Silence.
Alessandro's eyes became wet.
He quickly looked away.
The last time he had seen Marco, they had argued.
Alessandro had accused him of stealing from the family.
Marco had begged him to listen.
Alessandro had walked away.
Three days later, Marco was supposedly dead.
Alessandro had spent six years believing their last conversation was filled with hatred.
Now he knew Marco had been trying to protect him.
"Where is the evidence?"
Elena looked frightened.
"I don't have it."
"Who does?"
Gabriel.
"He left it somewhere before he died."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Alessandro stood.
"We'll find it."
But before they could do anything, Midnight suddenly became agitated.
His ears pointed toward the forest.
Elena noticed.
"What is it?"
Alessandro lifted a hand.
Everyone became still.
Then they heard it.
An engine.
A vehicle approaching from the far service road.
Owen appeared with his gun drawn.
"Boss."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
"Who's coming?"
"We don't know."
A black SUV emerged from the trees.
It stopped near the stable.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
He raised both hands.
"It's me."
Elena gasped.
"Gabriel."
Alessandro's gun appeared instantly.
"Impossible."
The man slowly removed his cap.
He was older.
Scarred.
Thin.
But unmistakable.
Gabriel Mercer was alive.
Alessandro stared.
Elena's knees nearly gave out.
Gabriel approached slowly.
"I didn't die."
Alessandro aimed at his chest.
"You've got five seconds to explain."
Gabriel looked at Elena.
"I stayed dead because Victor believed I was gone."
"Why come back now?"
Gabriel's eyes moved toward the baby.
"Because they found her."
Elena stepped forward.
"Gabriel."
He looked at her with sadness.
"I should have come sooner."
Alessandro lowered the weapon slightly.
"Where have you been?"
"Hiding."
"From Victor?"
"From everyone."
"Why?"
Gabriel reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small metal drive.
"Because I was waiting for the right moment to expose him."
He handed it to Alessandro.
"There are names on this."
"Whose?"
Gabriel's face hardened.
"Victor Dane's."
May you like
He hesitated.
"And someone very close to you."
