Chapter 7 - The Father Who Came Back from the Dead
Patrick Bell was not dead.
Matteo found him in a warehouse across the state line.
He was injured.
Older.
But alive.
Norah saw him first.
“Dad?”
Patrick looked up.
His face broke.
“My little girl.”
Norah ran to him.
Matteo stood back.
This wasn't his moment.
Patrick held his daughter.
“I thought you were gone.”
“I was.”
“Why didn't you come back?”
“Because the people hunting me would have killed you.”
Norah cried.
“I needed you.”
“I know.”
Matteo looked away.
He understood too well.
Patrick looked at him.
“You're Matteo.”
“Yes.”
“Lucia's brother.”
“Yes.”
“Then she was right.”
“About what?”
“That you'd protect them.”
Matteo stared.
Patrick continued.
“She said you were the only person she trusted.”
“Why?”
“Because you never wanted the throne.”
“I wanted revenge.”
“That made you safer.”
Matteo almost smiled.
“What did Calvin want?”
Patrick's face hardened.
“The ledger.”
“The one inside the key?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It proves the entire council betrayed your father.”
“Then what does Calvin gain?”
“Control of the trust.”
“And if he gets it?”
“He owns everything.”
Matteo looked at Norah.
“Not if the children refuse.”
Patrick nodded.
“That's the problem.”
“They're minors.”
“Yes.”
“Then why does the law matter?”
“Because Lucia created a clause.”
“What clause?”
“The trust cannot be controlled by force.”
Matteo understood.
“She predicted this.”
“Yes.”
“Then what activates it?”
Patrick looked at Norah.
“Love.”
Silence.
Matteo frowned.
“What?”
“The trust activates only when both heirs voluntarily choose their guardian.”
Norah was confused.
“Guardian?”
Patrick nodded.
“Someone they trust.”
Matteo felt the weight of the key.
Calvin needed the children.
Not to kill them.
To make them choose him.
And somehow, someone had ensured that Norah and Leon would never trust anyone else.
Except him.
That realization frightened Matteo.
“Lucia planned all this.”
“Yes.”
“For twelve years.”
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
Patrick smiled sadly.
“Because she knew you'd never ask them to repay you.”
Norah suddenly appeared beside Matteo.
“Mr. Matteo.”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask something?”
“Anything.”
“When I grow up, can I buy you a house?”
He almost laughed.
“Why?”
“So I can repay you.”
“You don't owe me.”
“But Mom said good people pay people back.”
“You can repay me by becoming happy.”
Norah frowned.
“That's hard.”
“Yes.”
She thought.
“Then I'll try.”
He crouched.
“That's enough.”
She hugged him.
Patrick watched.
And smiled.
But the moment was short.
A sniper fired.
The window shattered.
Matteo pulled Norah down.
Patrick pushed Leon behind the table.
Luca shouted.
“Roof!”
Matteo ran.
The sniper was gone.
Only a note remained.
BRING THE CHILDREN TO THE OLD CHURCH. MIDNIGHT.
Matteo knew it was a trap.
They went anyway.
The old church had been abandoned for years.
At midnight, Calvin stood at the altar.
He held Grace at gunpoint.
Beside him were three men.
“You came.”
Matteo stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
“Give me Norah.”
“No.”
Calvin smiled.
“Then I'll kill Grace.”
Norah stepped forward.
“No.”
Matteo grabbed her.
“Stay.”
She looked at him.
“She'll die.”
Calvin smiled.
“Smart girl.”
Norah looked at Matteo.
“What would you do?”
He whispered:
“Nothing stupid.”
She nodded.
Then walked forward anyway.
Calvin lowered the gun.
“Good.”
Norah stopped.
“Let my mom go.”
“No.”
“You said you would.”
“I lied.”
Matteo's face hardened.
Norah turned toward him.
The little girl reached inside her cardigan.
She pulled out the black lion ring.
Not the key.
The ring.
“My mom said this belonged to Mr. Matteo.”
Calvin smiled.
“Give it to me.”
Norah shook her head.
“You don't get it.”
She threw it toward Matteo.
He caught it.
The ring opened.
Inside was a second chip.
A recording.
Lucia's voice.
“Calvin.”
The man's face turned white.
“You thought the key was the only copy.”
The recording continued.
“You forgot I never trusted you.”
Calvin fired.
Matteo shot his weapon.
It fell.
Security stormed the church.
Grace was rescued.
Calvin was arrested.
The war was over.
Or so they thought.
Because the chip contained one final message.
Lucia looked directly into a camera.
“If Matteo is watching this, then he survived.”
A faint smile.
“And if Norah is beside him, then I was right.”
Matteo felt tears rise.
Lucia continued.
“Brother, I know you think you failed me.”
He swallowed.
“You didn't.”
“You just weren't there when I needed you.”
A pause.
“But you can be there for them.”
She looked off camera.
“For both of my children.”
Then the screen went black.
Matteo closed his eyes.
Lucia had never blamed him.
He had blamed himself.
For twelve years.
Now he could finally stop.
May you like
But there was still one thing left.
He had to decide what family meant.
