Chapter 6 - The Woman I Thought I Had Lost Had Been Protecting Me From My Entire FamilyMy mother recovered in a safe house.

She told us everything.

Twenty years ago, she discovered Project Orchid.

Children were being used in illegal medical trials.

Vale funded it.

My father provided logistics.

Dante's uncle provided protection.

But Dante's father tried to stop it.

That's why he died.

"Your father wasn't innocent," my mother told me.

"But he regretted it."

"What happened to him?"

"He disappeared."

"Why?"

"He was being hunted."

"For the ledger."

"Yes."

"Where is he now?"

She looked at me.

"Dead."

I closed my eyes.

At least that truth was finally clear.

My mother took my hand.

"There was one thing your father wanted."

"What?"

"To protect you."

"From Project Orchid?"

"From everyone."

She looked at Dante.

"He trusted your father."

"My father trusted you."

"Yes."

"Then why did everything collapse?"

"Salvatore."

Dante's jaw tightened.

"He's your uncle."

"Yes."

"He wanted control."

"Yes."

"He killed your father."

"Yes."

"And mine?"

"Your father helped him."

I stared.

"What?"

"Your father made a deal."

"To save you."

I didn't understand.

My mother explained.

My father had secretly agreed to help Salvatore expose Vale.

Instead, Salvatore betrayed him.

My father disappeared.

My mother ran.

And I was hidden.

For years.

She looked at me.

"You weren't supposed to come to Chicago."

"I had no choice."

"You always have a choice."

"Not when someone is trying to kill you."

She cried.

"I know."

Dante sat quietly.

Then asked:

"Where is Salvatore?"

My mother gave him a location.

A private club.

We found him.

He was waiting.

Older.

Gray-haired.

But alive.

Dante stepped forward.

"You killed my father."

Salvatore smiled.

"You finally understand."

"You betrayed him."

"He betrayed me first."

"Why?"

"He fell in love with your mother."

Dante froze.

"What?"

Salvatore laughed.

"Love makes men weak."

I stepped forward.

"You used my father."

"Of course."

"You used my mother."

"Yes."

"You used your nephew."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"For control."

Dante raised his weapon.

Salvatore smiled.

"Do it."

Dante hesitated.

I touched his arm.

"Not like this."

He lowered the gun.

Salvatore laughed.

"You see?"

He looked at me.

"You're already controlling him."

"No."

I shook my head.

"He controls himself."

Salvatore's smile faded.

Police arrived.

The evidence from the ledger was enough.

Salvatore was arrested.

But Vale remained.

And before Salvatore was taken away, he whispered:

"You're too late."

"For what?"

"He has the boy."

My blood went cold.

"Daniel."

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Dante's son.

He had been taken.