Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ANEL DESERVED
Aldrich refused to hide anymore.
They moved Anel to a secure school.
He was given protection.
The Ferrante organization was dismantled from within.
Aldrich publicly announced that the family would exit illegal operations.
That decision caused a fracture.
Some members left.
Others threatened war.
Matteo disappeared.
Roland resurfaced.
And the city began talking.
The feared Ferrante heir was changing.
Nobody knew why.
But Aldrich knew.
Anel.
Riona.
The family he had nearly lost before knowing he had one.
One evening, he sat with Anel in the garden.
“I have something to tell you.”
Anel looked up.
“Okay.”
“I knew your mom a long time ago.”
Anel nodded.
“I know.”
“She loved you before you were born.”
“Did she know you?”
“Yes.”
“Did she like you?”
Aldrich smiled.
“She loved me.”
Anel thought.
“Then why did you leave?”
Aldrich's heart broke.
“I believed something that wasn't true.”
“What?”
“That your mother had hurt me.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because sometimes adults get scared.”
“Were you scared?”
“Yes.”
“Are you now?”
“Yes.”
Anel frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I want you to know me.”
Anel stared.
“You're my dad.”
Aldrich stopped breathing.
Riona stood behind them.
Anel looked toward her.
“That's why his eyes are like mine.”
Riona nodded.
“Yes.”
“How long did you know?”
Aldrich asked.
Anel shrugged.
“I guessed.”
“You guessed?”
“You look like me.”
Aldrich laughed.
Anel smiled.
Then he asked,
“Do you love me?”
Aldrich's eyes filled.
“More than I know how to explain.”
Anel hugged him.
Aldrich held him tightly.
Riona turned away, crying.
That was the moment the eight-year separation ended.
Not with a courtroom.
Not with blood.
With a child calling a man Dad.
But Matteo wasn't finished.
He kidnapped Greg.
Then Roland.
Then he demanded the original ledger.
Aldrich agreed to meet him.
The exchange took place beneath an abandoned train station.
Aldrich brought the ledger.
Matteo brought Greg.
Riona stayed behind with security.
But Anel had secretly followed.
He heard Matteo say something.
“Your mother knows the truth.”
Anel stepped from the shadows.
Everyone froze.
“Anel!”
Riona's scream came from the entrance.
The boy looked at Matteo.
“You killed my grandfather?”
Matteo smiled.
“I killed many people.”
Anel stepped backward.
Aldrich reached for him.
“Come here.”
Matteo raised his gun.
“Stay where you are.”
Anel froze.
Aldrich moved.
“Take me.”
Matteo laughed.
“You don't understand.”
“No.”
Aldrich's voice hardened.
“You don't understand.”
He put himself between Matteo and Anel.
Riona arrived.
Security surrounded them.
Then Roland appeared.
He aimed at Matteo.
Everyone froze.
“You're finished,” Roland said.
Matteo looked confused.
“What are you doing?”
“I've spent eight years doing your work.”
Roland's face was exhausted.
“And I finally realized you were never going to let me live long enough to leave.”
Matteo stared.
“You betrayed me.”
Roland laughed.
“You taught me.”
He lowered the weapon.
Police sirens approached.
Aldrich had already sent the evidence to authorities.
Everything.
The recordings.
The ledger.
The bank transfers.
The murders.
The conspiracy.
Matteo looked around.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Riona stepped beside Aldrich.
Anel held both their hands.
Matteo was arrested.
Roland surrendered.
May you like
The Ferrante family empire ended that night.
And Aldrich did not regret it.
