Chapter 7 - The Dead King Wasn't Dead at All—and He Wanted Marin's Babies to Become the Heirs to Two EmpiresVincent Moretti had been presumed dead for fifteen years.
His death had ended a war.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Rafe knew better.
The Moretti organization had been quietly expanding.
Illegal shipping.
Real estate.
Financial networks.
Political influence.
And now Vincent had one goal.
Control the Castellano organization.
Rafe's family was in crisis.
His father was dead.
His uncle Marcus had disappeared.
Daniel was hunting the ledger.
And Marin was carrying the next generation.
The twins were worth more than money.
They were blood.
And blood was power.
Vincent made his demand public.
He wanted Rafe removed.
He wanted Marin transferred into protective custody.
And he wanted the unborn twins recognized as future heirs.
Rafe refused.
The board turned against him.
Some members feared war.
Others wanted peace.
Marin watched the empire fracture.
She began to wonder whether staying near Rafe was destroying him.
One night, she told him she would leave.
He refused.
“You aren't a burden.”
“You're losing everything.”
“No.”
“You're losing the company.”
“That's replaceable.”
“Your people.”
“I can rebuild.”
“And your life.”
Rafe touched her cheek.
“That's not something I'm willing to lose.”
She whispered:
“You barely knew me a few months ago.”
“I knew you longer than that.”
Marin looked at him.
“How?”
“You were the waitress.”
She smiled through tears.
“The woman everyone ignored.”
“Yes.”
“The woman who picked broken glass off your floor.”
“Yes.”
“You remember everything.”
“I remember you humming.”
She leaned against him.
“And now?”
“Now I remember the sound of your heartbeat.”
Their relationship changed that night.
They stopped pretending.
Rafe kissed her.
Not like a dangerous man.
Like a man terrified of losing the only person he trusted.
But happiness made Marin careless.
She didn't notice the shadow outside the window.
Marcus watched.
He made one phone call.
“The twins are vulnerable.”
The answer was immediate.
“Then take them.”
The attack came two days later.
Marin was leaving a medical appointment.
Three cars blocked the road.
Security reacted quickly.
Gunfire erupted.
Rafe pulled Marin behind the vehicle.
Luca fought beside him.
Nico took down two attackers.
Then a fourth man appeared.
He had no weapon.
He simply stood in the road.
Daniel.
Marin froze.
Her biological father looked at her.
“Come with me.”
“No.”
“You're carrying children who belong to me.”
“They aren't yours.”
He laughed.
“You think Rafe will raise them honestly?”
Rafe aimed his gun.
“Leave.”
Daniel smiled.
“Ask him why the twins are already named in a blood contract.”
Marin looked at Rafe.
His expression changed.
She knew he was hiding something.
“What contract?”
Rafe hesitated.
Daniel laughed.
“Exactly.”
Marin stepped away.
“Tell me.”
Rafe lowered his weapon.
“There is an old family tradition.”
“What tradition?”
“The firstborn male inherits the organization.”
“And the girl?”
“Protection.”
Marin stared.
“That's what you meant when you said they're heirs.”
Rafe nodded.
“I didn't tell you because I wanted you out of this.”
“You lied.”
“I protected you.”
Marin laughed bitterly.
“Every person who ever hurt me says that sentence.”
Rafe's face broke.
Daniel used the moment.
He grabbed Marin.
Luca tackled him.
The chaos ended with Daniel escaping.
But Marin had learned something important.
Rafe had secrets too.
She returned to the mansion.
She packed a bag.
Rafe found her.
“You're leaving.”
“I need space.”
“I understand.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“You don't.”
She placed the blood contract on the table.
“I am not raising my children inside a system that treats them like property.”
Rafe stared at it.
Then tore the contract in half.
Marin froze.
“That changes nothing.”
“It changes everything.”
He tore it again.
And again.
Until the document was destroyed.
“I don't care about the empire.”
She stared.
“I care about you.”
Then he took off the Castellano ring he had worn since his father's death.
He placed it on the table.
“I don't want this if it costs me my family.”
Marin started crying.
Rafe whispered:
“I choose you.”
That night, she stayed.
The next morning, the board learned that Rafe had surrendered his claim to the organization.
The empire wanted a new leader.
Rafe chose Luca.
The twin who had never known he was an heir.
Luca refused.
Until Marin spoke.
“You don't have to become what they made you.”
Luca looked at Rafe.
“Then what am I?”
Rafe smiled.
“Whatever you decide.”
For the first time, the Castellano inheritance became a choice.
But Vincent Moretti would not allow freedom.
He sent one final message.
Meet me at the harbor.
Bring Marin.
May you like
And the ledger.
Or the twins die before they're born.
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