Chapter 5 - The Ghost of the Santoro FamilyThe truth about Raphael's grandmother changed everything.
She had disappeared after Bruno's father died.
Everyone believed she was dead.
She wasn't.
She had been running a parallel operation.
For decades.
She had controlled parts of the family without anyone knowing.
Sienna had been working for her.
Not Lucian.
The grandmother wanted the watch.
She believed the ledger contained enough evidence to destroy everyone who had betrayed the Santoro name.
But she didn't want justice.
She wanted control.
Raphael refused.
His grandmother threatened Mara—Marin.
That was enough.
He cut her off.
But then Sienna revealed the final truth.
Bruno had not been killed by Lucian.
The order had come from the grandmother.
Lucian carried it out.
Raphael was devastated.
His whole life had been built around avenging his father.
Now the enemy was blood.
He walked alone through the old restaurant.
Marin followed.
“You don't have to carry this alone.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No.”
He turned.
“My entire life has been about my father.”
“I know.”
“Everything I've done.”
“I know.”
“Every enemy.”
“I know.”
“Every choice.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“Then you understand why I have to end this.”
She stepped closer.
“You can end it without becoming them.”
He swallowed.
“You think I'm capable of that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I saw you hold your father's hand.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“Your father was dead.”
“And?”
“You still held his hand.”
Raphael's face cracked.
For years he had hidden the memory.
Now someone understood.
Marin took his hand.
“You aren't them.”
He held on.
Then kissed her.
This time there was no hesitation.
They spent the night together in the safehouse.
Not as employer and employee.
Not as mafia boss and watchmaker.
As two people who had survived too much to keep pretending they didn't need each other.
In the morning, Raphael told her:
“I love you.”
Marin stared.
“You barely know me.”
“I know your hands.”
“What does that mean?”
“You hold broken things carefully.”
Her eyes filled.
“You make me want to be careful.”
She kissed him.
Then the phone rang.
Marcus.
“Raphael.”
“What?”
“We found your grandmother.”
“Where?”
“She wants to meet.”
“Alone.”
Raphael understood.
“No.”
Marcus continued.
“She asked for Marin.”
Raphael's face went cold.
“No.”
The message arrived.
BRING THE WATCH.
BRING THE GIRL.
COME WITHOUT YOUR MEN.
Raphael looked at Marin.
“You stay here.”
“No.”
“This is not negotiable.”
“You don't get to decide.”
“I love you.”
She froze.
He continued.
“And that's why I'm not taking you.”
She grabbed his coat.
“Then I'm coming because I love you too.”
He looked at her.
There was no argument left.
They went together.
The meeting place was an abandoned church.
Raphael's grandmother stood at the altar.
She looked older.
But powerful.
Her eyes moved to Marin.
“So this is the girl.”
Raphael stepped forward.
“You wanted the watch.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your father hid the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That our family was never supposed to belong to you.”
Raphael stared.
She smiled.
“It belongs to Marin.”
Silence.
Marin's heart stopped.
“What?”
The grandmother laughed softly.
“Your father knew.”
She looked at Raphael.
“He wasn't the heir.”
Raphael's face hardened.
“Then who was?”
May you like
She looked at Marin.
“You.”
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