Chapter 7 - The Grandfather Who Owned the ShadowsJulius traveled to an isolated estate.
Dileia went with him.
They found the old man waiting.
Raphael Castellano.
Ninety years old.
Still sharp.
Still terrifying.
He looked at Dileia.
“So.”
She stood straight.
“Yes?”
“You're the woman who changed my grandson.”
Dileia glanced at Julius.
“I hope so.”
Raphael laughed.
“Good.”
Julius stepped forward.
“You tried to kill my father.”
“No.”
“You ordered his death.”
“I ordered his disappearance.”
“You ruined him.”
“He wanted to destroy everything.”
“What everything?”
“The organization.”
Julius stared.
Raphael revealed the truth.
Bruno had discovered that the empire had become too violent.
He wanted to leave.
The family refused.
Samuel helped him.
The ledger was created.
Roco betrayed them.
Anthony helped.
Sabrina became trapped.
Everyone thought Bruno had died.
He hadn't.
He escaped.
Julius's father was alive.
Hidden.
Living under another name.
Julius couldn't breathe.
“You're saying my father is alive?”
Raphael nodded.
“He has been.”
Dileia held Julius's hand.
He squeezed it.
They found Bruno two days later.
He was living quietly in Oregon.
When Julius walked into the house, Bruno stared.
“My son.”
Julius couldn't speak.
Then he hugged him.
For the first time in twenty years, he hugged his father.
Dileia watched.
Bruno looked at her.
“You must be Dileia.”
“Yes.”
“You have my son's heart.”
She smiled.
“He gave me his.”
Bruno laughed.
“He was never good at sharing.”
They spent several days together.
Then Bruno revealed the final truth.
Roco wasn't the mastermind.
Someone else had been using him.
A man named Victor Salazar.
Victor controlled several remaining criminal operations.
And he wanted the ledger.
Dileia's life was now in danger again.
Victor kidnapped Emma.
Julius received the call.
“If you want your sister alive, come alone.”
Julius prepared to go.
Dileia stopped him.
“No.”
“They have Emma.”
“I know.”
“They want me.”
“I know.”
“Then let me handle it.”
“No.”
She held up the ledger.
“They want this.”
Julius understood.
They created a plan.
Dileia would act as bait.
Julius would infiltrate from another entrance.
Emma would be rescued.
The plan worked.
Victor was arrested.
The remaining organization collapsed.
Afterward, Dileia sat beside Emma.
She cried.
Julius watched.
He realized something.
He didn't want to be the most powerful man in Las Vegas.
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He wanted to be the man who made sure the people he loved could sleep peacefully.
That became his mission.
