Chapter 7 - The Mother Who Was Never Gone
Anna was found two days later.
She was being held in an apartment on the outskirts of Chicago.
Dante entered first.
She was sitting on the floor with her hands tied.
He cut the ropes.
She looked at him.
"Lucy?"
"Safe."
"She has the rook?"
"Yes."
Anna closed her eyes.
"Thank God."
Dante crouched.
"Who took you?"
"Victor."
"Why?"
"He wanted the evidence."
"You knew he was working against me."
"I suspected."
"You should have told me."
"I was afraid."
"Of me?"
"No."
She looked at him.
"Of what would happen to my children if I was wrong."
Dante understood.
"You sent Lucy to me because you trusted me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Anna smiled faintly.
"Because you once gave Ethan your umbrella."
Dante frowned.
"When?"
"Six months ago. It was raining. He was waiting outside the kitchen."
"You remember that?"
"Children remember kindness."
Dante looked away.
Anna continued.
"Your father had people inside the organization."
"He is dead."
"His system isn't."
She told him everything.
Victor had been financing the remnants.
Marco had secretly tried to protect Anna.
The Darlows had been paid to watch the children.
Daniel had hidden evidence before he died.
And Isabella had orchestrated the final plan to expose the entire structure.
Dante confronted Isabella that night.
"You knew Anna was taken."
"Yes."
"You could have rescued her."
"I needed Victor to believe she was broken."
"She has children."
"So did I."
Dante's face hardened.
"Don't compare."
Isabella stared at him.
"You think revenge fixes the past."
"No."
"Then what?"
Dante looked at Lucy.
"It protects the future."
Isabella's expression softened.
"You really are my son."
The final confrontation came at Bellucci Tower.
Victor returned.
He had taken control of the legitimate company.
He had forged signatures.
He had frozen accounts.
He believed Dante was finished.
He was wrong.
The Black Book was released to federal investigators.
The shell companies were exposed.
The corrupt officials began turning on one another.
Victor was arrested before he could flee the country.
Marcus Bellucci, Dante's uncle, was arrested for his involvement.
The old empire collapsed.
May you like
Dante remained.
But not as the same man.
