Chapter 3 - The Secret Beneath the Family
Isabel Crane was afraid.
Rico could see it the moment she entered the interrogation room.
Her hands trembled.
Her eyes avoided the cameras.
And when she saw Clara, she almost walked out.
"Don't," Rico said.
Isabel stopped.
"You don't understand."
Rico stood.
"Then explain it."
Isabel looked at Clara.
"Your mother knew."
"Knew what?"
"That Elena was being watched."
Rico's eyes hardened.
"By whom?"
Isabel swallowed.
"The Bellinis."
Clara's stomach dropped.
"What did my mother have to do with them?"
"She was Elena's confidante."
Rico frowned.
"Why would my wife trust a housekeeper?"
"Because Melissa saved her once."
"From what?"
Isabel looked at Clara.
"From your father."
Rico went still.
"My father?"
"Your father wanted Elena to marry into another family."
"That's impossible."
"Ask your uncle."
Rico's expression became colder.
His uncle, Salvatore, was dead.
Or so Rico believed.
Isabel continued.
"Elena discovered that Salvatore and your father were working with the Bellinis."
Rico stared.
"What were they doing?"
"Trafficking information."
Clara frowned.
"About what?"
"Police operations. Rival shipments. Safe houses."
"Why would Elena care?"
"Because one of those operations involved a child."
Rico looked at Clara.
"Leo?"
Isabel shook her head.
"No."
She pointed toward a photograph.
"Another child."
Rico took it.
A little girl.
Age four.
Name: Sofia.
Rico's sister.
He froze.
"Sofia is dead."
"No."
Isabel's voice was barely audible.
"She's alive."
Rico sat down.
For twelve years, his family had believed Sofia died in a house fire.
But the photograph had been taken only two years ago.
Clara watched Rico's face collapse.
"Who took her?"
Isabel said, "Your uncle."
Rico stood so fast the chair fell backward.
"Why?"
"To control your father."
The story became darker.
Sofia had been hidden as leverage.
Elena found out.
She planned to rescue her.
And someone killed Elena before she could.
Clara stared at the documents.
"Why would my mother help her?"
"Because Elena promised to protect Clara."
Rico looked at her.
"Your mother knew the Moretti family was being watched by the Bellinis."
Clara whispered, "Why me?"
Isabel hesitated.
"Because your father wasn't your biological father."
Clara's heart stopped.
Noah suddenly appeared in the doorway.
He had followed them.
"Don't."
Clara turned.
"Noah?"
He was pale.
"Mom told me never to say."
Rico looked at him.
"Say what?"
Noah stepped forward.
"Our mother had a second child."
Clara stared.
"Who?"
Noah looked at Rico.
"You."
Silence.
Clara's knees almost gave out.
"What?"
Noah began to cry.
"Mom had a baby before me."
"Where is she?"
Noah looked at Rico.
"She said the child was taken."
Rico's expression changed.
"How old would she be?"
"Twenty-four."
Clara's breath stopped.
She looked at Noah.
"That's my age."
Noah nodded.
The truth unfolded.
Clara had been born under another surname.
Her mother had hidden her identity because she feared the Moretti family.
And the reason Elena had written Keep Clara safe was because she knew exactly who Clara was.
Rico stared at her.
"My father..."
Clara whispered.
"Was Moretti."
Neither of them knew what to do with the revelation.
Rico had spent his entire life believing he was the youngest son.
Now another branch of the family had emerged.
And it belonged to the woman who had calmed his child.
Before anyone could speak, gunfire erupted outside.
The windows shattered.
Rico grabbed Clara and pulled her down.
Dante shouted orders.
Noah hit the floor.
Leo began crying in the next room.
Clara crawled toward the sound.
Rico followed.
They found Leo hiding beneath a table.
Clara whispered.
"I'm here."
Leo reached for her.
Rico watched.
Then he noticed something in the little boy's hand.
A small silver locket.
Elena's locket.
Rico's face went pale.
"Where did you get that?"
Leo pointed toward the door.
Someone had placed it there.
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Attached to it was a note.
ASK CLARA WHO HER REAL FATHER IS.
