Chapter 4 - Gabriel Wasn't Protecting Sebastian—He Was Protecting the Empire
Gabriel disappeared before we could confront him.
His phone went dark.
His house was empty.
His accounts had been closed.
He had known.
Sebastian was furious.
But beneath the anger was hurt.
“I trusted him.”
“I know.”
“He was there after the bombing.”
“I know.”
“He changed my bandages.”
“I know.”
“He drove me to every doctor.”
I looked at him.
“Maybe that's how he controlled which doctors you saw.”
Silence.
Sebastian hated that I was right.
We searched old medical facilities.
One name appeared again.
Dr. Victor Hale.
We finally found him in a private rehabilitation center under federal protection.
He refused to speak until Sebastian entered the room.
Then the old man broke down.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Sebastian asked:
“Why did my father order my surgery?”
Hale shook his head.
“I had no choice.”
“That's what cowards say.”
The doctor looked at Claire.
“Your mother said that too.”
Sebastian went still.
“What did she know?”
“She knew the first surgery damaged you.”
Sebastian frowned.
“What?”
“The bombing itself did not destroy your spinal pathways.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Then what did?”
“The second procedure.”
Silence.
Hale's voice trembled.
“Your father ordered me to sever a specific nerve pathway.”
Sebastian looked shocked.
“Why?”
“To make the paralysis permanent.”
Claire's stomach turned.
“You mutilated him.”
“I was threatened.”
“Everyone has excuses.”
Hale looked at her.
“Your mother tried to stop it.”
“What happened?”
“She was caught.”
“By Gabriel?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Hale looked at Sebastian.
“Your uncle Rafael.”
Sebastian's face hardened.
“Rafael died.”
“No.”
The word fell like a stone.
“He disappeared.”
“What?”
“Your father's younger brother survived.”
Claire remembered the old photographs.
Rafael was the man beside Marco.
He was also the man her mother had circled in red.
Hale continued.
“Rafael wanted control of the organization.”
“So he kept me dependent.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Gabriel help him?”
“Gabriel believed control was necessary.”
Sebastian laughed bitterly.
“For my own good?”
“No.”
Hale looked at him.
“For the empire.”
We learned the full plan.
Marco had created the criminal organization.
Rafael had wanted it.
Gabriel had become the administrator who kept everything functioning.
When the bombing happened, Rafael convinced Marco that Sebastian was too unstable to lead.
So they kept Sebastian paralyzed.
Gabriel became the trusted intermediary.
He handled business.
Sebastian became the public face.
Rafael became the hidden hand.
But there was one mistake.
Helena discovered the records.
She planned to expose them.
Rafael ordered her killed.
My mother had been murdered because she knew the truth.
I couldn't breathe.
Sebastian sat in silence.
Then he asked:
“Did she know she was going to die?”
Hale nodded.
“She knew.”
“Did she know I would blame myself?”
“Yes.”
Sebastian lowered his head.
Claire looked at him.
“We were both lied to.”
He looked up.
“My entire life.”
“I know.”
He reached for my hand.
I let him hold it.
It was strange.
The most feared man in Chicago looked fragile.
Not because of his wheelchair.
Because someone he loved had betrayed him before he even understood what betrayal was.
Then the rehabilitation center lights went out.
A gunshot sounded.
Hale fell.
Sebastian pulled Claire down.
Someone fired through the window.
Security rushed inside.
By the time they reached the hallway, the shooter was gone.
Hale was injured but alive.
Claire examined him.
The bullet had grazed his shoulder.
He whispered:
“Rafael.”
Sebastian nodded.
“We know.”
“No.”
Hale grabbed Claire's arm.
“He's not after Sebastian.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then who?”
“You.”
Her blood froze.
“Why me?”
“Because your mother hid something.”
“What?”
Hale coughed.
“A ledger.”
Sebastian's expression changed.
“Where?”
Hale looked at Claire.
“In the clinic.”
My old clinic.
The illegal South Side clinic where I had treated cash patients.
The place I thought was only mine.
We returned that night.
The basement contained a hidden compartment beneath the floor.
Inside was a leather ledger.
My mother's handwriting.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
And one final entry.
Rafael Lombardi has ordered the death of Claire Bennett.
Reason: daughter knows where the original evidence is hidden.
I stared.
I didn't know where the evidence was.
Then Sebastian whispered:
“You do.”
“What?”
He pointed at the ledger.
“Your mother wrote the location.”
I read the final line.
Where my daughter keeps what she believes is worthless.
I thought.
Then remembered.
A broken music box.
The one I had carried since childhood.
The one that never worked.
I ran home.
It was still there.
Inside the bottom compartment was a microfilm strip.
Records.
Names.
Transactions.
And the original surgical authorization.
Signed by Marco Lombardi.
Witnessed by Gabriel Shaw.
But beside Gabriel's signature was another.
Rafael Lombardi.
Sebastian stared.
“Now we have them.”
I looked at him.
“What do we do?”
May you like
His answer was immediate.
“We take back my life.”
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