Chapter 5 - The Woman Standing Beside My Son Was a MorettiThe name hit harder than any bullet.
Elena Moretti.
My family name.
My blood.
I stared at her.
“How?”
She looked away.
“My father was your father's younger brother.”
Salvatore.
I shook my head.
“That makes you my cousin.”
“Yes.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because my father was declared dead.”
“Your father?”
“Salvatore.”
I took a step backward.
“Elena.”
“I never knew he was alive until three months ago.”
“Then why come here?”
“Because my grandmother told me the truth.”
“Your grandmother?”
“She raised me.”
“Where?”
“Argentina.”
I stared.
“You've been living there.”
“Yes.”
“Why return now?”
“To find out what happened to my father.”
“And Sofia?”
“She was connected to him.”
I sat down.
Everything had become too complicated.
Salvatore.
Sofia.
Rosa.
Blackridge.
Dr. Price.
Adrian Bell.
My son.
Elena.
All connected.
But I needed one answer.
“Did your father kill my wife?”
“No.”
“Did he order the attack?”
“No.”
“Then where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“What do you know?”
“He wasn't the mastermind.”
“Who was?”
She looked at me.
“Your father.”
I froze.
“My father died fifteen years ago.”
“He wasn't the man you thought he was.”
I stared.
“What did he do?”
“He created the medical program.”
“What program?”
“One that studied inherited cardiac conditions.”
“My son.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To develop treatments.”
“Then why hide it?”
“Because the program was illegal.”
“And Sofia?”
“She discovered the truth.”
I felt sick.
“My father experimented on my family.”
“Yes.”
“And Salvatore?”
“Your father used him.”
“Why?”
“To run the program secretly.”
“Then why disappear?”
“Because Salvatore tried to stop him.”
I looked at Elena.
“Then why does everyone think Salvatore died?”
“Your father needed him gone.”
Silence.
“Then who killed my father?”
Elena shook her head.
“That's what we're trying to find out.”
I stared at her.
“Why trust me?”
“Because Rosa did.”
“She believed you were trying to protect Daniel.”
“How?”
“She said you were the only person in the family who still had a conscience.”
I almost laughed.
“That's generous.”
“She believed it.”
“And now?”
Elena looked at me.
“I do too.”
I didn't know what to say.
Then Daniel woke.
“Dad?”
I went to him.
“I'm here.”
“Is she family?”
He pointed to Elena.
I looked at her.
“Yes.”
Daniel smiled.
“Good.”
He reached for her.
She took his hand.
For a moment, all the secrets disappeared.
Then my phone rang.
Vincent answered.
“Boss.”
He listened.
His expression changed.
“Where?”
He looked at me.
“Airport.”
“Who?”
“Adrian Bell.”
My CFO.
He was trying to leave the country.
We drove.
We caught him before he boarded.
He smiled when he saw me.
“You finally understand.”
“Understand what?”
“The empire isn't yours.”
“It is.”
“No.”
He looked at Elena.
“It's hers.”
I froze.
“Why?”
“Because your father left the family assets to the next surviving blood heir.”
Elena stared.
“What?”
Bell laughed.
“Did you think you were cleaning my floors?”
She looked sick.
“My father…”
“Your father built an inheritance.”
“Your uncle was supposed to take it.”
“But he rebelled.”
“So they hid you.”
I looked at Elena.
She was stunned.
Bell continued:
“Salvatore disappeared because he refused to kill your son.”
My blood went cold.
“What?”
“He was ordered to remove Daniel.”
Elena shook her head.
“My father would never.”
“He refused.”
“And your father?”
Bell looked at me.
“He tried.”
Silence.
I felt sick.
“Who ordered the attack?”
Bell smiled.
“You're still thinking too small.”
“Then tell me.”
“Your empire has three factions.”
“One wants power.”
“One wants money.”
“One wants the medical program.”
“And they all want Daniel.”
I raised my weapon.
“Who is leading them?”
Bell looked toward Elena.
“Ask her.”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Bell laughed.
“Of course you don't.”
He pressed a hidden button.
The airport gates closed.
Alarms screamed.
Men appeared.
Gunfire erupted.
Bell escaped.
We were trapped.
Elena grabbed Daniel.
I covered them.
We fought our way out.
When we reached the car, Elena turned to me.
“I think I know who the third faction leader is.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“My mother.”
I froze.
May you like
“Your mother?”
“She wasn't dead either.”
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