Chapter 13 - The Enemy in the Family Portrait
Elena immediately contacted Dante's security chief.
But the line was busy.
She tried Dante's phone.
It went straight to voicemail.
Then a message arrived.
A location.
An abandoned church outside Hartford.
Elena understood that the trap had been designed to separate her from the estate.
She refused to play along.
Instead, she called Sofia.
"We need to find your brother's father."
Sofia looked frightened.
"What's happening?"
"Someone wants the hospital records. And I think they know where Dante is."
They reviewed the documents together.
One page contained an unusual detail: the name of a private security company that had provided transportation for Dante's father on the night he died.
The company was still active.
Its current director was listed as Paul Moretti.
Dante's uncle.
The younger brother of Dante's father.
Elena remembered seeing Paul at family events when she first entered the Moretti estate.
He had always been polite, almost affectionate toward Matteo.
But he had never attended Dante's wedding.
He had never visited after the assassination attempt.
And he had never explained why.
Sofia found an old photograph in the archive.
Paul stood beside Richard Coleman and Thomas Reed.
All three were much younger.
On the back was a date.
The same date Sofia and Matteo had been born.
Elena stared at the photograph.
"They've been working together since the beginning."
Sofia nodded.
"And they knew about us."
They immediately sent the photograph to Dante's security chief through an encrypted channel.
A reply came seconds later.
Do not trust anyone at the estate. Paul has control of the security network.
Elena looked toward the hallway.
Matteo was playing with a toy car under Mrs. Collins's supervision.
She felt a terrible chill.
"Get the children into the safe room."
Sofia moved immediately.
But before they could reach the stairs, the lights went out.
A crash echoed from the entrance hall.
Then came the sound of running footsteps.
Elena grabbed Matteo.
"Stay behind me."
A guard appeared at the end of the corridor.
His weapon was raised.
"Mrs. Moretti, come with me."
Elena recognized him.
He had worked at the estate for almost two years.
"What happened?"
"There's been an emergency. Mr. Moretti sent me."
Sofia stepped forward.
"What's your name?"
The guard hesitated.
Then he lifted his gun.
"Move."
Elena pulled Matteo behind her.
A second figure appeared behind the guard.
Paul Moretti.
He wore a dark suit and carried a silver walking stick.
"Hello, Elena."
She stared at him.
"Where is Dante?"
Paul smiled.
"Your husband has always been a difficult man to control."
"He's not your enemy."
"No. He's my nephew."
Paul walked closer.
"And that's precisely the problem."
He explained that Dante's father had planned to give control of the family empire to Sofia's children.
Paul had spent fifteen years preventing that from happening.
But after Dante married Elena and became a father figure to Matteo, the entire succession structure had changed.
Paul wanted the trust.
He wanted the businesses.
And he wanted both children removed from the inheritance.
"You're going to destroy two innocent children for money?" Elena asked.
Paul's expression became cold.
"Don't confuse money with power, Mrs. Moretti. Money is simply how power introduces itself."
He extended his hand.
"Give me the original records."
Elena shook her head.
Paul sighed.
"Then I'm afraid this family reunion is over."
He raised his walking stick.
A hidden blade slid from its handle.
But before he could move, a gunshot exploded through the corridor.
The guard fell.
Dante stood at the opposite entrance, blood running down his forehead.
His eyes were fixed on his uncle.
"Get away from my family."
Paul smiled.
"You're late, nephew."
Then he pulled a remote control from his pocket.
May you like
A loud explosion shook the estate.
And the entire west wing disappeared behind a wall of fire.
