Chapter 6 - THE SEVENTH STAR
They returned to New York with Antonio's body.
Sera buried him beside her mother.
Raffaele stood behind her through the entire service.
He didn't touch her.
He simply remained close enough that if she reached backward, she would find him.
She did once.
Her fingers found his.
He held on.
That evening they entered Domenico's library.
Seven stars were painted across the ceiling.
Sera climbed onto the desk.
Raffaele frowned.
"You could fall."
"I survived armed men in a church."
"Gravity remains undefeated."
"Hold the ladder."
He did.
She pressed the silver medallion into each star.
Nothing.
Then the seventh clicked.
A section of bookshelf moved.
Behind it stood a steel door.
Sera looked down.
"Vault Seven."
The medallion opened it.
Inside were shelves of documents, drives, photographs, and recordings.
Twenty-five years of secrets.
Raffaele stared.
"This could destroy us."
Sera looked at him.
"Or free you."
They spent the night reading.
At 4:00 a.m., Raffaele found the file on his father.
Antonio had told the truth.
Vittorio Ferrara had attempted to seize the organization from Domenico.
Domenico confronted him.
Vittorio drew first.
Domenico fired.
Raffaele sat silently with the report.
Sera remained across the room.
Finally she asked, "Are you okay?"
"No."
It was the first time she had ever heard him admit weakness.
She moved beside him.
"My entire childhood was built around a lie."
"So was mine."
He looked at her.
That shared wound passed between them without explanation.
Then Sera found another file.
ALESSANDRA FERRARA.
Inside were financial transfers.
Payments to Luca.
Payments to Carlo Vescari.
Payments to the men who attacked the church.
Raffaele read them twice.
"My mother and Luca."
"Together."
The final document was recent.
A contract.
If Raffaele's marriage ended before three years, Luca inherited.
If Raffaele died, Luca inherited immediately.
Sera's face drained.
"The wedding shooting."
"Wasn't aimed at you."
"It was aimed at you."
Raffaele stared at the page.
Luca hadn't been trying to break the marriage.
He had been trying to make Sera a widow.
They prepared quietly.
Copies of Vault Seven were made.
Security was changed.
Luca's loyal men were removed without explanation.
But Luca moved first.
The following afternoon, Sera received a message from Lorenzo's phone.
COME ALONE. RAFFAELE'S MOTHER HAS ME.
She knew it could be a trap.
She went anyway.
The warehouse was empty except for Luca.
Sera stopped.
"You really need new tricks."
Luca smiled.
"Yet you came."
"Where's Lorenzo?"
"Safe."
"Your definition worries me."
Luca approached.
"You know, I always wondered why Domenico chose you."
"Because he liked inconvenient women."
"He chose you because Raffaele has one weakness."
Sera almost laughed.
"Raffaele barely knew I existed."
"Exactly."
Luca's smile faded.
"Domenico knew Raffaele would underestimate you. And he knew eventually Raffaele would realize what you are."
"And what am I?"
"The only person in that house smarter than he is."
Sera tilted her head.
"You're trying to flatter someone you kidnapped."
"I didn't kidnap you."
The doors slammed shut behind her.
"Now I have."
Men emerged.
Sera's pulse accelerated.
Luca held out his hand.
"Vault Seven."
"No."
"Then Raffaele dies tonight."
Sera's face remained calm.
"Your problem, Luca, is that you've spent your whole life believing quiet people are weak."
She pressed a button on her bracelet.
Nothing happened.
Luca laughed.
"Signal jammer."
Sera looked at her wrist.
"That's unfortunate."
Then the warehouse lights went out.
Gunfire erupted outside.
Luca spun.
Raffaele's voice came from darkness.
"Very."
Chaos exploded.
Sera dropped behind a crate.
Ferrara security breached both entrances.
Luca ran.
Raffaele pursued him.
Sera followed.
They reached the roof.
Luca stood near the edge with a gun aimed at Raffaele.
"You always got everything."
Raffaele stopped.
"You tried to murder my wife."
"Your wife?"
Luca laughed.
"You couldn't stand looking at her a month ago."
Raffaele's expression changed.
Sera saw it.
So did Luca.
"Oh."
Luca smiled.
"That's interesting."
Raffaele said quietly, "Put the gun down."
"You're in love with her."
Silence.
Sera's heart stopped.
Luca laughed again.
"You don't even know it."
Raffaele didn't look at Sera.
"Put. It. Down."
Instead Luca turned the gun toward her.
Raffaele fired.
The bullet struck Luca's shoulder.
He stumbled backward and disappeared over the roof.
Sera screamed.
Raffaele reached the edge.
Luca had landed on a lower platform.
Alive.
Police sirens approached.
Sera looked at Raffaele.
He turned toward her.
Neither spoke.
Finally Sera whispered:
"Was he right?"
Raffaele stared at her.
Then walked past.
"Sera."
"What?"
"Not here."
May you like
That wasn't a denial.
And somehow that frightened her more.
