Chapter 6 - The Sin of the Fathers
Everything I believed collapsed.
Marco Moretti was alive.
The man Adrian had spent his life believing dead stood ten feet away.
His face was older.
His body weaker.
But his eyes were unmistakably Adrian's.
“You killed Gabriel?”
Marco looked at me.
“Yes.”
Adrian's voice shook.
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
Marco looked toward Vincent.
“Because Vincent had already taken control.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
Marco turned to me.
“But your father knew.”
My mother had lied.
My father had lied.
Everyone had lied.
Marco explained everything.
Years ago, Gabriel and Marco discovered Vincent's betrayal.
They planned to expose him.
But Vincent kidnapped Adrian.
He was sixteen.
Marco had no choice.
He ordered Gabriel to rescue him.
Gabriel succeeded.
But Vincent discovered where they were hiding.
He attacked.
Gabriel was killed.
Marco survived.
But instead of exposing Vincent, he disappeared.
Because Vincent threatened Melissa.
My life had been protected by a lie.
I looked at Marco.
“Why didn't you find us?”
“I tried.”
“You failed.”
“Yes.”
Adrian stepped between us.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I thought it was safer.”
“You let me grow up alone.”
Marco's eyes filled with tears.
“I thought you would survive.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“I survived.”
He looked at me.
“She taught me how to live.”
Marco looked at me.
And for the first time, he bowed his head.
“I owe you my life.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You owe your son the truth.”
Vincent raised his weapon.
“Enough.”
He pulled the baby closer.
“Give me the Romano ring.”
I froze.
“What?”
“The ring.”
I removed it.
Vincent smiled.
“That's the key.”
“To what?”
“The Romano vault.”
I understood.
My father hadn't hidden money.
He had hidden evidence.
The entire truth.
Vincent needed my ring to open it.
I handed it over.
He laughed.
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Adrian moved toward me.
I grabbed my son.
We ran.
But Vincent escaped.
Marco stayed behind.
He was shot.
Adrian dropped beside him.
“Dad.”
Marco looked at his son.
“I failed you.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Don't.”
“I failed your mother.”
“Dad.”
“I failed Gabriel.”
He looked at me.
“But I never stopped protecting you.”
Then Marco handed Adrian a small key.
“The vault.”
He smiled weakly.
“Finish what we started.”
Then he closed his eyes.
Adrian screamed.
I had never heard a man scream like that.
The sound broke something inside me.
I held our son tighter.
May you like
And I realized the war wasn't over.
It had only become personal.
