Chapter 5 - The Uncle Who Arrived Too Early
Vincent Moretti arrived at the mansion twenty minutes later.
He entered without knocking, wearing a charcoal suit and an expression of practiced concern.
“Luca.”
He opened his arms.
“I heard what happened. Are you all right?”
Luca didn't move.
“Did you know my father was alive?”
Vincent stopped.
His eyes moved toward Antonio.
For a moment, something resembling genuine shock crossed his face.
Then it disappeared.
“Antonio.”
His voice softened.
“It's been a long time.”
Antonio stood beside the fireplace.
“Not long enough.”
Vincent glanced around the room.
He noticed Robert.
Then Vanessa.
Finally, his eyes settled on the photograph in Luca's hand.
“Where did you get that?”
Luca smiled without warmth.
“Interesting. You haven't asked who the girl is.”
Vincent adjusted his cuff.
“Who is she?”
“My sister.”
Vincent's expression changed.
Antonio moved forward.
“You remember Isabella, don't you?”
Vincent said nothing.
Luca watched his uncle carefully.
The man had taught him how to drive. He had attended his school graduation and stood beside him at his father's funeral.
He had once told Luca that family was the only thing worth protecting.
Now Luca wondered whether any of those memories had been genuine.
“You knew she was alive,” Luca said.
Vincent sighed.
“I knew she was somewhere.”
“Where?”
“Your father made mistakes. He trusted the wrong people.”
Antonio laughed bitterly.
“You kidnapped your own niece.”
“I protected her.”
“From whom?”
Vincent looked at Luca.
“From you.”
Luca's expression darkened.
“Explain.”
Vincent walked toward the desk.
“Isabella was sick. The family was collapsing. Antonio had enemies everywhere. Your mother believed hiding the child was the only way to keep her safe.”
“Then why did you take her?”
“Because Antonio intended to use her as leverage in a war he couldn't win.”
Antonio lunged toward him.
Two guards intervened.
“Liar!”
Vincent raised his hands.
“I didn't hurt the girl.”
Luca stepped between them.
“Where is she?”
Vincent looked at him.
“If I tell you, will you listen to the rest?”
“No.”
“Then you'll never find her.”
Luca stared at him for several seconds.
Finally, Vincent nodded toward the photograph.
“Isabella was moved to a private facility outside Boston. A woman named Margaret raised her under another name. I paid for everything.”
Robert shook his head.
“Why?”
Vincent's expression became colder.
“Because I needed Antonio to believe she was dead.”
Antonio's face twisted.
“You used my daughter's life to control me.”
“I used your obsession to keep you from destroying the family.”
Luca's hand tightened around his gun.
“You arranged the explosion.”
Vincent didn't deny it.
“Your father was going to hand over the financial records. Those records would have destroyed everything.”
“And you let me bury him.”
“You were supposed to take over.”
“I was supposed to become your puppet.”
Vincent smiled faintly.
“You were young. Grieving. Easy to influence.”
Luca moved closer.
“You're under arrest.”
Vincent laughed.
“By whom? Your men?”
He nodded toward the hallway.
Several armed men appeared.
They wore Moretti security uniforms.
Dominic's replacements.
Luca realized the betrayal had gone deeper than he imagined.
Vincent continued.
“Your organization has been mine for years.”
Antonio reached for his weapon.
A gunshot shattered the silence.
Robert collapsed.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
Luca fired toward the doorway as the guards scattered.
Vincent disappeared behind the men.
When the shooting stopped, the uncle was gone.
Luca knelt beside Robert.
The attorney struggled to breathe.
“Don't let him take the girl.”
“Where is she?”
Robert gripped Luca's sleeve.
“Ask Vanessa about the second hospital.”
Then his hand fell.
Luca slowly looked toward the woman in the wedding dress.
Vanessa was standing beside the open bedroom door.
Her face was pale.
May you like
She whispered four words.
“I have a daughter.”
