Chapter 5 - THE LIE THAT BROKE THEM
Isabelle couldn't breathe.
Michael Moretti stood across the room while Vincent pointed a gun directly at his chest.
"You slept with her?"
Vincent's voice was dangerously quiet.
Michael shook his head.
"No."
"Then don't lie."
"I never met her."
Isabelle stared at him.
"Then why are you saying you're the father?"
Michael looked at her.
"Because the baby was created using my genetic material."
Silence.
Vincent's expression changed.
Michael continued.
"Years ago, our father created a private medical program."
Vincent lowered the gun slightly.
"Explain."
"Our father believed the Moretti bloodline was becoming weak."
Michael's face hardened.
"He collected DNA samples from family members. Embryos were created."
Isabelle felt sick.
"You're saying my baby—"
"Was conceived through IVF."
She shook her head.
"No."
Michael looked at Vincent.
"Daniel stole one of the embryos."
Vincent stared.
"Why?"
"Because he wanted leverage against our father."
"And Isabelle?"
Michael looked at her.
"Daniel chose you because he loved you."
That sentence destroyed the last piece of Isabelle's certainty.
"You're lying."
"I wish I were."
Michael pulled a flash drive from his pocket.
"Daniel discovered our father's genetic program. He tried to expose it."
Vincent's face tightened.
"Our father died five years ago."
"His organization didn't."
Michael looked toward the windows.
"They continued the project."
Isabelle touched her stomach.
"So my baby was created before I even knew?"
"Yes."
Vincent looked at her.
Something inside him softened.
"Isabelle..."
She backed away.
"You knew Daniel."
"I did."
"You knew his family."
"Yes."
"You knew about the embryo?"
"No."
She laughed bitterly.
"Everybody knew except me."
Vincent couldn't argue.
Michael continued.
"Daniel tried to destroy the records."
"What happened?"
"The Falcones found him."
Isabelle's eyes filled.
"They killed him."
Michael nodded.
"But before he died, he hid the embryo."
"Where?"
Michael looked toward Isabelle.
"Inside the only person he trusted."
Isabelle's hand moved over her stomach.
"Me."
Vincent stepped closer.
"And why are the Falcones after her now?"
Michael's face became grim.
"Because the child isn't simply a Moretti."
He paused.
"The embryo contains DNA from both Moretti and Falcone bloodlines."
Vincent stared.
"What?"
"Our father and the Falcone patriarch secretly combined genetic samples."
Michael looked at Isabelle.
"Your baby is the biological heir to both organizations."
Silence.
Suddenly, a shot shattered the window.
Vincent grabbed Isabelle and pulled her to the floor.
Michael fired back.
Dominic rushed into the room.
"Boss! We're under attack!"
Vincent looked at Michael.
"Can you fight?"
Michael smiled.
"Better than you."
The brothers moved together.
For the first time in twenty years, the Moretti brothers fought side by side.
The attack lasted twelve minutes.
When it ended, three attackers were captured.
One was still alive.
Vincent crouched beside him.
"Who sent you?"
The man laughed through blood.
"The baby."
Vincent's eyes hardened.
"Who?"
"The buyer."
"What buyer?"
The man's smile widened.
"The mother."
Vincent froze.
Isabelle stared.
"What mother?"
The dying man whispered:
"Your mother."
May you like
Vincent went completely still.
His mother had been dead for twenty-five years.
