Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO NEVER DIED
Lorenzo recognized the voice before he turned.
Matteo Romano stood beneath the warehouse lights, older and thinner than in the photographs, but unmistakably alive.
For eighteen years, Lorenzo had believed his uncle had died in a car explosion outside Atlantic City.
Now the man was pointing a gun at him.
“You're supposed to be dead,” Lorenzo said.
Matteo smiled.
“That's what makes death so useful.”
“Where is my father?”
“Alive. For now.”
Lorenzo lowered his weapon.
Matteo's eyes flicked toward the pocket containing the pendant.
“Give me Isabella's necklace.”
“Tell me why you want it.”
“Because your father was foolish enough to hide the truth inside it.”
Lorenzo removed the pendant but kept it closed.
Matteo's expression changed.
“Open it.”
“First, tell me what happened to my sister.”
Matteo laughed bitterly.
“You still believe there was only one girl?”
Lorenzo felt his stomach tighten.
“Explain.”
“Your mother gave birth to twins. One child belonged to the Romano bloodline. The other was not supposed to survive.”
“Why?”
“Because your father made a promise to Isabella Bennett before your mother ever became pregnant.”
The words echoed through Lorenzo's mind.
“My father had an affair?”
“No. Something far worse.”
Matteo stepped closer.
“Your father discovered that Isabella had uncovered evidence of a criminal conspiracy inside this family. She knew which men were selling weapons to our enemies and which judges were being paid to protect them. When she became pregnant, Giovanni promised her that her child would be safe.”
Lorenzo stared at him.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Everything.”
A sharp noise came from the warehouse entrance.
Marcus's voice crackled through Lorenzo's concealed earpiece.
“Boss, we've located Giovanni. He's in the basement. We're moving in.”
Matteo heard the faint transmission.
His smile disappeared.
“You brought men.”
“You kidnapped my father. What did you expect?”
Matteo raised his gun.
Before he could fire, the warehouse lights went dark.
Two gunshots rang out.
Lorenzo hit the floor, rolled behind a stack of crates, and returned fire toward the doorway.
When the lights came back, Matteo was gone.
So was the pendant.
Marcus found Giovanni tied to a chair in the basement, barely conscious but alive.
At the hospital, Lorenzo remained beside his father's bed while doctors stabilized him.
Nora sat in the corridor, her hands trembling.
“Is he going to be all right?” she asked.
“He's strong.”
“Your uncle said something about my mother.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“I know.”
“Was my mother involved in something terrible?”
“I don't know yet.”
Nora lowered her eyes.
“My mother spent her whole life teaching me that family means protecting people who cannot protect themselves. I never understood why she was so afraid of powerful men.”
Lorenzo sat beside her.
“Perhaps she knew what they were capable of.”
For the first time, he reached for her hand without thinking.
Nora didn't pull away.
Then a nurse emerged from Giovanni's room.
“He's awake. But he asked for Nora.”
They entered together.
Giovanni struggled to lift his hand.
Nora took it gently.
“I'm here.”
His eyes filled with tears.
He looked at Lorenzo, then at Nora.
“Twins,” he whispered.
Nora covered her mouth.
Lorenzo leaned closer.
“Dad, what happened to the second baby?”
Giovanni's lips trembled.
He forced out one more sentence.
“Your sister... is alive.”
Then he pointed at Nora's stomach.
“Protect... her child.”
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And before Lorenzo could ask another question, Giovanni's heart monitor began screaming.
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