Chapter 7 - The Father's Offer
Sarah stepped into the light.
Anthony Valenti studied her face with the detached curiosity of a man inspecting something he had purchased.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
“Where is my grandmother?”
“Safe. For the moment.”
“Let her go.”
Anthony smiled.
“You haven't even asked why I brought you here.”
“Because you need something from me.”
For the first time, his smile faltered.
Then he laughed.
“Your mother was clever. I can see she taught you something.”
He led Sarah into Room 12.
Eleanor sat tied to a chair, her cheek bruised, but she was conscious.
Sarah rushed toward her.
Giovanni raised his weapon.
“Slowly.”
Sarah stopped.
Anthony sat across from them.
“Your mother stole records that could have destroyed this family. Those records disappeared when she died.”
“She didn't die.”
Anthony's expression changed.
Sarah felt the truth settle inside her.
“You know she survived.”
“I know she escaped.”
“Where is she?”
“If I knew, we wouldn't be having this conversation.”
He placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Rebecca standing outside a bus station in Ohio, holding a baby.
Sarah.
The date on the photograph was two years after the supposed house fire.
“You were told your mother died when you were nine,” Anthony said. “The truth is that she vanished years earlier, leaving you with Eleanor while she tried to dismantle everything I had built.”
Sarah stared at the picture.
Her childhood memories suddenly felt like pieces from different lives.
“Why didn't she take me?”
“Because she believed I would use you against her.”
“Would you have?”
Anthony didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
He slid a document toward her.
“I want the original records. In exchange, your grandmother walks away, and you receive enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life.”
Sarah looked at the paper.
It was a transfer agreement for a numbered account in Switzerland.
Millions of dollars.
She pushed it back.
“You think everyone has a price.”
“Everyone has a need.”
“My grandmother needs dialysis. I need tuition money. Neither of those things makes me yours.”
Anthony's face hardened.
“Your mother said the same thing.”
A crash echoed from upstairs.
Gunfire followed.
Giovanni moved toward the door.
Anthony caught his arm.
“Wait.”
A voice came through the radio clipped to Giovanni's jacket.
“Front entrance compromised. Valenti is inside.”
Anthony stood.
“Bring my son to me.”
Sarah stared at him.
“You planned this.”
“Of course.”
“You wanted Lorenzo to come.”
“I want the family reunited.”
“That's not what you want.”
She looked directly at Giovanni.
“You're afraid of him.”
The old consigliere's eyes narrowed.
“Careful, girl.”
“You helped Anthony disappear. You helped hide my mother. But you don't want Lorenzo to know everything.”
Anthony drew a second document from his coat.
It was a medical record.
Sarah saw her own name at the top.
Beneath it was a line she didn't understand.
BIOLOGICAL FATHER: LORENZO VALENTI.
The room went silent.
Anthony watched her reaction.
“Now you understand why I needed you here.”
Sarah's blood turned cold.
“You're lying.”
“Ask your brother.”
The door exploded inward.
Lorenzo stood in the doorway, gun raised, Marco behind him.
His eyes moved from Sarah to Eleanor, then to the medical document in Anthony's hand.
Anthony held it up.
“Welcome home, son.”
Lorenzo's face went blank.
May you like
Anthony smiled.
“Before you kill me, perhaps you should ask why the woman you've spent the last week protecting might be the reason your mother died.”
