THE MAID WALKED INTO THE WEDDING CARRYING A BABY

"Put the gun down," Luca ordered.

Michael smiled.

Six years had changed his face.

There was a scar running from his cheek toward his jaw, and his hair had grown longer.

But his eyes were unmistakable.

"That's a strange way to greet a dead man."

Luca stepped between Michael and Elena.

"You have some explaining to do."

Michael laughed.

"You're the one who showed up at my house with armed men."

"Our house?" Luca asked.

Michael's smile disappeared.

"Did she tell you that?"

Elena stood behind Luca.

"Michael, please."

He glanced at her.

"Don't."

Luca noticed the way she flinched.

"Why are you pointing a gun at your own sister-in-law?"

Michael lowered the weapon slightly.

"Because she made a decision that cost me six years."

"What decision?"

"She chose you."

Luca stared at him.

Michael continued.

"Elena knew our grandfather wanted the children. She knew the family trust was being used to finance a private operation. She also knew I had the original documents."

"Then why didn't you come to me?"

"Because you would have handed everything to our father."

"Our father was dead."

"Exactly."

Michael moved closer.

"Anthony controlled the family long after his death. He had people everywhere. Judges. Doctors. Police officers. Even the priest who married you tonight."

Luca's eyes narrowed.

"The priest?"

"He was never supposed to marry you and Vanessa."

Luca looked at Elena.

She nodded slowly.

"Michael discovered that Anthony had arranged a second identity for the boy. He planned to make him the legal heir, then eliminate everyone who could challenge him."

"Why did you help him?"

Elena looked at Michael.

"Because he promised to protect the children."

Michael laughed bitterly.

"And she believed him."

Luca looked at his brother.

"Where is the boy?"

Michael's face changed.

"Safe."

"Where?"

"Somewhere you can't reach."

Luca took another step forward.

"You're going to tell me."

Michael raised his gun again.

"Not until you hear what Elena did."

Elena closed her eyes.

"Michael, don't."

"Tell him," Michael demanded. "Tell him why the original hospital record lists my name."

Luca turned toward her.

Elena looked down.

"Your father was dying when I discovered I was pregnant. He had arranged for a medical test to be altered. He wanted to prove you were infertile so that Michael could inherit the family trust."

Luca frowned.

"That doesn't make sense."

"Your father had already suspected that Michael was his biological son."

Luca froze.

Michael lowered his gun.

Elena continued.

"Your father had an affair with Michael's mother before he married your mother. He hid the truth. When Michael found out, he demanded the family records."

Luca looked at his brother.

"You're our father's son?"

Michael nodded.

"Half-brother. Not your full brother."

The words hit harder than Luca expected.

"Why did you let me believe you were dead?"

"Because I needed everyone to stop looking for me."

"By staging an explosion?"

Michael looked away.

"Anthony's men were coming for me."

Luca studied his face.

"Where is the other child?"

Michael hesitated.

"He's not a child anymore."

Luca frowned.

"He's six years old."

"Yes."

"Then what do you mean?"

Michael looked at Elena.

She whispered:

"The boy was taken from the hospital by someone we trusted."

"Who?"

Michael answered.

"Your father."

Luca's stomach tightened.

"That's impossible."

"He wasn't dead when the children were born," Michael said. "His death was announced three weeks later. He spent those three weeks moving money, changing records, and arranging the children's disappearance."

Luca shook his head.

"My father died in a hospital."

"That was the story."

Michael reached into his coat and pulled out a small key.

"Your father had a private room beneath the old Moretti estate. The documents are still there."

Luca took the key.

"Why didn't you retrieve them?"

"Because the room is locked with two keys."

"Where's the second?"

Michael looked toward Elena.

"She has it."

Elena reached beneath her sweater and pulled out a small gold key.