Chapter 14 - THE FORGOTTEN MORETTI
His name was Vincent Moretti.
Older than Elias.
Younger than Giovanni.
Officially dead at twenty-seven.
Another lie.
Giovanni admitted his father had erased Vincent from family history after a betrayal decades earlier.
Vincent had sided with Thomas Vale during the original Moretti civil war.
Afterward, Giovanni believed Vincent fled Europe and died.
Apparently not.
“Why does this family keep having secret relatives?” Nora demanded.
Lorenzo looked at Giovanni.
“I would also appreciate an answer.”
Giovanni looked exhausted.
“My father believed shame should be buried.”
Nora folded her arms.
“And how is that strategy working?”
“Badly.”
“Very.”
Alexander laughed.
Lorenzo didn't.
The recording proved Vincent had access to Margaret shortly before her death.
But whether he harmed her remained unclear.
Thomas contacted Nora again.
This time, Nora answered willingly.
“You sent the video.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To prove Giovanni doesn't know everything.”
“You could have sent the full recording.”
“You’re learning.”
“What do you want?”
“To meet my granddaughter.”
Nora became icy.
“No.”
“Lily is my blood.”
“Blood doesn't make you family.”
Thomas became quiet.
“You sound like Margaret.”
“Good.”
“She thought she could choose her own family too.”
That felt like a threat.
Lorenzo took the phone.
“You come near Lily and I'll make prison look generous.”
Thomas laughed.
Then hung up.
For the first time, Nora saw something unsettling in Lorenzo.
Not anger.
Fear.
He doubled Lily’s security.
Changed her school routine.
Cancelled public appearances.
Nora allowed it for three days.
Then confronted him.
“She can't live like a prisoner.”
“She can live.”
“Lorenzo.”
“I am not gambling with our daughter.”
“Our daughter.”
The words softened her.
But only slightly.
“She needs a childhood.”
“She needs to be alive.”
Nora looked at him.
“You think I don't know that?”
His silence hurt.
“I'm her mother.”
“I know.”
“Then stop acting like fear gives you more authority than me.”
Lorenzo exhaled.
“That's not what I'm doing.”
“It is.”
They rarely fought seriously.
This one lasted hours.
Eventually Nora said:
“You once gave me a house because you wanted me to always have a choice.”
“I remember.”
“Then don't build a prettier cage around Lily and call it love.”
The sentence landed.
Lorenzo looked away.
That night, he went into Lily’s room.
She was awake reading.
“Mom's mad at you.”
“Yes.”
“Did you deserve it?”
“Probably.”
“Then say sorry.”
He stared.
“You and Grandpa make relationships sound extremely simple.”
“They are.”
“How?”
“If you’re wrong, say sorry. If they’re sad, hug them. If they steal your fries, get more.”
Lorenzo laughed.
“You’re very wise.”
“I’m seven.”
He kissed her forehead.
The next morning, he apologized to Nora.
Not defensively.
Not conditionally.
Simply.
“I let fear make the decision for both of us.”
Nora hugged him.
“We still protect her.”
“I know.”
“Together.”
“Together.”
That fragile peace lasted until Alexander vanished from his room.
Again.
No forced entry.
No struggle.
This time, he had left willingly.
On his pillow was a note.
I know where Vincent is.
Beneath it:
Don't follow me.
Naturally, they followed him.
The tracking signal led to an abandoned church in Vermont.
Lorenzo, Marcus, Nora, and Giovanni entered.
Alexander stood at the altar.
Across from him was an elderly priest.
The priest turned.
Giovanni almost collapsed.
“Vincent.”
The man smiled.
“Hello, brother.”
Nora stepped forward.
“You treated my mother.”
Vincent looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Did you kill her?”
He closed his eyes.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Vincent looked toward Giovanni.
“Ask him why Margaret really had to disappear.”
Giovanni stiffened.
Nora turned.
“What is he talking about?”
Vincent smiled sadly.
“Tell her, Giovanni.”
Giovanni’s eyes filled with regret.
Vincent continued:
“Tell Nora what her mother did the night Thomas Vale supposedly died.”
Nora whispered:
“What did she do?”
May you like
Giovanni answered.
“She shot him.”
