Chapter 8 - THE BLOODLINE THAT COULD NOT BE ERASED
Dante returned to Chicago with more questions than answers.
His mother was alive.
His brother was missing.
Valentina was connected to his father's secret inheritance.
And somewhere inside the Russo empire was a person who knew the truth about Lorenzo's death.
But the most disturbing discovery came from the final pages of Arthur Whitmore's documents.
The second will was not merely an inheritance agreement.
It was a confession.
Lorenzo had written that his death had been arranged after he discovered someone was stealing from the family accounts.
He had suspected Nicholas.
Then Valentina.
Then his own son.
Dante.
The document named no killer.
Instead, it described a meeting at a private marina on the night Lorenzo died.
Three people had attended.
Lorenzo.
Arthur.
And a woman whose name had been removed from the original copy.
"Who was she?" Dante asked.
Arthur looked away.
"I cannot tell you."
"You're going to."
"Not until you understand why your father kept the name hidden."
Dante leaned forward.
"Then explain."
Arthur revealed that Lorenzo had discovered a secret about the Russo bloodline.
The child Elena had believed was her grandchild was not the only child her husband had fathered outside the marriage.
There was another.
A daughter.
A child whose mother had been involved in the financial network that later became Valentina's power base.
Dante looked at the photograph again.
"Valentina."
Arthur nodded.
"She is your half-sister."
Dante stood.
"Why would she sleep with me if she knew?"
Arthur's expression became grim.
"She didn't know the full truth when she first met you. Lorenzo had concealed her identity from everyone, including her."
"But she knew eventually."
"Yes."
"And she stayed."
"Because she wanted what she believed belonged to her."
Dante thought about the wedding.
The hotel apartment.
The black envelope.
Every lie.
"She manipulated me."
"She manipulated everyone."
Marco entered the room with a phone.
"Boss, we've located Gabriel."
"Where?"
"Chicago. He's at the old Russo warehouse."
Dante reached for his coat.
"Let's go."
Arthur grabbed his wrist.
"Wait."
Dante turned.
"Your father left another message."
"What?"
Arthur looked directly at him.
"If you find Gabriel, do not kill him."
"Why?"
"Because he isn't the person who murdered Lorenzo."
Dante's jaw tightened.
"Then who did?"
Arthur glanced toward Elena.
She spoke quietly.
"Your father was killed by someone who believed the family would never survive the truth."
The warehouse stood on the southern edge of Chicago.
Dante arrived with Marco and six men.
The building was dark.
A single light burned in the upstairs office.
He entered carefully.
"Gabriel!"
A figure emerged from the shadows.
Gabriel held no weapon.
He looked exhausted.
"You found your mother," he said.
"Yes."
"Then you know."
"Not everything."
Gabriel laughed without humor.
"None of us ever knew everything."
Dante stepped closer.
"Why did you take the flash drive?"
"Because Valentina was going to destroy it."
"Where is it?"
"Safe."
"Give it to me."
Gabriel shook his head.
"Not until you hear what happened the night Lorenzo died."
Dante's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me."
Gabriel explained that Lorenzo had arranged a meeting at the marina. He wanted to change the inheritance agreement and remove Valentina from the family business.
But someone had arrived before the meeting ended.
A woman.
She had argued with Lorenzo.
Then a gunshot had been heard.
Gabriel had been waiting outside.
He found his father dead.
Arthur was unconscious.
The woman was gone.
"Who was she?" Dante demanded.
Gabriel looked at him.
"Your mother."
Dante shook his head.
"Impossible."
"Elena was there. She shot Lorenzo."
Dante grabbed Gabriel by the collar.
"You're lying."
"I wish I were."
Gabriel's eyes filled with tears.
"She told me she did it to save us."
Dante released him.
Before he could ask another question, the warehouse lights came on.
A woman's voice echoed from the upper level.
"Family reunion. How touching."
Valentina stood on the metal staircase.
She held a gun.
And beside her was Isabella.
Dante's blood turned cold.
"Let her go."
Valentina smiled.
"Of course."
She placed the weapon against Isabella's side.
"But first, I want the inheritance documents."
Dante looked at Isabella.
She shook her head slightly.
Then Valentina leaned close to her ear and whispered something that made Isabella's face lose all color.
Dante heard only the final sentence.
May you like
"Your baby isn't the first Russo heir I've tried to erase."
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