Chapter 11 - THE PRIEST WHO BETRAYED THEM
Mila would later ask why priests could be bad.
Elena would tell her the same thing Alessandro had said about fathers.
Sometimes people were bad because of what they chose.
Father Grady had chosen fear.
He had known Gianni for forty years.
He had heard confessions.
Buried victims.
Comforted widows.
And convinced himself silence made him neutral.
Then Gianni found something to use.
Father Grady had a son.
Born before seminary.
Almost nobody knew.
Gianni did.
“He threatened him.”
The priest’s hand shook around the gun.
Alessandro did not move.
“You could have come to me.”
“And then what?”
Grady laughed bitterly.
“Your men kill Gianni? Carlo kills my son? Another family buries someone?”
His eyes filled.
“I wanted it finished.”
“So you gave him Elena?”
“I gave him the key information.”
Elena’s stomach turned.
“You heard Michael’s confession.”
“Yes.”
“You let me trust you.”
“Yes.”
“At least look at me when you say it.”
He did.
Shame looked smaller than Elena expected.
Then footsteps sounded outside.
Gianni had followed.
Grady’s betrayal was only bait.
Alessandro moved.
Not toward the priest.
Toward Elena.
He pushed her behind stone cover as the convent doors burst open.
No detailed battle followed.
Federal agents arrived almost simultaneously.
Matteo had informed them before the trip.
Adrian—no, Alessandro—had finally learned something his younger self would never have tolerated.
Backup from lawful authority.
Gianni’s men surrendered when they realized the building was surrounded.
Carlo was captured in the rear courtyard.
Gianni remained inside.
He walked slowly toward the chapel.
Eighty years old.
Elegant.
Smiling.
He looked at Alessandro.
“My son.”
Alessandro said nothing.
Gianni looked at Elena.
“Michael’s widow.”
Her blood chilled.
Then:
“And little Mila’s mother.”
“You don’t say her name.”
Gianni almost smiled.
“You think poverty makes you brave?”
Elena’s anger became calm.
“No.”
“What then?”
“Having nothing left you can buy.”
The smile disappeared.
Gianni turned toward Lucia.
“You disappoint me.”
Lucia laughed.
“That stopped hurting years ago.”
Bianca entered.
Gianni’s face finally changed.
For the first time, the old man looked frightened.
“You.”
Bianca stood beside her son.
Not behind him.
“You told Alessandro I died.”
“You left.”
“You made leaving the only way to survive.”
Federal agents moved closer.
Gianni looked around at the family he had controlled through secrets.
Every secret now standing together.
Then he said something meant to destroy Alessandro.
“Ask your mother who gave the final order on Michael Carter.”
Everyone froze.
Bianca went pale.
Alessandro stared.
“What does he mean?”
Gianni smiled.
Bianca closed her eyes.
“Alessandro…”
“What does he mean?”
Her voice broke.
“I authorized someone to stop Michael from reaching you.”
Elena’s knees weakened.
The room went completely silent.
Bianca whispered:
“I thought he was carrying evidence that would get you killed.”
Elena stared at the woman she had just trusted.
“What did you do?”
May you like
Bianca began to cry.
“I made a mistake that Michael paid for.”
