Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO KNEW MY REAL NAME
:
I couldn't speak.
Derek Voss.
My biological father.
The enemy I had spent ten years fighting.
The man responsible for half the city's violence.
My father.
It couldn't be true.
I looked at Sophie.
She was crying.
“Is it?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because your mother told me.”
“My mother died.”
“Your mother's alive.”
The room went silent.
I stared.
“No.”
“She wasn't buried.”
“What?”
Sophie whispered:
“She went into hiding.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
Everyone in my life had apparently been living inside a lie.
I called my mother.
The number had been disconnected for twenty years.
Then the phone rang.
A woman's voice answered.
“Marco.”
My knees weakened.
“Mom?”
She cried.
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“I need the truth.”
“You aren't Derek's son.”
I closed my eyes.
“Then who is my father?”
“Antonio DeLuca.”
My heart stopped.
“My grandfather?”
“No.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“But the DNA report…”
“Fake.”
“Why?”
“Because Victoria ordered it.”
I stared.
She continued:
“She wants you to believe you're illegitimate so the trust transfers to her.”
“What about Chloe?”
Silence.
“Mom?”
“She knows.”
“Knows what?”
“She carries the original Rossi bloodline.”
“Then Lily?”
“She carries the DeLuca bloodline.”
I understood.
Two daughters.
Two bloodlines.
One trust.
Victoria couldn't control it unless one child disappeared.
She had arranged the explosion.
My mother continued:
“Your father knew.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he was afraid Victoria would kill you.”
“Why did he die?”
“He didn't.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Your father is alive.”
“Where?”
“With me.”
I couldn't breathe.
My father.
Alive.
My entire world cracked open again.
“Where are you?”
“Boston.”
“Send me the address.”
“I can't.”
“Mom.”
“You have to come alone.”
“Why?”
“Because Victoria has someone inside your security team.”
I looked at Marcus.
He had been my chief of security for eight years.
Was he the traitor?
My mother whispered:
“Not Marcus.”
“Who?”
A pause.
“Your uncle.”
I frowned.
“I don't have an uncle.”
“You do.”
“Who?”
“Victor DeLuca.”
The same Victor who had been advising me.
My legal counsel.
My trusted friend.
I stared at the phone.
“Mom…”
The line went dead.
I turned.
Victor stood behind me.
He was holding a gun.
“Hello, Marco.”
I froze.
Sophie screamed.
Rosie grabbed her mother's hand.
Victor smiled.
“You always were your father's favorite mistake.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you inherited everything.”
“And you wanted it.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I wanted what your father promised me.”
“What?”
“The trust.”
I raised my weapon.
Victor laughed.
“Don't.”
“You won't shoot me.”
“Why?”
“Because you still think you're my family.”
His face softened.
“For years, I was.”
Then he fired.
The bullet hit the ceiling.
Marcus tackled him.
Security flooded the room.
Victor disappeared through the vault passage.
I stared after him.
Then I noticed something on the floor.
An envelope.
My name.
Inside was one photograph.
My father.
My mother.
Me.
And a young girl.
Lily.
Alive.
The date was today.
I looked at the photograph.
“She is here.”
Sophie shook her head.
“No.”
I turned.
“What?”
“She came to you herself.”
“What do you mean?”
Sophie looked toward the dining room.
“The girl who asked to eat with you…”
My heart stopped.
“Chloe.”
“Yes.”
“She is not my niece.”
I felt cold.
May you like
“She is my daughter.”
The final secret had been sitting at my table all along.
