Chapter 13 - THE FATHER WHO HAD BEEN HIDING FOR FOURTEEN YEARS
Daniel Hale was alive.
Federal investigators confirmed it before I allowed myself to believe.
A protected identity existed.
Daniel Harper.
Former federal consultant.
Living in Vermont.
Married?
No.
Children?
None besides me.
For fourteen years, my father had lived less than six hours away.
I didn’t know whether to cry or break something.
Mom did both.
She threw a plastic water cup across the room.
Then sobbed.
Vittorio had hidden Daniel after the bombing.
Daniel suffered severe injuries.
Bellini’s network still had people inside law enforcement.
The decision was made to report him dead and isolate him under federal protection.
“Why not us?” I demanded.
The agent answered quietly.
“Your mother disappeared with you before he recovered enough to contact anyone.”
Mom stared.
“I thought they killed him.”
Daniel later tried to locate us.
But Marina’s fake identities worked too well.
Then when he finally found evidence of where we were, Vittorio died.
The communication channel disappeared.
Years passed.
“Why didn’t he come forward publicly?”
“Because Bellini was still active.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Another person protecting me by not being in my life.”
No one argued.
Daniel agreed to meet.
When he entered the room, I knew him.
Not from memory.
From myself.
Same eyebrows.
Same crooked smile.
He stopped ten feet away.
“Emily.”
I folded my arms.
“Don’t hug me.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
Good answer.
Mom stood behind me.
Daniel saw her.
Whatever existed between them filled the room.
“Marina.”
She slapped him.
Apparently this family communicated physically when overwhelmed.
Then she hugged him.
I looked at Luca.
He whispered:
“I’m noticing a pattern.”
“Quiet.”
Daniel gave us the final piece.
Bellini had built his network with help from Anthony Rossi and Emilia Rossi.
Vittorio discovered it late.
He protected Daniel.
Protected Marina.
Protected me.
But he couldn’t expose his own sister without destroying the Rossi medical foundation and risking dozens of witnesses.
Again:
Powerful people choosing secrecy.
Again:
Everyone else paying for it.
Daniel had spent fourteen years collecting evidence.
Enough to prosecute Emilia.
Enough to destroy Bellini’s network.
Anthony remained missing.
Bellini remained free.
Then Daniel looked at Luca.
“Your shooting was not ordered by Anthony.”
Luca frowned.
“Then who?”
“Emilia.”
His aunt.
“Why?”
“Because Anthony was supposed to inherit after your death.”
Luca’s expression hardened.
“That still makes Anthony involved.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Anthony discovered the plan and tried to warn you.”
“What?”
“The gunman fired before he could.”
“Then why did Anthony attack the mansion?”
Daniel looked at us.
“He didn’t.”
Silence.
“The men at your gates were Bellini’s.”
“Anthony called me.”
“Under duress.”
Luca went still.
Then Daniel delivered the final shock.
“Anthony has been Bellini’s prisoner for three weeks.”
And the man currently transferring Rossi assets under Anthony’s identity?
May you like
Not Anthony.
Emilia Rossi.
