Chapter 14 - THE BETRAYAL INSIDE THE COSTA FAMILY
Roman didn't speak for several seconds.
His sister had finally come home.
Now Preston was suggesting someone inside Roman's own family had helped keep her hidden.
I watched Roman's expression.
His jaw tightened.
But he didn't lose control.
Instead, he looked toward Katherine.
"We need to verify that claim."
Katherine nodded.
"Exactly."
Preston laughed.
"You really don't know, do you?"
Roman stared at him.
"Know what?"
Preston leaned back.
"Ask Marco."
The room went silent.
Marco.
Roman's most trusted security chief.
The man who had helped search for Lucia.
The man who had stood beside Roman through every dangerous moment.
I felt a chill.
Roman looked toward the doorway.
Marco stood there.
His expression had changed.
"Boss—"
Roman raised one hand.
"Don't."
Marco stopped.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Roman asked quietly, "Did you know where Lucia was?"
Marco looked down.
"Yes."
The answer felt like a physical blow.
Roman stared.
"How long?"
Marco swallowed.
"Seven years."
I heard Roman's breath catch.
"Seven years?"
Marco nodded.
Roman took a step backward.
"You watched me search for my sister."
"I know."
"You watched me bury her in my mind."
Marco's eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
Roman's voice broke.
"Why?"
Marco looked toward the windows.
"Because your father ordered me to keep her hidden."
Silence.
Roman's father, Angelo Costa, had died five years earlier.
He'd been one of the most powerful figures in Chicago's criminal underworld.
Roman rarely spoke about him.
When he did, there was little affection in his voice.
Marco continued.
"Angelo believed Vincent would kill Lucia if her location became known."
"Then why didn't he tell me?"
"Because you were preparing to confront Vincent. Your father feared you'd start a war."
Roman shook his head.
"So he made me believe she was dead?"
Marco nodded.
"I'm sorry."
Roman turned away.
For the first time since I'd met him, he looked completely exhausted.
I stepped closer.
"Roman."
He didn't respond.
I gently touched his arm.
He looked at me.
And I saw something beneath all the power and reputation.
A man who had lost years with someone he loved.
A man who had been betrayed by the people closest to him.
Just like me.
Marco continued.
"After Angelo died, I wanted to tell you. But Lucia's medical condition remained fragile, and Vincent still had connections to the facility."
Roman closed his eyes.
"That doesn't excuse it."
"No."
Marco lowered his head.
"I know."
Roman looked at him for a long moment.
Then spoke quietly.
"You'll give investigators every record you have."
Marco nodded.
"Yes."
"And you'll cooperate fully."
"Of course."
Roman turned away.
He wasn't ready to forgive him.
Maybe he never would be.
But he wasn't going to let another generation of Costa family secrets destroy innocent people.
Over the following weeks, the investigations expanded.
Financial records connected Vincent Caruso to the fraudulent takeover of Bennett & Sons.
Witness testimony and preserved correspondence raised serious questions about the attack on Lucia and the interference with Arthur Bennett's medical care.
Preston's own statements became part of the evidence investigators evaluated.
Vincent was eventually arrested.
Preston faced charges involving financial fraud, forgery, and conspiracy.
Margaret Caruso and others connected to the scheme also came under investigation.
The court proceedings would take time.
But the truth was no longer buried.
Then Katherine called me with news I'd barely dared to hope for.
"Sloan, the court has granted temporary protections over the disputed Riverside assets while the ownership claims are litigated."
My heart pounded.
"What does that mean?"
"It means the assets cannot simply be disposed of while the case is being resolved."
I sat down.
"And Dad's company?"
"We've reached a preliminary agreement to restore control of certain business records and property pending further proceedings."
Tears filled my eyes.
For the first time in three years, Bennett & Sons had a chance.
A real chance.
That evening, I visited my father.
He sat beside the window.
When I told him what happened, he began crying.
I knelt beside his wheelchair.
"Dad, we're getting it back."
He squeezed my hand.
"Good... girl."
I laughed through tears.
Then he reached toward the small sketchbook resting on his table.
He'd been practicing drawing with his recovering hand.
I opened it.
Inside was a simple house.
Three windows.
A slanted roof.
And beneath it, written in shaky letters, were four words.
BUILD IT WITH SLOAN.
I hugged him.
"I will, Dad."
But when I turned the page, I found something unexpected.
A drawing of the Riverside project.
Beside it, Dad had written a name.
ROMAN COSTA — ORIGINAL PROJECT BACKER.
I stared.
Roman had told me his family was connected to the development.
But he'd never told me this.
I called him immediately.
"Roman?"
"Sloan?"
"Why is your name on my father's original Riverside plans?"
A long pause.
Then he answered.
"Because your father and I made an agreement years ago."
My heart pounded.
"What agreement?"
May you like
Roman's voice softened.
"I promised him that if anything happened, I would help you finish the building he dreamed of."
