Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO CLAIMED MAYA BEFORE SHE WAS BORN
Evelyn Calder agreed to meet.
Not at the penthouse.
Not at her home.
At an old church in Pilsen where she said cameras were limited and “men like Victor hate pews.”
Julian refused to let Maya go alone.
Maya refused to stay behind.
Derek came too.
The church was nearly empty.
Evelyn sat in the last row wearing a gray coat.
She looked exhausted.
Maya walked directly toward her.
“Who is my father?”
Evelyn looked at Derek.
Then Maya.
“Marco wanted everyone to believe he was.”
“Why?”
“To protect the real father.”
“From who?”
Evelyn gave a sad laugh.
“From Dominic.”
Julian stiffened.
Maya sat.
“Start at the beginning.”
Evelyn looked toward the altar.
“Twenty-four years ago, Elena worked nights at a private supper club near the river.”
“What club?”
“The Meridian.”
Julian knew it.
His expression changed.
Maya noticed.
“What?”
“It was neutral ground.”
“Meaning?”
“Mafia families met there.”
Maya looked back at Evelyn.
“My mother worked there?”
“She served tables. Cleaned kitchens. Never joined anything.”
“Then why was she at Pier Six?”
“She followed someone.”
“Who?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Your father.”
Maya’s heart pounded.
“Name.”
Evelyn whispered:
“Gabriel Romano.”
Derek closed his eyes.
Julian went completely still.
Maya knew the Romano name.
Rivals.
Enemies.
The family Dominic Croft had fought for years.
“My father was a Romano?”
“Yes.”
The church seemed colder.
“Who was Gabriel?”
Julian answered.
“Second son of Antonio Romano.”
Maya looked at him.
“What happened to him?”
Julian’s face hardened.
“He disappeared twenty-four years ago.”
Again.
A disappearance.
Maya turned back.
“Did Dominic kill him?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
“Marco?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“That’s what Elena saw.”
Maya stared.
Evelyn continued.
“Gabriel discovered Marco and Victor were moving Romano weapons through Croft docks.”
Derek whispered:
“My father was stealing from both families.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
Simple.
Ugly.
Believable.
“Gabriel confronted them at Pier Six.”
Maya’s hands tightened.
“Elena followed because she loved him.”
Evelyn nodded.
“She was pregnant.”
Maya closed her eyes.
“So Gabriel knew?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Evelyn’s voice dropped.
“There was a fight.”
“Did Marco kill him?”
“No.”
“Victor?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Evelyn looked at Julian.
His expression changed before she answered.
Maya saw it.
“You know.”
Julian whispered:
“My father.”
Maya stopped breathing.
Evelyn nodded.
“Dominic arrived unexpectedly.”
Silence.
Maya felt something crack inside her.
“The man whose house I work in…”
She looked at Julian.
“Your father killed mine?”
Evelyn rushed:
“It wasn’t planned.”
“That makes him less dead?”
“No.”
Maya stood.
Julian said quietly:
“Maya.”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
Evelyn continued.
“Dominic thought Gabriel was there to expose Croft routes to police.”
“So he killed him.”
“He shot him.”
Maya felt sick.
“Where is the body?”
“No one knows.”
“What?”
“Gabriel fell into the river.”
Convenient again.
“No body?”
“No.”
Maya laughed bitterly.
“Does anyone in this city ever stay dead properly?”
Derek almost smiled.
Wrong moment.
But Maya understood.
The absurdity had become unbearable.
Evelyn continued.
“Afterward, Marco found out Elena was pregnant.”
“And claimed paternity.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if the Romanos discovered Gabriel left a child…”
Julian finished:
“They would claim Maya.”
Maya looked at him.
“As family?”
“Possibly.”
“Or use me.”
No answer.
Exactly.
“Marco switched DNA records.”
“Yes.”
“So Dominic believed Marco was my father?”
“Yes.”
“Why hide the second ledger in my room?”
Evelyn looked at Julian.
“Because I put it there.”
Everyone froze.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Six months before Maya started working for you.”
Maya stared.
“You knew I would come here.”
Evelyn nodded.
“How?”
“I arranged it.”
The room went silent.
Maya felt betrayal stack on betrayal.
“You hired me?”
“I recommended you.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
Maya almost shouted.
“Everyone keeps saying that while ruining my life!”
Evelyn flinched.
“You were being watched.”
“By Victor?”
“Yes.”
“And you brought me into a mafia boss’s penthouse for safety?”
“Julian was the only man Victor feared.”
Maya looked at Julian.
He did not seem pleased by the compliment.
Evelyn continued.
“I thought the ledger would stay hidden.”
“Then Victor found out.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
Maya’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One audio file.
She pressed play.
Victor’s voice.
Clear.
“You really think Gabriel died at Pier Six?”
Maya stopped breathing.
Second voice.
Male.
Older.
Weak.
But alive.
“I told you never to contact her.”
Maya looked at Julian.
“What is this?”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Victor continued on the recording:
“Your daughter is finally asking questions.”
The older man answered:
“Then keep Maya away from Croft.”
The file ended.
Maya’s hands shook.
Evelyn whispered:
“No.”
Maya looked at her.
“You recognize the voice.”
Tears filled Evelyn’s eyes.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
May you like
She barely managed the name.
“Gabriel.”
