Chapter 13 - THE UNCLE AT THE DOOR
The warning could only mean one person.
My father's younger brother, Vincent Duca.
Everyone believed Vincent had retired to Sicily after a bitter dispute over the family business. He had been absent from our lives for years, sending occasional holiday cards and polite condolences.
But the evidence told another story.
Vincent had controlled the shell companies that received money from the trust. He had arranged payments to the investigator who followed Elena and had maintained contact with Vivien throughout her engagement to me.
He had also signed the vehicle lease connected to Adrian's fatal crash.
I called him.
He answered on the second ring.
"Lorenzo, my boy. I heard there was trouble at the mansion."
"Come home," I said. "We need to discuss family matters."
He arrived that evening in a dark overcoat, carrying a bottle of wine and wearing the same easy smile I remembered from childhood.
His eyes settled on Elena and Mia.
"So," he said softly. "The little heir."
I stepped between them.
"You know who she is."
Vincent poured himself a glass.
"I knew who Adrian was. I knew what he wanted. And I knew what your father would do to stop him."
"Did you arrange his death?"
Vincent sighed as if I had asked something inconvenient.
"Your father made the decision. I made sure it happened."
Elena covered Mia's ears.
I felt something inside me go still.
"Why?"
"Because Adrian would have destroyed everything. He wanted to hand our business to prosecutors and leave with a woman who meant nothing to the family."
"She meant everything to him."
Vincent shrugged.
"Love is a weakness men like us cannot afford."
I signaled Rocco, who stood behind him.
Vincent laughed.
"You think you can arrest me? Half the men who protect you owe their positions to me."
Then he reached into his coat.
Every guard raised a weapon.
But Vincent pulled out a small remote.
May you like
The mansion's gates began opening.
And outside, a convoy of black vehicles rolled toward the house.
