Chapter 4 - THE BRIDE WHO DISAPPEARED
Bethany's hands trembled as she held the photograph.
Her mother had married Dante's father.
Not Antonio Moretti.
Vittorio Moretti.
The man who had controlled one of Ohio's most feared criminal organizations.
She looked at Dante.
"Are you telling me we could be brother and sister?"
"Possibly."
Bethany laughed once.
It sounded close to a sob.
"My mother spent twenty-nine years warning me to stay away from dangerous men."
Dante's face softened.
"She may have been trying to protect you."
"From your family?"
"Maybe."
Bethany stared at him.
"You're taking this very calmly."
"I'm not calm."
He looked toward the ruined living room.
"I'm trying to think."
Marco entered carrying an old file folder.
"Boss, we found this beneath the kitchen floor."
Dante opened it.
Inside were marriage documents, medical records, and a birth certificate.
Bethany leaned closer.
Her name appeared on the certificate.
BETHANY ROSE MORETTI.
Mother: Lorraine Daniels.
Father: Vittorio Moretti.
Bethany felt the room tilt.
For twenty-nine years, she'd signed the wrong last name.
She had applied for college scholarships, earned her nursing degree, and built her entire life believing she was Bethany Daniels.
Now a piece of paper suggested she belonged to a family she had spent her adulthood fearing.
"That can't be right," she whispered.
Dante examined the document.
"The seal looks authentic, but we need independent verification."
Bethany turned toward him.
"Do you have any idea what this means?"
"Yes."
"No, you don't!"
Her voice cracked.
"My mother lied about my father. Someone kidnapped her. And now I'm standing in my childhood home while a mafia boss tells me I might be his sister!"
Dante didn't interrupt.
Bethany pressed her hands against her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
"I haven't slept."
"I know."
She looked at him.
"How?"
He glanced at the dinosaur sticker still attached to her sleeve.
"Because you spent twelve hours keeping sick children alive and then accidentally attacked my car."
Despite everything, she almost smiled.
Then Marco's phone rang.
He listened.
His expression changed.
"Boss, we located the old St. Augustine building."
Dante looked up.
"And?"
"It's being used as a private medical storage facility."
Bethany frowned.
"Medical?"
Marco nodded.
"According to the property records, it's owned by a company called Meridian Health Logistics."
Bethany went pale.
Dante noticed immediately.
"What?"
She swallowed.
"Meridian supplies equipment to my hospital."
"Do you know anyone there?"
Bethany stared at the floor.
Then whispered, "My mother's boyfriend works for Meridian."
Dante's eyes narrowed.
"What's his name?"
"Dr. Calvin Reed."
Marco began typing.
Seconds later, his face hardened.
"Boss, Calvin Reed isn't his real name."
Dante looked at the screen.
May you like
Marco continued.
"His real name is Salvatore Moretti."
