Chapter 10 - THE BROTHER WHO STOOD BESIDE HIM FOR TWENTY YEARS
Dominic sat beside Marco’s hospital bed when he woke.
“You knew.”
Marco opened his eyes slowly.
“Knew what?”
“That Enzo was my father.”
Marco closed them again.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Since I was twenty.”
Dominic stood.
“You let me believe Antonio was my father.”
“He was.”
“Not biologically.”
Marco looked at him.
“That doesn’t erase twenty years.”
Dominic hated that answer because it sounded true.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Antonio asked me not to.”
“Again.”
“Because Enzo would have used you.”
“How?”
“He already used me.”
Marco looked away.
Enzo had known Dominic was his son.
He hated Antonio for raising him.
But Antonio and Maria had chosen to protect Dominic.
Maria had loved Enzo once.
Before understanding what kind of man he was.
When Dominic was born, Antonio claimed him publicly.
Enzo accepted the lie temporarily.
Then later demanded control.
Antonio refused.
That conflict helped cause his death.
Dominic sat again.
“So you’re my brother.”
“Half.”
“And Daniel was ours too.”
Marco’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Dominic looked toward the hallway where Emily sat waiting.
Her husband.
Rose’s father.
His brother.
This family had become impossible.
Then Marco said:
“Daniel discovered Sofia’s identity.”
“That got him killed?”
“No.”
Dominic’s head snapped back.
“What did?”
“He discovered Rose.”
“What about Rose?”
Marco swallowed.
“Enzo created a bloodline trust.”
Dominic felt dread settle.
“Continue.”
“All direct biological descendants were beneficiaries.”
“Money?”
“More than money.”
Control of hidden Bellini assets.
Daniel wanted nothing to do with it.
“Then why was he killed?”
“Because after Daniel’s death, Rose became the youngest direct beneficiary.”
Emily entered just in time to hear that.
“What assets?”
Marco looked at her.
“Roughly ninety million dollars.”
Emily went pale.
“No.”
“And Serena?”
Dominic asked.
“She needs Rose’s bloodline claim eliminated.”
Emily grabbed the bed rail.
“What does that mean?”
Marco answered carefully.
“If Rose dies before the trust is opened, her share returns to the surviving Bellini branch.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
“To me?”
Marco shook his head.
“To Sofia.”
Silence.
Sofia wasn’t only after Dominic.
She had reason to target Rose.
Emily’s fear became rage.
“She came near my daughter.”
Dominic stood.
“She won’t again.”
Then Marco whispered:
“Dominic.”
“What?”
“There’s one more thing.”
He looked at Emily.
“Daniel knew Rose would inherit.”
“Yes.”
“He changed the trust.”
“How?”
“He named a guardian.”
Emily frowned.
“For the money?”
“No.”
Marco looked at Dominic.
“For Rose.”
May you like
In the event Emily died, Daniel had named Dominic Vitali as Rose’s legal guardian.
A man Emily’s husband had supposedly told her to run from.
