Chapter 9 - THE DEATH NOBODY QUESTIONED
Marcus Falcone had buried his mother when he was twenty-three years old.
For twenty-five years, he'd believed she died from a sudden medical complication.
Now his father's handwriting suggested she'd been poisoned.
And Anthony Bellini might know who did it.
Marcus sat in the hospital conference room, staring at the photograph recovered from Gabriel's blanket.
His mother, Sofia Falcone, stood beside his father on the steps of their old family home.
She was smiling.
Her dark hair moved in the wind.
Marcus remembered her laugh.
Her cooking.
The way she used to tell him:
"Being powerful means nothing if people are afraid to ask you for help."
He had forgotten those words for years.
Now they returned with painful clarity.
Detective Morris sat opposite him.
"We need to verify the document's authenticity."
Marcus nodded.
"Of course."
"We'll also review the original medical records."
He looked down.
"Do whatever is necessary."
The investigation uncovered several troubling details.
Sofia Falcone's medication records contained inconsistencies.
A physician had raised concerns shortly before her death.
But the concerns were never fully investigated.
A private medical consultant had been involved.
His name was Leonard Cross.
Marcus stopped breathing.
"Isabella's father."
Detective Morris nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus leaned back.
Everything seemed connected.
His mother's death.
His father's trust.
Isabella.
Anthony.
The attempt to take his sons.
He looked toward the hospital nursery.
How many generations of his family had been targeted?
Then Detective Morris continued.
"There's another connection."
"What?"
"Leonard Cross worked with Anthony Bellini before either joined your family's businesses."
Marcus frowned.
"How long?"
"Almost thirty years."
Thirty years.
Long before Isabella met Marcus.
Long before Anthony became his consigliere.
The betrayal had been growing for decades.
Marcus covered his face.
For years, he'd believed loyalty could be purchased.
That anyone paid enough would protect his interests.
Now he understood that the people closest to him had been using his wealth against him.
That evening, Elena asked to speak with him privately.
She was recovering steadily.
The babies had been brought to her room for supervised bonding time.
Marcus sat beside her.
Elena looked toward Matteo and Gabriel.
"They're beautiful."
He smiled.
"Just like their mother."
She looked at him.
"Marcus, can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Did you really believe I abandoned you?"
His chest tightened.
He looked down.
"Yes."
Tears filled her eyes.
"Why?"
He swallowed.
"Because Isabella showed me a letter."
Elena frowned.
"What letter?"
"A letter supposedly written by you."
She shook her head.
"I never wrote one."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Another forgery.
Another lie.
Elena touched his hand.
"I loved you."
His eyes filled.
"I loved you too."
She looked toward their sons.
"Maybe we can learn how to be a family."
Marcus nodded.
"I'd like that."
Then his phone vibrated.
Detective Morris.
"Mr. Falcone, Anthony Bellini has been located."
Marcus stood.
"Where?"
"At a private airfield."
"Is he in custody?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"But during questioning, he made a claim we need to verify."
Marcus stared.
"What claim?"
May you like
Detective Morris hesitated.
"He says Isabella Cross isn't Leonard Cross's biological daughter. He says she's your father's child."
