Chapter 13 - The Fire Meant to Erase Them
Dante kicked open the secondary exit.
The hallway was filling with smoke, but the fire had started nowhere near the electrical system.
“It’s deliberate,” he shouted.
Clara held Leo against her chest while Rico supported Elena.
They escaped through a loading corridor and emerged into the alley.
Dante called his team.
No answer.
Then a black sedan accelerated toward them.
Rico shoved Clara and Leo behind a concrete barrier.
The sedan stopped.
The rear door opened.
Salvatore stepped out.
He was nearly sixty, silver-haired, elegantly dressed, and calm enough to look like he had come for breakfast.
“Nephew.”
Rico moved in front of his family.
“You buried my wife.”
“I saved your wife.”
“You kidnapped her.”
“I protected the family from what she discovered.”
Elena shouted, “You threatened my son!”
Salvatore looked genuinely offended.
“I would never hurt Leo.”
Clara stepped forward.
“You threatened him on camera.”
Salvatore’s gaze moved to her.
For the first time, his composure broke.
“Rebecca’s girl.”
“My name is Clara.”
“No. Your name is Moretti.”
Rico immediately moved closer to her.
“She decides what her name is.”
Salvatore smiled faintly.
“That almost sounded like a brother.”
Clara’s stomach tightened.
“You knew?”
“For twenty-four years.”
“Then why hire me at Il Destino?”
“I didn’t.”
Everyone froze.
Salvatore looked toward Rico.
“Marco did.”
Rico frowned.
“Marco works for you.”
“No. Marco works for Giovanni.”
The pieces shifted again.
Salvatore claimed Giovanni had resurfaced months earlier, intending to destroy the empire he had created.
Marco had planted Clara inside Il Destino.
Mrs. Bell had helped Elena escape.
Even the hospital key had been planted deliberately so Rico would find Elena.
“You’re saying my father arranged all this?” Rico asked.
“To bring all of you together.”
A gunshot cracked from above.
Concrete exploded beside Salvatore.
Everyone ducked.
Dante pulled them behind cover.
A second shot struck the sedan.
Salvatore shouted toward the rooftop.
“Marco!”
Rico stared at him.
“You weren’t trying to kill us.”
Salvatore looked almost amused.
“For once, nephew, I’m not the villain standing closest to you.”
A voice echoed from the parking structure.
“Salvatore finally told the truth.”
Marco emerged.
Beside him stood an elderly man with a cane.
Rico went completely still.
Giovanni Moretti looked at his son.
“Hello, Ricardo.”
Then his eyes moved to Clara.
May you like
And softened.
“My daughter.”
