Chapter 9: The Enemy Inside the Family
I read the sentence three times.
Still, I couldn’t understand it.
Trust no one who carries the Moretti name.
My name.
My family.
My blood.
I looked at my father.
“Explain.””
He didn’t answer.
“Dad.””
His eyes were filled with pain.
“I don’t know why she wrote that.””
Lucian shook his head.
“You do.””
“No.””
“You do.””
My father turned sharply.
“You don’t get to speak for her.””
“And you don’t get to hide behind her memory.””
The anger between them filled the room.
I stepped between them.
“Enough.””
Both men stopped.
“I’m tired of being the person everyone protects while everyone else knows the truth.””
Nobody spoke.
I looked at my father.
“Who carries the Moretti name?””
His face became serious.
“Several people.””
“Who?””
“My family.””
“Names.””
He hesitated.
Then said:
“My brother Marco.””
The name felt unfamiliar.
Because I had never met him.
But apparently, he had been part of my life before I even understood it.
“Where is he?””
My father looked away.
“I don’t know.””
Lucian gave a bitter smile.
“That’s not true.””
My father looked at him.
“Careful.””
“You always knew where Marco was.””
“Not anymore.””
Lucian stepped closer.
“He disappeared after your wife died.””
My chest tightened.
“Why?””
Nobody answered.
Then my father said:
“Because he was involved.””
The words were almost impossible to hear.
“Involved how?””
My father took a breath.
“Marco knew about the financial crimes.””
“And?””
“And he helped cover them.””
I stared at him.
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
“Because he was my brother.””
The answer was painful.
Not an excuse.
Just human weakness.
Lucian looked at me.
“And that weakness is what destroyed your family.””
My father didn’t argue.
That hurt more.
Suddenly, Lucian’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
I noticed.
“What happened?””
He didn’t answer.
He listened.
Then his face became pale.
“Are you sure?””
A pause.
Then:
“Send me the location.””
He ended the call.
My father immediately asked:
“Who was that?””
Lucian looked at both of us.
“It was someone looking for Marco.””
My father froze.
“Who?””
Lucian looked at me.
“The person who has been watching you.””
The factory became silent.
“Who?”” I repeated.
Lucian hesitated.
Then said:
“Your cousin.””
I frowned.
“I don’t have a cousin.””
My father’s expression changed.
“You do.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He slowly sat down.
“Marco had a son.””
My heart sank.
“A son?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t I know?””
My father closed his eyes.
“Because after what happened, he disappeared.””
Lucian spoke quietly.
“His name is Gabriel.””
The name meant nothing.
But the fear on my father’s face meant everything.
“Where is he?””
Lucian looked at his phone.
“He’s been closer than you think.””
A message arrived.
He opened it.
Then handed the phone to me.
It was a photo.
Taken recently.
At the dealership.
My blood turned cold.
The picture showed me standing outside after Carolina pushed me out.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had captured the entire moment.
Below the image was a message.
*She finally found out.*
I looked up.
“Who sent this?””
Lucian’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Gabriel.””
My father stood immediately.
“We need to leave.””
“Why?””
Because before he could answer, the factory lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Then a voice came from the entrance.
A voice I had never heard before.
But one that sounded like it had been waiting for this moment.
“Hello, Valeria.””
A figure stepped into the darkness.
“And finally…”
May you like
The person smiled.
“I get to meet my cousin.””
