Chapter 7: The Daughter of the Dead Mafia King
“Your father was never Daniel Vance.””
My mother's words seemed to echo through the mansion.
I stared at her, waiting for her to take them back.
“Daniel raised me,” I whispered.
“He taught me to ride a bicycle. He held my hand when I was afraid of thunderstorms. He was my father.””
“I know, sweetheart.””
“Then why are you saying he wasn't?””
My mother pressed a hand against her bleeding shoulder. One of Ricardo's men hurried toward her, but she pushed him away.
“Because Daniel was your uncle. Your biological father was Vincent Moretti.””
Ricardo staggered backward.
Vincent Moretti.
His father.
The man he'd buried eleven years earlier.
I looked at Ricardo.
“Does that make you my brother?””
“No,” my mother answered quickly.
“Ricardo and you share a father, but you have different mothers. You're half-siblings.””
Antonio burst into laughter.
“Isn't that beautiful? The family reunion nobody wanted.””
Ricardo pointed his gun at him.
“Shut your mouth.””
Antonio raised both hands.
“Why? Afraid the truth will ruin your little empire?””
My mother struggled to stand.
“Antonio, you don't understand what Vincent planned.””
“I understand perfectly,” Antonio replied.
“He wanted Clara to inherit everything.””
I shook my head.
“I don't want anything.””
Antonio smiled.
“That's exactly what makes you dangerous. You don't even know what you're holding.””
He pointed toward the silver pendant in Ricardo's hand.
“Inside that necklace is the key to Vincent's original inheritance documents. Whoever possesses those documents controls the Moretti accounts, properties, and offshore holdings.””
Ricardo looked down at the pendant.
“Why didn't Father leave them to me?””
“Because he never trusted you.””
The words struck harder than a gunshot.
Ricardo lowered his weapon slightly.
Antonio continued.
“He believed you were too sentimental. You fell in love with Sarah. You raised my son.
You let outsiders into the family. Father thought you would destroy everything he'd built.””
Ricardo's eyes turned cold.
“And you think you're better?””
“I think I deserve what you stole.””
Antonio suddenly pulled a second weapon from his waistband.
Before anyone could react, he grabbed my mother and pressed the barrel against her neck.
“Give me the key!””
Ricardo raised his gun.
“Let her go.””
“Drop yours.””
“Antonio, don't do this.””
“DROP IT!””
Ricardo slowly lowered his weapon.
I looked at the men surrounding us.
Nobody moved.
Then my mother did something unexpected.
She stomped on Antonio's foot and drove her elbow into his ribs.
He fired.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Ricardo lunged.
Both brothers crashed into the dining table, sending plates and glasses across the floor.
I grabbed the pendant and ran toward Sarah.
“Get out!””
Sarah pulled me toward the hallway.
But before we reached the door, a little voice stopped us.
“Auntie Clara?””
I turned.
Leo stood at the top of the staircase.
His stuffed bear was tucked under one arm.
He looked frightened.
“Mommy?””
Sarah immediately rushed toward him.
“Leo!””
The little boy ran into her arms.
I watched them embrace, tears filling my eyes.
Then Leo looked at me.
“Daddy said you're my auntie.””
I knelt.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
He touched my necklace.
“Grandma said you have the other half.””
I froze.
“What other half?””
Leo reached inside his pocket and pulled out a small silver heart.
It was identical to mine.
Two halves of the same pendant.
My mother stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
“Grandma gave it to me.””
She looked horrified.
“No. I never gave him that.””
Leo shook his head.
“The other grandma.””
The room went silent.
Ricardo stopped fighting Antonio.
“What other grandma?””
Leo pointed toward the front entrance.
A woman stood there.
She was wearing a long black dress and holding a photograph.
Her face was older, but the resemblance to my mother was unmistakable.
My mother began trembling.
“Helena?””
The woman smiled.
“Hello, Margaret.””
Then she looked at me.
“Clara, I've been waiting twenty-six years to meet my granddaughter.””
May you like
And Ricardo whispered the words nobody expected.
“Mother?””
