Chapter 10: The Brother Hidden From Me
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
A brother.
The word didn’t feel real.
It felt like something Vincent had thrown into the room just to hurt me.
Another lie.
Another secret.
Another piece of my life that everyone else knew before I did.
Rico stood in front of me, blocking the broken doorway.
“Don’t listen to him.””
But his voice wasn’t confident.
And I noticed.
Vincent noticed too.
He smiled.
“Still protecting her?””
The sound of his voice made my skin crawl.
Dante moved closer to the door.
“Boss, we need to move.””
But I couldn’t.
I looked at Isabella.
“Is it true?””
She didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
My chest tightened.
“You knew?””
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
“Clara—”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You knew I had a brother?””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
The room spun.
“How long?””
“Since the day he was born.””
I stared at her.
“And nobody told me?””
No one spoke.
Not Rico.
Not Isabella.
Not Dante.
Nobody.
The door exploded inward.
Everyone moved at once.
Dante fired toward the ceiling, creating a distraction.
Rico grabbed Leo.
Isabella grabbed my arm.
“Run.””
We escaped through the hidden passage behind the library.
A narrow tunnel.
Cold.
Dark.
The walls smelled like dirt and old stone.
But all I could think about was one thing.
My brother.
When we reached the underground exit behind the mansion, I pulled away from Isabella.
“No.””
She stopped.
“Clara.””
“Don’t.””
My voice broke.
“You don’t get to call me Clara like you’re my mother.””
The words hurt her.
I saw it.
Good.
Because I was hurting too.
“My entire life, I thought I lost my family.””
I pointed back toward the mansion.
“And all this time, people were hiding one from me?””
Isabella looked devastated.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“Everyone says that.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone.””
Rico stepped closer.
“Clara.””
I turned to him.
“What?””
His expression was different.
Not powerful.
Not angry.
Just honest.
“I’m sorry.””
That stopped me.
Because I expected an excuse.
Not an apology.
“I should have known.””
He looked down.
“I should have seen what Vincent was doing.””
I shook my head.
“You didn’t know about me either.””
“No.””
He looked at Leo.
“I know what it feels like to lose someone without knowing the truth.””
The words hit harder than I wanted.
Because I saw the father in him.
Not the man everyone feared.
The father who had watched his son cry for a mother who was still alive.
Before I could answer, Dante’s phone rang.
He answered.
Then his face changed.
“Boss.””
Rico immediately turned.
“What?””
“We found the boy.””
Everything stopped.
I looked at Dante.
“Where?””
He hesitated.
“Brooklyn Children’s Hospital.””
My heart raced.
“Why?””
Dante looked at me.
“Because he was admitted three days ago.””
Rico frowned.
“Under what name?””
Dante looked at the screen.
Then slowly said:
“Michael Vance Jr.””
The name broke something inside me.
Michael.
My father’s name.
My brother.
Alive.
Rico looked at Isabella.
“You knew he was in Brooklyn?””
She nodded slowly.
“I was trying to get him out.””
“From Vincent?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you come to me?””
Isabella looked at him.
“Because Vincent had someone inside your organization.””
Rico went silent.
Dante’s face changed.
“Someone close?””
“Yes.””
A terrifying silence followed.
Rico looked toward the city.
“Who?””
Isabella whispered:
“The person who helped fake my death.””
I stared at her.
“And who was that?””
She looked at Rico.
Then at Dante.
“I don’t know.””
A phone suddenly rang.
Everyone froze.
It was mine.
I looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A child’s voice came through.
Small.
Quiet.
“Are you Clara?””
My heart stopped.
“Yes.””
A pause.
Then:
“I think I’m your brother.””
I covered my mouth.
Behind me, Rico and Isabella stared.
The child continued.
“Mom said if I ever found you…”
His voice trembled.
“I should tell you something.””
“What?””
Silence.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Dad didn’t die alone.””
