Chapter 6: The Brother Who Disappeared
Nobody spoke after we read the name.
Not Rico.
Not Dante.
Not me.
The silence felt heavier than an argument.
Finally, Rico stood.
“Give me the letter.””
I pulled it closer.
“No.””
His eyes sharpened.
“Clara.””
“No.””
I surprised myself with how steady my voice sounded.
“This is my mother’s last message to me.””
“I need to see it.””
“You needed to know the truth.””
I held his gaze.
“Now you do.””
For a moment, I thought he might take it.
The man everyone feared.
The man who could make people disappear with a phone call.
But he didn’t.
He stepped back.
And somehow that frightened me more.
Because it meant he was trying.
Dante looked at the letter.
“Boss…”
Rico ignored him.
“Your father’s name.””
I looked down.
The letter had mentioned him.
But not his name.
Only one word.
*Michael.*
Rico closed his eyes.
“Michael Vance.””
“You knew him?””
“Yes.””
The answer came immediately.
“How?””
Rico looked at the family photograph on my wall.
“I was seventeen when I met him.””
I listened.
“My father wanted me to learn the family business. Michael was the only person who told me what it would cost.””
“What did he say?””
Rico looked back at me.
“He told me power always takes something from you.””
I swallowed.
“And did he believe that?””
Rico gave a bitter smile.
“Yes.””
A knock interrupted us.
Dante immediately reached for his weapon.
“Wait.””
Rico walked to the door.
One of his men stood outside.
“Boss.””
The man handed him a phone.
Rico answered.
His expression changed within seconds.
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then:
“Where?””
He listened.
Then hung up.
“What is it?”” I asked.
Rico looked at me.
“They found Vincent.””
My heart stopped.
“Alive?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
He didn’t answer.
That scared me.
“Rico.””
His voice lowered.
“In the old Moretti house.””
I knew that name.
Everyone in Brooklyn did.
The abandoned mansion on the edge of the city.
The place where Ricardo Moretti’s father had built his empire.
The place people said no one entered anymore.
“Why would he be there?””
Rico looked at the necklace.
“Because that’s where your father died.””
The room tilted.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“No.””
Rico stepped closer.
“Clara.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“My mother said my father was gone.””
“She protected you.””
“From what?””
Rico didn’t answer.
Then his phone rang again.
This time, he looked at the screen and froze.
“What?””
I watched his face.
The color disappeared.
“Play it.””
He pressed a button.
A recording filled the room.
Static.
A man breathing.
Then a voice.
Older.
Calm.
Cold.
“Ricardo.””
Rico went completely still.
The voice continued.
“You always were better at protecting strangers than your own blood.””
Dante whispered:
“Vincent.””
The recording continued.
“And Clara…”
My body froze.
The voice spoke my name.
“You finally found the truth.””
I looked at Rico.
The message wasn’t finished.
Vincent laughed softly.
“Now I’ll show you what your father died protecting.””
A pause.
Then the final words.
“The girl was never the secret.””
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Rico stared at the phone.
“What does that mean?””
I looked at the silver star around my neck.
Because suddenly I understood.
Vincent didn’t want me dead.
He wanted me to discover something.
Something my mother had hidden.
Something my father died for.
Then Dante’s phone buzzed.
He checked the message.
His face changed.
“Boss…”
Rico looked at him.
“What?””
Dante slowly raised his eyes.
“The old house camera just turned on.””
A pause.
“And someone is waiting inside.””
He swallowed.
“It’s not Vincent.””
Rico frowned.
“Then who?””
Dante looked at me.
“The woman in the camera.””
My blood turned cold.
Because I already knew.
May you like
Before he said the name.
“Isabella Moretti.””
