Chapter 6 - The Secret My Sister Was Hiding
“Put Dante back on.”
Vittorio laughed.
“Come home.”
“No.”
“Then your husband dies.”
Adrian reached for the phone.
Nadine pulled it away.
“What do you want?”
“A signature.”
Of course.
The trust.
“Proof Dante is alive.”
A thud sounded.
Then Dante coughed.
“Nadine, don’t—”
The call ended.
Nadine looked at Adrian.
“We’re going back.”
“No.”
She stared at him.
“You said I should trust myself.”
“I did.”
“Then trust me to decide.”
Celeste stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Nadine—”
“No.”
Celeste’s eyes filled.
Then she said, “There’s something else.”
Nadine almost laughed from exhaustion.
“What now?”
“I knew Dad was connected to the Castellanos.”
Nadine stared.
“For how long?”
“Since I was seventeen.”
Their father had discovered Vittorio’s laundering network years earlier. He had gathered evidence but died before exposing it.
Officially, heart attack.
Celeste had never believed it.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Dad made me promise.”
“You were seventeen!”
“He said if anything happened to him, I had to keep you away from the Castellanos.”
Nadine's voice dropped.
“And then I married one.”
“I tried to stop you.”
“You told me Dante was handsome!”
“I was scared!”
Nadine turned away.
Every relationship in her life seemed built from secrets.
Adrian gave her space.
Later, he found her alone.
“I can get Dante out.”
“For a price?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Adrian looked toward the dark window.
“Because whatever he and I are, Vittorio doesn't get to decide which of Salvatore’s sons lives.”
For the first time, Nadine saw the child beneath the rivalry.
“Thank you.”
Adrian nodded.
Their plan was simple.
And therefore dangerous.
Nadine would appear to cooperate.
Adrian’s men would surround the mansion.
Celeste would release copies of the evidence if Nadine failed to return.
At midnight, Nadine entered the Castellano mansion again.
Vittorio waited.
Dante sat tied to a chair.
Blood marked his shirt.
Their eyes met.
“Nadine.”
She wanted to run to him.
She didn’t.
Vittorio placed documents on a table.
“Sign.”
Nadine picked up the pen.
“Release Dante first.”
Vittorio smiled.
“You aren't negotiating.”
Nadine looked down.
Then she smiled too.
“No. You are.”
She raised her phone.
Celeste’s recording was already uploading.
Vittorio’s smile vanished.
Gunfire erupted outside.
Dante threw himself sideways.
Nadine dropped.
The lights died.
Someone grabbed her.
She fought.
A hand covered her mouth.
Then a familiar voice whispered:
“It’s me.”
Dante.
He cut his restraints.
They ran.
Halfway to the nursery, Nadine stopped.
“My father’s evidence.”
Dante stared at her.
“Nadine, no.”
“We need it.”
Another shot rang out.
They entered the nursery.
Dante pulled up a floorboard.
Beneath it was a steel box.
Nadine opened it.
Inside lay a ledger.
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And on top of the ledger was a letter addressed in her father’s handwriting:
TO MY DAUGHTER NADINE—IF YOU ARE READING THIS, DANTE CASTELLANO HAS ALREADY BETRAYED YOU…
