Chapter 9 - Luciano’s Brother
Luciano reached the nursery first.
“Open it.”
No answer.
He kicked the door.
Once.
Twice.
The lock broke.
The room was empty.
The window was closed.
Then Luciano noticed the servants’ panel.
Open.
He entered the passage.
Footsteps moved below.
Luciano followed.
The corridor opened near the kitchen.
Carlo—or the man Luciano had believed was Carlo—stood waiting.
“Stop.”
The man turned.
Luciano raised his gun.
“Who are you?”
“Carlo.”
“My father says otherwise.”
The man laughed bitterly.
“Your father has lied for thirty years.”
Vittorio arrived.
“Adrian.”
The man’s smile vanished.
Luciano looked between them.
“Enough.”
Vittorio spoke first.
“Adrian and Carlo are twins.”
Luciano stared.
“Impossible.”
“Fraternal twins. Different enough that nobody noticed once they were adults.”
“Where is Carlo?”
Adrian looked at Vittorio.
“Ask him.”
Vittorio closed his eyes.
“He died.”
Luciano felt the floor disappear beneath him.
“When?”
“Eight years ago.”
“Before your funeral?”
“Yes.”
Luciano stared at the man he had called brother for nearly a decade.
“You replaced him.”
Adrian nodded.
“Why?”
“Vittorio asked me to.”
Luciano turned on his father.
“You brought your hidden son into our family wearing my dead brother’s identity?”
“To protect you.”
“Stop saying that.”
Vittorio flinched.
“Carlo discovered people were using the trust to launder money through our companies. He was killed before he could expose them.”
“By whom?”
“Antonio Vescari.”
Elena entered behind them.
“My father.”
Luciano looked at her.
She nodded.
“He died six years ago. But his network didn't.”
“Who controls it?”
“That is what we never discovered.”
Luciano looked at Adrian.
“Then why terrorize Kate?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I didn't.”
“The clinic.”
“Yes, I treated her.”
“The medication.”
“I prescribed legitimate medication. Someone replaced it.”
“The messages?”
“Not mine.”
“The birth certificate?”
“I found it this morning.”
Luciano lowered his weapon slightly.
“You lied in the cellar.”
“I needed whoever was watching to believe I was still following their plan.”
“You nearly got shot.”
“Occupational hazard in this family.”
Luciano almost hit him.
Then Kate screamed again.
He ran upstairs.
She was hemorrhaging.
Margaret’s hands were red.
Luciano’s world narrowed.
“What’s happening?”
“Postpartum bleeding.”
“Fix it.”
“We’re trying.”
Kate looked barely conscious.
“Luciano.”
He took her hand.
“Stay with me.”
“Grace?”
“Safe.”
“Promise.”
“She’s safe.”
Her fingers loosened.
“Katherine.”
Her eyes closed.
“No.”
Margaret pushed him back.
“Give me room.”
Luciano stood helpless as they worked.
Minutes later, the bleeding slowed.
Kate remained unconscious but stable.
Luciano sat beside her.
He kissed her hand.
“You're not leaving me like this.”
Behind him, Vittorio spoke.
“She loves you.”
Luciano didn't turn.
“I made love feel like captivity.”
“You learned that from me.”
“That doesn't excuse it.”
“No.”
Vittorio sat across from him.
“I spent my life believing fear could keep family together.”
“And look what it did.”
“Yes.”
Luciano finally looked at his father.
“Why fake your death?”
“To dismantle Vescari’s network.”
“You failed.”
“I did.”
“Then help me finish it.”
Vittorio nodded.
Luciano looked at sleeping Kate.
“No more secrets.”
“No more.”
His phone vibrated.
A message.
It contained a photograph of Grace inside the neonatal helicopter.
Luciano stood so quickly the chair fell.
Another message arrived.
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.
Then another.
JUST LIKE HER GRANDMOTHER.
Luciano stared.
Kate’s grandmother?
Or his mother?
A final photograph loaded.
It showed a woman standing beside the helicopter.
Luciano recognized her instantly.
His mother.
The woman he had buried eight years ago.
Underneath were four words.
ASK HER WHO SHE SERVES.
Luciano turned toward Vittorio.
But his father was already staring at the screen.
May you like
And whispering one name.
“Isabella.”
