Chapter 6 - The Photograph Behind the Wall
Marco’s weapon did not shake.
Vincent’s did not rise.
“Interesting,” Vincent said.
Chloe stared at Marco.
He had driven them.
Protected them.
Found the phone.
Reported Derek’s escape.
Every step.
Controlled.
“Put the ledger down,” Marco said.
Vincent looked almost disappointed.
“How long?”
“Long enough.”
Maria moved toward Chloe.
Marco shifted the gun.
“Don’t.”
Vincent placed the ledger on the table.
“You worked for Salvatore.”
Marco smiled.
“Salvatore works for me.”
That surprised everyone.
Even Maria.
Marco had spent fifteen years appearing loyal.
First to Carlo.
Then Vincent.
He had built the network while the Morettis blamed one another.
Salvatore had planted the bomb.
But Marco had supplied it.
Salvatore believed he was building his own empire.
Marco intended to inherit both.
“Derek was supposed to bring Chloe to you,” Vincent said.
“Yes.”
“And the bracelet?”
“An accident.”
Chloe looked down.
The bracelet had caught on Derek’s hand during her escape.
He had tried to rip it away.
Instead the clasp broke.
She had carried it into Vincent’s car.
One tiny mistake.
Marco’s entire plan had begun unraveling because Chloe refused to leave her mother’s bracelet behind.
Maria whispered, “You killed Carlo.”
Marco nodded.
Vincent’s face changed.
His father had supposedly died from a heart attack.
“Poison?”
“Very good.”
Vincent stepped slightly sideways.
Marco raised the gun.
“Don’t.”
“You won’t shoot.”
“Why?”
“Because you need the ledger.”
“I can pick it up after.”
“No.”
Vincent nodded toward it.
“Maria changed the pages.”
Marco looked.
That half-second was enough.
Derek kicked the table.
Vincent moved.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Chloe ducked.
Maria screamed.
Vincent struck Marco’s wrist.
The weapon fell.
Derek grabbed it.
For one terrible second, Derek held the gun.
Chloe froze.
Derek looked at her.
Then at Vincent.
Then he placed it on the floor and kicked it away.
“I’m done.”
Vincent restrained Marco.
Sirens sounded outside.
Chloe frowned.
“Police?”
Maria shook her head.
“No one called them.”
Vincent looked at Marco.
Marco smiled.
“You think this was the only plan?”
The building suddenly filled with voices.
Armed men.
Vincent pulled Chloe and Maria through a rear door.
Derek followed.
They escaped through an old service tunnel.
At the end, Vincent found a maintenance vehicle.
They drove to a Moretti safe house.
There, Maria revealed the ledger was only half the evidence.
The rest had been hidden inside Moretti House.
Behind a photograph.
Vincent knew which one.
His mother’s portrait.
They returned before dawn through a private entrance.
Vincent removed the portrait.
Behind it was a wall safe.
Inside lay photographs, financial records, and one sealed envelope.
Chloe opened it.
Her name was written on the front.
Inside was a birth certificate.
She stared at it.
Mother: Maria Bennett.
Father:
The line had been altered.
Someone had covered the original name with black ink.
Vincent held the page toward the light.
A faint impression remained underneath.
He read it.
Then looked at Chloe.
His expression became unreadable.
“What?”
Before he could answer, the bedroom door opened.
Salvatore stood there.
He looked at the birth certificate.
May you like
Then at Chloe.
“You finally found out who your father was.”
