Chapter 7 - Nobody spoke.The voice continued through the warehouse speakers.
“You were always an emotional child, Adrian.”
Adrian stared into the darkness.
“My father is dead.”
A laugh echoed.
“Death is a useful disguise.”
Alexander took a step backward.
“You activated the archive.”
Adrian turned toward him.
“What archive?”
“The one your mother spent seventeen years hiding.”
A projector suddenly illuminated the far wall.
A video appeared.
Vittorio Moretti sat behind a desk.
Older.
Calm.
Alive.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Adrian.”
Adrian's face drained.
“If you're watching this, the family has begun collapsing.”
The video paused.
Then continued.
“You were always told I controlled Delacroix.”
Adrian said nothing.
“I did.”
A pause.
“But not for the reason your mother believed.”
He leaned closer to the camera.
“Delacroix was a protection network.”
Alexander whispered, “He's lying.”
Vittorio continued.
“There were politicians who wanted control of the river. Judges who wanted control of the port. Police commanders who wanted protection.”
He smiled.
“So I built something stronger.”
The screen showed bank transfers.
Judges.
Police.
Harbor officials.
Government contractors.
Adrian watched in silence.
Then one account appeared.
ELEANOR V. MORETTI.
Millions had been transferred into it.
Adrian stepped back.
“No.”
Alexander shook his head.
“Keep watching.”
The video changed.
Eleanor appeared.
Young.
Angry.
She stood across from Vittorio.
“You're turning our family into criminals.”
Vittorio answered:
“I'm keeping them alive.”
“You're corrupting Adrian.”
“I'm protecting him.”
“You're creating a monster.”
Vittorio smiled.
“I’m creating a survivor.”
The recording ended.
Adrian looked at Alexander.
“Why did Mom run?”
Alexander looked away.
“Because she discovered what Delacroix really was.”
“What?”
“Not a criminal organization.”
He swallowed.
“A government operation.”
Silence.
I shook my head.
“That makes no sense.”
Alexander looked at me.
“Your father didn't stumble into this.”
He nodded toward the USB.
“He was recruited.”
My stomach dropped.
“So Samuel was involved.”
“Yes.”
“But he helped Eleanor.”
“Eventually.”
Adrian stared at him.
“Where is Mom?”
Alexander's expression changed.
“She's underground.”
“Where?”
“Below the city.”
A sound came from the far end of the warehouse.
Metal scraping.
Then footsteps.
Alexander pulled a weapon.
Luca raised his.
Adrian stepped in front of me.
A man appeared between the containers.
Peter Marchand.
Alive.
His shoulder was wrapped.
Blood stained the bandage.
He looked tired.
But he was smiling.
“Enough family history.”
Adrian aimed at him.
“You lied about everything.”
Peter didn't deny it.
“Yes.”
“Did my mother die?”
“No.”
“Did my father die?”
“Yes.”
“Was the accident real?”
Peter looked at Alexander.
Then back at Adrian.
“Your mother caused it.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
Peter continued.
“She knew she was being followed.”
“She staged the crash.”
“She was supposed to disappear.”
Adrian's hand tightened around the gun.
“Then why didn't she come back?”
Peter's eyes moved toward Alexander.
“Because your brother was captured.”
Alexander's face went pale.
Peter whispered:
“And Eleanor stayed away for seventeen years because she believed Alexander was being used to control her.”
I stared at Alexander.
“Used by who?”
The warehouse went silent.
Peter answered.
“By the one person you haven't suspected.”
He looked directly at Luca.
“Your bodyguard.”
Luca's weapon lowered.
Adrian slowly turned.
“Luca?”
Luca looked at him.
“No.”
Peter smiled.
“He was the boy who opened the cellar door in 1999.”
Adrian's face changed.
Luca whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
May you like
Then he raised his gun.
And shot Peter.
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