Chapter 5 - The Dead Man's SecretSalvatore laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because sometimes the mind rejects truth before the heart can absorb it.
"My father is dead."
"I know."
"You just said he did this."
"No."
"You said he is responsible."
Adelaide shook her head.
"I said he knows."
"Knows what?"
"Who killed him."
The room went still.
Adelaide sat down.
Her hands folded together.
"Your father survived the attack."
Salvatore stopped breathing.
"What?"
"He lived."
"For how long?"
"Three days."
"Where?"
"In a private clinic."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because the men who attacked him were still searching."
"Mom."
"He made me promise."
"Promise what?"
"That if he died, I would tell you nothing unless the enemy came looking for the ledger."
Salvatore's voice lowered.
"You let me believe my father died instantly."
"Because I wanted you to grow up."
"What kind of life was I supposed to have?"
"A normal one."
He stared at her.
"You knew there was no such thing."
Adelaide's eyes filled with tears.
"I knew there could have been."
She reached into her dress.
Removed a small envelope.
Then handed it to him.
The envelope was old.
His father's handwriting was on the front.
FOR SALVATORE. OPEN ONLY WHEN THEY COME FOR ADELAIDE.
Salvatore's hands shook.
He opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
His father stood beside a black car.
Beside him was Nolan.
Young.
Much younger.
But alive.
On the other side of the photograph was another person.
A woman.
Salvatore stared.
"Who is she?"
Adelaide whispered.
"Your father's sister."
He looked up.
"My aunt?"
"Her name was Emilia."
"What happened to her?"
"She disappeared."
"How long?"
"Twenty-two years ago."
Salvatore looked at the picture.
Nolan had been standing beside her.
"Why was Nolan with her?"
Adelaide said nothing.
Salvatore suddenly understood.
"Hattie didn't create this."
Adelaide shook her head.
"Nolan didn't either."
"Then who?"
Adelaide pointed at the picture.
"Emilia."
Salvatore looked at the woman again.
"She's alive?"
"She has been."
The answer came from behind him.
Nobody saw the door open.
The mysterious woman from the basement stood there.
She removed her coat.
Underneath was a dark dress.
Her face was calm.
Her eyes were cold.
Adelaide whispered.
"Emilia."
Salvatore's weapon rose.
The woman smiled sadly.
"Please don't point that at me."
"You vanished for twenty-two years."
"I had to."
"You were involved in my father's death."
"He was my brother."
"That's not an answer."
"No."
Emilia looked at Adelaide.
"It is the only answer that matters."
Adelaide stood.
"You said you found him."
Emilia nodded.
"I found the person who betrayed Luciano."
Salvatore stared.
"Who?"
Emilia looked directly at him.
"You."
Silence.
"What?"
"The betrayal was not from Nolan."
She pointed toward the ledger.
"It was from someone with access to the family bloodline."
Salvatore's face hardened.
"You think I killed my father?"
"No."
Emilia stepped closer.
"I think someone used your name."
She reached into her coat.
Pulled out a small file.
Inside was a bank record.
A series of transfers.
The account belonged to Salvatore.
But the dates were from when he was thirteen.
He stared at them.
"That's impossible."
"I know."
"Who opened it?"
"Someone using your identity."
"Who?"
Emilia looked toward Adelaide.
Adelaide whispered, "Your older brother."
Salvatore froze.
"I don't have an older brother."
Adelaide's face crumbled.
"You did."
The room seemed to shrink.
"He died before you were born."
Emilia corrected her.
"No."
"He was killed."
Salvatore's hands went numb.
"Why haven't I ever heard this?"
Adelaide's answer was barely audible.
"Because the family was told he never existed."
A sound came from the hallway.
A man's footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Salvatore turned.
Nolan appeared.
No guards.
No fear.
No champagne.
Just a black envelope in his hand.
"You wanted answers," Nolan said.
He dropped the envelope onto the floor.
"Then you should know the truth."
Salvatore didn't move.
Nolan smiled.
"Your mother wasn't starved because she refused to talk."
He looked at Adelaide.
"She was starved because we already knew she was lying."
Salvatore's hand tightened around his weapon.
"About what?"
Nolan's smile disappeared.
"About who the missing Moretti heir really was."
A gunshot exploded through the window.
Nolan collapsed.
Blood spread across his white jacket.
May you like
And before anyone could react, Emilia whispered:
"He's not dead."
