Chapter 13 - The photograph changed everything.Salvatore had not been merely Elias's uncle.
He had once been Elena's husband.
That meant the black circle was not an outside enemy.
It had been inside the Marchetti family from the beginning.
Elias spent the night in the war room.
Maps covered the walls.
Bank accounts.
Shipping routes.
Judicial connections.
Political donors.
Every thread led back to the same network.
Gabriel entered.
“We found Sienna.”
“Where?”
“Police custody.”
Elias nodded.
“Bring her here.”
Two hours later, Sienna sat across from Elias.
She looked exhausted.
“You shot me,” Elias said.
“I know.”
“You tried to kill me.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Sienna began crying.
“Because they threatened my parents.”
Elias's voice hardened.
“Your mother helped build this.”
“My mother was trapped.”
“She chose.”
“So did I.”
Maeve stood behind Elias.
Sienna looked at her.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Sienna laughed bitterly.
“You think Elias loves you because you stayed?”
Maeve said nothing.
“He doesn't love people.”
Elias looked at Sienna.
“Enough.”
Sienna ignored him.
“He tests everyone.”
“I know.”
“He doesn't know how to stop.”
Maeve looked at Elias.
“Is that true?”
He didn't answer.
Sienna continued.
“He tested me.”
“And you failed.”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“But there was something else.”
“What?”
“He wanted me to fail.”
Elias's eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
Sienna swallowed.
“You already knew I was going to leave.”
Maeve turned.
Elias remained silent.
Sienna laughed sadly.
“You had people watching my mother.”
Elias said nothing.
“You knew she was vulnerable.”
Still nothing.
“You knew I would choose myself.”
Maeve stared at him.
“You planned this.”
Elias finally spoke.
“Yes.”
Maeve's heart sank.
“All of it?”
“Not everything.”
“You brought me into your house knowing I was being manipulated.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me walk into danger.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed to know who was behind you.”
Maeve stepped away.
“You used me.”
Elias followed.
“Maeve.”
“No.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By lying?”
“I lied because I had no other choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
He stopped.
She walked away.
For the first time since meeting her, Elias looked helpless.
Later that night, Maeve packed a bag.
Gabriel found her near the entrance.
“Don't go.”
“I need distance.”
“He loves you.”
She laughed sadly.
“Love isn't enough.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“It might be all he has.”
Maeve hesitated.
Then she heard a noise.
A faint metallic click.
Behind the wall.
She stopped.
“Did you hear that?”
Gabriel did.
They searched the corridor.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a file marked:
PROJECT ASH.
Maeve opened it.
Inside were photographs of her.
From childhood.
From school.
From the Ashford house.
From the day she first met Elias.
Someone had been watching her long before Elias knew she existed.
Then she found the final page.
A single sentence.
SUBJECT MAEVE DONNELLY WAS SELECTED AT AGE FIVE.
Maeve stared.
“Selected?”
Gabriel's face hardened.
“What does that mean?”
She turned another page.
There was a photograph of Elena holding Maeve as a baby.
Beside them stood Salvatore.
And Margaret.
All three were smiling.
Maeve dropped the file.
“This wasn't an accident.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“What wasn't?”
“Everything.”
She pointed at the photograph.
“They chose me.”
A voice came from behind them.
“Yes.”
Maeve turned.
Elias stood there.
He looked exhausted.
“But they didn't choose you because of your family.”
“Why then?”
“Because of mine.”
He held another document.
“Your mother gave you a genetic marker.”
“What kind?”
“One the circle has spent decades trying to find.”
Maeve stared.
“So I'm a key.”
“No.”
Elias stepped closer.
“You're proof.”
“Proof of what?”
He handed her the final page.
It showed a list of names.
Every person carrying the marker had died.
Except one.
Maeve Donnelly.
She looked up.
Elias whispered:
“You're the last living person who can expose them.”
Before Maeve could respond, every phone in the building rang simultaneously.
Gabriel answered his.
His face drained.
“What?”
He listened.
Then looked at Elias.
“Salvatore has taken the Chicago police commissioner.”
Elias stared.
“Why?”
Gabriel swallowed.
“He made a public statement.”
“What statement?”
“That Elias Marchetti is a fugitive.”
“And?”
“He says Maeve Donnelly is the mastermind behind the entire criminal network.”
Maeve's blood went cold.
Within minutes, every television in Chicago was broadcasting her photograph.
Her real name.
Her address.
May you like
And one final accusation.
MURDERER.
