Chapter 13 - The Children Were CreatedThe most monstrous secret in the Moretti empireI refused to believe it.
“Say that again.”
Elena was crying.
“Your father created them.”
I stared at the boys.
“My sons.”
“Yes.”
“Don't call them that.”
“They are your sons.”
“How?”
“Your DNA was used.”
I looked at each child.
Their faces.
Their gestures.
The way they scratched their necks.
All of it suddenly looked less like coincidence.
More like design.
“They weren't born naturally?”
“They were.”
She wiped her tears.
“Your father's people used embryos created from your DNA and mine.”
My stomach twisted.
“The fifth?”
“Natural.”
“The sixth?”
“Natural.”
“So the four…”
“Were implanted into me at the same time.”
I stared.
“My father did this?”
“Viktor did.”
The revelation was almost too large to hold.
He hadn't wanted heirs.
He had wanted copies.
A dynasty without unpredictable blood.
Five identical boys.
Five future versions of himself.
I looked toward them.
“They deserve the truth.”
“Yes.”
A slow clap echoed from the doorway.
Sloane stood there.
“You finally know.”
I raised my gun.
“How much did you know?”
“Everything.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought you would hate them.”
I laughed.
“They're children.”
“They're weapons.”
My eyes hardened.
“No.”
Sloane shook her head.
“That's what Victor wanted.”
A phone rang.
Roman.
I answered.
“Where are you?”
“Closer than you think.”
The lights flickered.
The boys woke.
Adrian began crying.
Roman's voice came through the speaker.
“Look behind you.”
I turned.
A television had turned on.
Live footage showed Boston.
The Moretti headquarters.
Then the conservatory.
Then our safe house.
Every camera feed was being broadcast publicly.
A message appeared on screen.
THE MORETTI HEIRS ARE HERE.
Sloane's face went white.
“He's exposing them.”
“Who?”
“Victor.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Victor is too careful.”
I stared at the screen.
A shadow appeared behind Roman.
He stepped into view.
Sixteen years old.
Same face.
Older.
Colder.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Dominic.”
I moved closer.
“My name is not Roman.”
The screen went black.
Then one final message appeared.
MY NAME IS DOMINIC MORETTI.
The room went silent.
I stared at the name.
My own.
May you like
Then Elena whispered something that made my blood freeze.
“There are two Dominic Morettis.”
