Chapter 12 - The Twin Behind The ThroneSalvatore Wasn't The Man Running The War
The man in the photograph wasn't Salvatore.
At least not the Salvatore I knew.
Dante's uncle had been one of identical twins.
One became Salvatore.
The other became Edward Bennett.
My father.
They had divided their lives.
One entered the underworld.
The other built a quiet life.
Until Sofia discovered the truth.
"Why didn't my father tell me?"
Sofia answered.
"Because Salvatore would have killed you."
"Why?"
"Your father inherited the legal rights to everything your grandfather owned."
Dante stared at the documents.
"And Salvatore wanted it."
Sofia nodded.
"He spent decades trying to force Edward to surrender."
"What happened?"
"Edward refused."
"And my mother?"
"She helped him hide."
"Then why did she disappear?"
Sofia lowered her eyes.
"She didn't disappear."
"What?"
"She was taken."
I felt sick.
"By Salvatore?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
Sofia was silent.
Dante walked away.
I followed.
"Dante."
He stopped.
"I found her."
I froze.
"What?"
"Your mother."
"When?"
"Two years after your father's death."
"Where?"
"A private psychiatric facility."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she was afraid of everyone."
He looked at me.
"She thought Salvatore was still searching for you."
"Is she alive?"
"Yes."
My breath caught.
"Where?"
Dante handed me a folded card.
A hospital.
An address.
A room number.
I stared at it.
"I can see her?"
"Yes."
We arrived that evening.
The room was quiet.
A woman sat by the window.
Silver hair.
Thin shoulders.
Eyes that looked exactly like mine.
She turned.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered.
"Elena."
I started crying.
"Mom?"
She covered her mouth.
Dante stayed by the door.
My mother stood slowly.
She touched my face.
"You survived."
"I've been looking for you."
"I know."
She looked at Dante.
"You kept your promise."
He nodded.
"What promise?"
My mother looked at me.
"He promised your father he would protect you."
I turned toward Dante.
"You knew my father."
"Yes."
"You helped him hide me."
"Yes."
"Then why did you marry Sofia?"
Dante looked at the floor.
My mother smiled sadly.
"Because Sofia wasn't supposed to be his wife."
I frowned.
"What?"
"She was supposed to be mine."
I stared.
Dante's eyes widened.
My mother continued.
"Your father and Sofia were in love."
Dante spoke.
"No."
My mother looked at him.
"You were chosen for political reasons."
Sofia stood in the doorway.
She whispered.
"He's telling the truth."
The room went silent.
I stared at Dante.
"The marriage was arranged."
He nodded.
"Sofia married Dante to protect me."
My mother nodded.
"And when Salvatore learned the truth, he ordered everyone involved killed."
I suddenly understood.
The murders.
The honey.
The ledger.
Everything.
Then my mother's face changed.
She looked toward the window.
"Someone is coming."
Dante moved.
"Who?"
She whispered.
"Your father's killer."
A sniper's bullet shattered the glass.
My mother fell.
I screamed.
Dante grabbed me.
Sofia fired toward the opposite building.
Marco rushed in.
My mother was bleeding.
I dropped beside her.
"Mom."
She gripped my hand.
"Listen."
I leaned closer.
"The vault."
"What vault?"
"The second one."
"Where?"
She whispered one word.
"Market."
Then she died.
Outside, sirens screamed.
Dante stood.
His face had gone completely blank.
"What market?"
May you like
I looked at him.
"Mine."
