Chapter 14 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEADSarah Reyes lowered the gun.
She did not fire.
She looked exhausted.
Older than the photograph.
Scarred.
But unmistakably alive.
Luca stared.
"Your death was staged."
Sarah nodded.
"By Connor."
"Why?"
"Because Anthony wanted me dead."
"And you let everyone believe you died?"
"I had no choice."
Tommy stood beside her.
"He knew."
Luca looked at him.
Tommy nodded.
"I found her three years ago."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know if you were safe."
Luca almost laughed.
"Safe?"
Sarah stepped closer.
"You weren't."
She handed him a file.
Inside was the final piece.
Connor had created the secret trust not for his children.
For the grandchildren.
Maya and Tommy were the legal heirs of the entire empire.
Luca was only the temporary custodian.
Anthony had discovered this years earlier.
He needed both children eliminated before they became old enough to inherit.
That was why Maya had been watched.
That was why Tommy had been hidden.
That was why Luca had been poisoned.
The wheelchair had been a cage.
But it had also been protection.
Nobody feared a crippled man becoming dangerous.
Nobody searched for the man beneath the chair.
Luca looked at Sarah.
"Why tell me now?"
She hesitated.
"Because Connor is dead."
Luca's blood turned cold.
"He died?"
"Three days ago."
"How?"
"Anthony killed him."
Luca looked at Maya.
Then Tommy.
Then Elena.
The entire story had been moving toward this moment.
But Sarah wasn't finished.
"Connor left one final instruction."
"What?"
"He said to give you this when Anthony was dead."
She handed Luca another envelope.
He opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My son,
If you are reading this, Anthony is dead.
That means I failed twice.
First, I failed to protect you.
Second, I failed to stop what I created.
There was only one reason I allowed you to be poisoned.
The enemy was not the government.
It was not another family.
It was not even Anthony.
It was the person inside our bloodline who believed power mattered more than people.
I never discovered the name.
But you will.
Luca read the last line.
HE IS ALREADY INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.
Luca slowly lowered the letter.
Everyone looked at one another.
Elena whispered:
"Who?"
The estate lights turned on.
Every single one.
Though the estate was supposed to be empty.
A figure appeared behind the upstairs window.
Luca recognized him.
Marco.
Alive.
His security chief.
The man who had tried to kill him.
Marco held a child-sized backpack.
Maya's backpack.
Luca's voice went quiet.
"How did he get inside?"
The answer came from behind them.
A man's voice.
"Because he owns the house."
Luca turned.
A stranger stood at the gate.
Older.
Calm.
Well dressed.
He looked directly at Maya.
Then Tommy.
Then Luca.
He smiled.
"My name is Gabriel Costello."
Luca stared.
"What?"
The man smiled wider.
"Your father's firstborn son."
Nobody moved.
Luca's face went pale.
"That's impossible."
Gabriel laughed.
"No, Luca."
He pulled out a photograph.
May you like
"You're the second son."
Then everything changed.
