Chapter 5 - THE BROTHER WHO DIED TWICEAlejandro had buried his brother when he was thirteen.
At least, that was what he had been told.
Matteo Moretti.
Three years younger.
Missing after a family attack.
His body supposedly recovered from a burned warehouse near Queens.
Alejandro remembered the funeral.
A closed coffin.
His mother crying.
His father saying almost nothing.
Valentina holding his hand.
He had spent his entire life believing Matteo was dead.
Now an unknown voice had just told him otherwise.
Victor raised his gun.
“Who's there?”
Silence.
Then footsteps.
A man emerged from the shadows.
Thomas Reed.
Alejandro aimed immediately.
“You.”
Thomas raised his hands.
“I didn't kill the guard.”
“Where is Clara?”
“Alive.”
“Emma?”
“Alive.”
Alejandro stepped forward.
“Where are they?”
Thomas looked at him.
“You need to listen before you shoot.”
“I've spent eight years listening to you.”
“And someone used that.”
Thomas reached into his jacket slowly.
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed the Moretti family twenty-seven years ago.
But on the back was a handwritten date.
SEPTEMBER 14.
Yesterday's date.
Alejandro took it.
Thomas spoke quietly.
“Matteo never died.”
Alejandro stared at the photograph.
“How?”
“Your father paid someone to disappear him.”
“Why?”
“Because Matteo saw something he wasn't supposed to see.”
“What?”
Thomas took a breath.
“Your father ordered your mother's death.”
Alejandro's eyes darkened.
“That is impossible.”
“She knew about a hidden account.”
Alejandro stared.
“Stop.”
“She wanted to expose him.”
“Stop.”
“Your father had her killed.”
Alejandro grabbed Thomas by the throat.
“You have ten seconds to prove this.”
Thomas didn't fight back.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny cassette.
“Your brother recorded it.”
Alejandro released him.
Victor took the cassette.
“There is an old player in the archive room.”
They moved quickly.
Inside the archive, Victor found the player.
Alejandro inserted the cassette.
Static.
Then a young boy's voice.
Matteo.
Alejandro recognized him instantly.
“Dad said Mom must disappear.”
The recording crackled.
“I heard him talking to Uncle Stefano.”
Alejandro closed his eyes.
Matteo's voice continued.
“They said Alejandro can't know.”
Then silence.
A second voice appeared.
An adult male.
Stefano Moretti.
Alejandro's dead uncle.
“Take the boy.”
The recording ended.
Alejandro stared at the machine.
Thomas spoke.
“Matteo was hidden.”
“Where?”
“Argentina.”
Alejandro looked at him.
“Then why come back now?”
Thomas didn't answer.
Victor suddenly shouted from the doorway.
“Boss.”
Alejandro turned.
Victor held a tablet.
A live security feed showed Clara and Emma.
They were inside a moving vehicle.
Thomas watched the screen.
“That's not one of ours.”
Alejandro's eyes narrowed.
“Track it.”
Victor was already moving.
The vehicle turned onto the expressway.
Then the feed cut.
A text appeared.
COME ALONE.
A location followed.
An abandoned church.
Thomas stepped forward.
“I'll come with you.”
Alejandro shook his head.
“No.”
Thomas frowned.
“You need someone who knows the route.”
Alejandro looked at him.
“You betrayed me.”
Thomas's voice softened.
“I betrayed your father.”
Alejandro froze.
“What?”
Thomas continued.
“Because your father was the reason my family died.”
The room went silent.
Thomas looked directly at him.
“I didn't work for you.”
“I worked for Matteo.”
Alejandro raised his gun again.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Thomas smiled sadly.
“I don't expect you to believe me.”
He walked toward the door.
“I expect you to find your daughter before she disappears the way your brother did.”
Alejandro stiffened.
“My daughter?”
Thomas stopped.
“Emma isn't Clara's daughter.”
May you like
Alejandro stared.
Thomas walked away.
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