Chapter 8 - TWO DAUGHTERSTessa could not move.
Maria looked exactly like her.
Not similar.
Identical.
The same eyes.
The same shape of nose.
The same tiny mole near the jaw.
Tessa whispered:
“You're alive.”
Maria nodded.
“So are you.”
“Why did you hide?”
“Because they would have killed me.”
“Who?”
Maria looked toward the chapel entrance.
“Everyone.”
Victor appeared behind them.
His gun was raised.
His eyes locked onto Maria.
For the first time, Tessa saw pure shock on his face.
“Maria.”
Maria smiled.
“Hello, Victor.”
He lowered his weapon.
“You're alive.”
“I told you.”
“I saw your grave.”
“That wasn't my grave.”
“Who was buried there?”
“Someone who looked enough like me.”
Victor stepped closer.
“Where have you been?”
“Where Massimo wanted me.”
Tessa stepped between them.
“Why would he keep you alive?”
Maria's expression darkened.
“Because I was useful.”
“How?”
Maria looked at Victor.
“Because he believed I could control you.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“And could you?”
“No.”
Maria looked at Tessa.
“But she can.”
Tessa frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Maria reached into her coat.
She removed a folded document.
“This is why you're dangerous.”
Tessa opened it.
A bloodline chart.
Names.
Dates.
Financial transfers.
Political figures.
Judges.
Police chiefs.
Business leaders.
And at the center:
VINCENT ROMANO.
Beside his name were two daughters.
TESSA MOORE.
MARIA ROMANO.
Tessa's stomach turned.
“What is this?”
“The real structure of the Romano organization.”
Victor studied the document.
His eyes narrowed.
“This isn't my father's current network.”
“No.”
Maria looked at him.
“It's the original one.”
“What happened to it?”
“Your father dismantled it before he died.”
“Why?”
“Because he discovered the organization had been infiltrated.”
“By whom?”
Maria whispered:
“Massimo.”
Victor went silent.
“He wasn't trying to steal your father's empire,” she continued.
“He was trying to replace it.”
Tessa looked at the chart.
“How?”
“By controlling the police, courts, banks, politicians.”
Maria tapped one name.
“This person helped.”
Victor's expression changed.
“Judge Edward Kane.”
Maria nodded.
“He sentenced dozens of men for crimes that helped Massimo.”
Victor clenched his fist.
“He's still alive.”
“Very much so.”
Paulie entered the chapel.
“Boss.”
Victor turned.
“What?”
“We found a vehicle.”
“Whose?”
Paulie hesitated.
“Registered to Judge Kane.”
Victor's face became expressionless.
Maria smiled bitterly.
“You see?”
Tessa looked between them.
“What are we supposed to do?”
Victor answered immediately.
“Find him.”
Maria shook her head.
“No.”
Victor looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because he wants you to.”
Victor frowned.
“He knows you'll go after him.”
“Exactly.”
Maria stepped closer.
“He has one advantage.”
“What?”
“You.”
Tessa froze.
Maria looked directly into her eyes.
“Massimo doesn't want Victor dead.”
“Then what does he want?”
Maria's answer was quiet.
“He wants you.”
“Why?”
“Because you're not just Vincent Romano's daughter.”
She paused.
“You are the only person who can legally inherit what your father left behind.”
Victor stared at her.
“What?”
Maria smiled.
“The entire Romano fortune.”
Tessa's breath caught.
“And Massimo can't access it.”
“Why not?”
Maria looked at Victor.
“Because your father changed the succession rules before he died.”
Victor understood.
“So that's why she's alive.”
Maria nodded.
“And that's why she has been hunted her entire life.”
Then a sniper shot shattered the chapel window.
Victor grabbed Tessa.
Maria screamed:
“Down!”
The bullet struck the stone wall.
A second shot followed.
Victor looked toward the darkness outside.
Then he heard a third shot.
Paulie collapsed.
Blood spread across his chest.
Victor caught him.
Paulie whispered:
“Boss…”
Victor leaned closer.
“Where?”
Paulie's eyes rolled.
“Inside…”
May you like
Victor froze.
Someone was already inside the chapel.
