Chapter 11 - The Woman Who Owned the NameThe Bellandi Empire Had a Queen Nobody Knew Existed

The voice came from every speaker in the house.

Matteo stood motionless.

His face had lost all color.

"Mother."

A soft laugh.

"Still afraid of me, Matteo?"

Elena whispered:

"She should have died."

"She did," Matteo said.

"Then who is this?"

Matteo looked at the ceiling.

"I don't know."

The voice continued.

"I spent twenty years watching you make the same mistakes."

Matteo raised his gun toward the speaker.

"What do you want?"

"Your daughter."

Sophia's heart stopped.

Matteo's voice became deadly.

"No."

"You don't even know what she carries."

"What does she carry?"

"The ledger."

Sophia looked at the drive in her hand.

Elena shook her head.

"Don't open it."

"Why?"

"Because once you know the names, they will kill you."

Sophia looked at Matteo.

"They're already trying."

The voice returned.

"Smart girl."

Sophia turned.

"Who are you?"

A pause.

Then:

"Your grandmother."

Sophia felt her blood run cold.

Matteo's mother was still alive.

Elena grabbed Sophia.

"No."

"What?"

"Never answer her."

The house shook with another burst of gunfire.

Matteo moved toward the side door.

"There's a tunnel."

"Where?"

"To the sea."

Sophia held the drive.

"What about my brother?"

A guard appeared.

"Luca is moving."

"Moving?"

"He left the hospital."

Sophia's face went white.

"What do you mean?"

"He disappeared ten minutes ago."

Matteo's expression changed.

"No."

Elena whispered:

"They took him."

Sophia felt the room spin.

"Who?"

The speaker answered for her.

"His father."

Sophia looked at Elena.

"You said Enrico was dead."

"He is."

"Then how?"

A photograph appeared on the television.

Luca.

Sitting in a chair.

Alive.

A silver watch visible beside him.

Sophia stared.

"He's alive."

Matteo stepped toward the screen.

"Where is he?"

The image changed.

A warehouse.

An old shipping container.

And a man standing behind Luca.

Sophia recognized him.

The man was Matteo's security chief.

Enrico.

Impossible.

Sophia's voice shook.

"That's him."

Matteo stared.

"I buried Enrico."

The figure behind Luca smiled.

Then removed his jacket.

There was no scar.

No silver watch.

Only a familiar black ring.

Matteo's.

The man spoke.

"Hello, brother."

Matteo stopped.

Sophia looked at him.

"Brother?"

Matteo's eyes were filled with disbelief.

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The man smiled.

"You really thought Matteo Bellandi was an only child?"