Chapter 12 - SOFIA'S GRAVE WAS EMPTYThe Woman Everyone Thought Was DeadRain covered the cemetery.
Alina stood beside Matteo beneath black umbrellas.
The grave of Sofia Vescari was open.
Empty.
No coffin.
No remains.
Just a black wooden box.
Matteo knelt.
Inside was a baby bracelet.
Leo's name engraved on the metal.
Alina touched it.
"She was alive."
Matteo said nothing.
A projector suddenly illuminated the mausoleum wall.
A video appeared.
Sofia.
Alive.
Sitting in an empty room.
Her face bruised.
Her voice weak.
"Matteo, if you're watching this, I failed to protect our son."
Alina's throat tightened.
Sofia continued:
"The people hunting Leo are not after the money."
She took a breath.
"They're after the bloodline."
A photograph appeared.
Three children.
Gabriel.
Matteo.
And a third baby.
"Victor had another child."
Matteo whispered:
"Who?"
Sofia looked into the camera.
"Me."
The video ended.
Alina turned toward him.
"What?"
Matteo couldn't speak.
A voice came from behind them.
"Your grandmother had another daughter."
An old woman stepped from the mausoleum.
Gray hair.
Straight posture.
No fear.
Matteo raised his gun.
She smiled.
"Put it down."
"Who are you?"
"Sofia's mother."
Alina stared.
"My mother is alive?"
The woman looked at her.
"No."
"Then who is Sofia?"
"Your father's second wife."
Alina felt dizzy.
"Wait."
The woman approached.
"Gabriel married Sofia to gain access to Victor's private vault."
Matteo's eyes narrowed.
"He used her."
"No."
The woman shook her head.
"Sofia used Gabriel."
Alina looked between them.
"For what?"
The old woman pointed at the pendant.
"That."
Alina touched the dragon.
"What's inside it?"
"The genetic record."
Silence.
"The Vescari bloodline isn't merely inheritance."
The woman continued.
"It is proof."
"Proof of what?"
"That Victor wasn't the original owner."
Matteo whispered:
"Who was?"
The woman looked directly at Alina.
"Your great-grandmother."
She handed Alina a sealed envelope.
"The dragon began with a woman."
Alina opened it.
Inside was a photograph of an elegant woman from eighty years ago.
On her neck was the same dragon.
Beneath it:
Mara Vescari. Founder.
A second photograph was stapled behind it.
Mara.
Victor.
Isabella.
And one more person.
Adrian.
Young.
Very young.
Alina looked at Matteo.
"Adrian knew all of this."
"He isn't just a lieutenant."
The old woman shook her head.
"No."
She whispered:
"He's your grandmother's first son."
Matteo went still.
May you like
Adrian was family.
And suddenly every move made sense.
Related Stories
