Chapter 7 - THE DEATH OF A DE LUCAThey returned to Chicago before sunrise.
Julian barely spoke.
Claire sat in the back seat beside Lily’s empty car seat.
Every second made the absence louder.
At the cemetery, Julian stood before his mother’s grave.
He began digging.
Nothing.
Then Claire noticed something.
“The angel.”
“What?”
“The statue.”
A stone angel stood behind the grave.
Julian pushed it.
The statue rotated.
A compartment opened.
Inside was a black metal box.
Claire began to cry.
“That’s it.”
Julian opened it.
Inside were account records.
Photographs.
Names.
Payments.
Judges.
Police officers.
Politicians.
Business leaders.
And one document marked:
DE LUCA SUCCESSION PROTOCOL.
Julian read it.
His face changed.
Claire watched.
“What?”
Julian handed her the page.
She read it.
Then went completely still.
“What does it say?”
Claire whispered:
“Vincent knew Marcus was your biological father.”
Julian stared.
“That isn’t possible.”
“It is.”
“And my mother?”
“She knew too.”
Julian closed his eyes.
His whole childhood had been constructed from lies.
His mother had known.
Vincent had known.
Marcus had known.
Maybe even Thomas had known.
Someone had spent his entire life protecting him from the truth.
Or controlling him with it.
Then Claire found something else.
A birth certificate.
Not Lily’s.
Julian’s.
At the bottom was a handwritten note:
THE HEIR IS NOT THE BOY. THE HEIR IS THE GIRL.
Julian’s eyes widened.
Claire whispered:
“Your father planned everything.”
“My father?”
“Vincent.”
“He wanted Lily protected.”
“No.”
Claire pointed at another document.
“He wanted Lily hidden because he knew Marcus would kill her.”
Julian read the final paragraph.
If Julian discovers the truth, Marcus will move immediately.
The moment he finished reading, an explosion shook the cemetery.
The black metal box flew from Julian’s hands.
Cars nearby were thrown sideways.
Claire screamed.
Julian hit the ground.
When he looked up, fire covered the entrance.
Security rushed toward them.
Then a shadow emerged from the smoke.
Cassandra.
Alive.
Blood covered her dress.
She looked directly at Julian.
“You found it.”
Julian raised his gun.
“You poisoned yourself.”
Cassandra shook her head.
“No.”
She took another step.
“I poisoned the wrong glass.”
Julian froze.
“What?”
Cassandra looked at the documents.
“Marcus wasn’t trying to kill me.”
“Then who?”
She stared at him.
“You.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“He wanted you dead because you were standing between him and Lily.”
Cassandra shook her head.
“No.”
She whispered:
“He wanted you dead because you finally learned who your real father is.”
Julian slowly lowered his gun.
“Marcus.”
Cassandra nodded.
“Marcus isn’t afraid of you.”
She looked toward the burning cemetery.
“He’s afraid of something far worse.”
“What?”
Cassandra’s voice dropped.
“Your mother left another heir.”
Julian stared at her.
“What heir?”
Cassandra pointed toward Claire.
“Claire never told you.”
Claire looked terrified.
Julian turned to her.
“Tell me.”
Claire said nothing.
Julian stepped closer.
“Claire.”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“You have a brother.”
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