Chapter 7 – THE TRUTH ABOUT ELENA

The police sirens wailed in the distance.

Luca strode into the kitchen, his face grim. Don Bellini’s men were tied up in the foyer. Bellini himself was bleeding on the marble floor, neutralized.

Luca looked at Vanessa, who was cowering against the cabinets.

“It’s over,” Luca said. “The police have the ledger. Your father is going away for the rest of his life.”

Vanessa sneered. “You think you’ve won? Ask Gabriel about Elena.”

Luca froze. He turned to his brother.

Gabriel avoided Luca’s eyes.

“Gabriel,” Luca’s voice broke. “What did she mean?”

Gabriel sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Five years ago,” Gabriel started, his voice heavy. “Elena came to me. She was terrified. She found out Michael was embezzling from the family, and that he was working with Bellini.”

Luca stared at him. “Why didn’t she come to me?”

“Because you were blinded by loyalty to Michael!” Gabriel shouted. “You wouldn’t have believed her. She asked me to help her get proof.”

Gabriel reached into his pocket and pulled out a rusted key.

“We found a safety deposit box. But Bellini found out. He cut the brakes on her car.”

Luca stumbled back, the betrayal hitting him like a physical blow.

“Michael knew,” Gabriel whispered. “Michael knew Bellini killed her, and he kept quiet to save his own skin. When I found out, I went after Bellini. But Michael framed me. He told you I was trying to steal your wife.”

Luca looked at the ground.

For five years, he had hated his brother. He had banished him, believing Gabriel was a traitor.

“I’m sorry, Luca,” Gabriel said.

Luca slowly walked over to his brother. He didn’t punch him. He didn’t yell.

He pulled Gabriel into a crushing embrace.

Both men wept silently in the ruined kitchen.

I watched from the doorway, wiping tears from my own eyes.

Then, a small voice broke the silence.

“Uncle Gabriel?”

We all turned.

Sophie was standing in the doorway, holding Teresa’s hand.

Gabriel dropped to his knees, opening his arms.

Sophie ran to him, burying her face in his neck.

“You came back,” she cried.

“I told you I would, bug,” he whispered.

Teresa walked over, leaning heavily on her cane.

Gabriel looked up at his mother. “I’m sorry it took so long, Mom.”

Teresa placed her trembling hand on his cheek.

“You’re home. That’s all that matters.”

Luca turned to Vanessa. The police were rushing through the front door.

“Take her,” Luca told the officers, not even looking at his ex-fiancée. “Take all of them.”

As Vanessa was dragged away screaming, Luca walked over to me.

“Hannah,” he said softly.

He looked at the bruises forming on my neck.

“You risked your life for my mother. For my daughter.”

I swallowed hard. “They’re good people, Mr. Moretti.”

“Call me Luca.” He gently touched my shoulder. “You’re not a housekeeper anymore.”

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