Chapter 7 – THE FAMILY HEIRLOOM

The aftermath was a blur of flashing red and blue lights, yellow crime scene tape, and endless questions.

Vincenzo Romano, the long-dead Don, was taken into federal custody. The police found Julian’s body in the alley. Vanessa was pronounced dead at the scene.

Luca used his immense influence to keep me from being arrested. He told the police I was a heroic employee who had been taken hostage, omitting my true lineage.

By 3:00 AM, the police allowed us to leave the crime scene.

Luca drove me back to the Moretti estate in silence. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the city slick and quiet.

When we walked through the heavy oak doors of the mansion, the house was completely still. The guests had fled hours ago.

Helen Bellini was sitting on the bottom step of the grand staircase, her hands cuffed in front of her. Two police officers stood beside her, waiting for the transport van.

Lily was asleep on one of the velvet sofas in the parlor, covered with a warm blanket.

Helen looked up as Luca and I walked in. She looked so small, so frail. It was impossible to believe this woman had sabotaged a car and caused Caroline’s death.

“Is Vanessa…?” Helen whispered, her voice cracking.

Luca stopped in front of her. His expression was unreadable.

“She’s gone, Helen,” Luca said quietly.

Helen closed her eyes, letting out a broken, silent sob. She bowed her head, accepting her punishment. “I did it for her,” she cried. “I took the money so Vanessa wouldn’t have to marry into the syndicate. I wanted to take her and Lily away. But Caroline caught me.”

“You destroyed my family,” Luca said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “But Julian killed Vanessa. Not you.”

Helen looked up, tears streaming down her wrinkled face. She looked toward the parlor where Lily was sleeping.

“Mr. Moretti,” Helen begged. “Please. Don’t let them put Lily in the system. She has no one left.”

Luca looked at the sleeping child. The little girl who had brought a cheap silver bracelet to a mother who was ashamed of her.

“She stays here,” Luca said firmly. “I will raise her. She will never want for anything.”

Helen let out a deep breath, a profound relief washing over her face. “Thank you.”

The officers gently pulled Helen to her feet and led her out the front doors.

Luca and I stood alone in the grand foyer.

He looked at me, his dark eyes exhausted but remarkably gentle.

“I’m sorry, Hannah,” he said softly. “For all of this.”

“You didn’t cause this, Luca,” I replied, touching his arm. “You survived it.”

He gave a small, sad smile. “Go get some rest. We’ll figure everything out tomorrow.”

I nodded and walked toward the servant’s quarters.

But as I reached my small room, I remembered my father’s final words on the roof.

Check the pockets of my coat downstairs!

Before leaving my mother’s apartment, I had grabbed the heavy charcoal wool coat my father had left on the floor. I didn’t want the police taking it as evidence. It was the only thing I had of his.

I set the wet coat on my bed and carefully reached into the deep pockets.

My hand brushed against a small, velvet box.

I pulled it out.

It wasn’t a ring box. It was a flat, rectangular jeweler’s case.

I slowly opened it.

Resting on a bed of black silk was a heavy, antique gold necklace. The pendant was a beautiful, intricately carved crest—a soaring eagle clutching a sword.

The Romano family crest.

But there was a small piece of folded paper tucked beneath the chain.

I pulled the paper out and unfolded it.

It was a handwritten note from my mother.

Hannah,

If you are reading this, it means Vincenzo has found us, and I am likely dead. I lied to you one last time to protect you.

Vincenzo Romano is your father, yes. But he is not the man who ordered the hit on the Moretti family ten years ago.

The war was started by his brother. Your uncle. A man who wanted the Romano throne for himself.

Your uncle is the one who took the five million dollars from Caroline’s safety deposit box. He used the money to hire mercenaries and buy off the police. He has been waiting for Vincenzo to surface so he can kill him and take over the city.

Do not trust anyone. Not even Luca. Because your uncle’s name is Dominic Romano.

And he is currently standing inside the Moretti house.

My blood turned to ice.

I dropped the note.

Dominic Romano.

I knew that name. I had heard it earlier tonight.

It was the name of the Head of Security. The man who had been guarding the dining room doors. The man Luca trusted with his life.

Suddenly, the lights in my bedroom flickered and died.

The entire mansion was plunged into absolute darkness.

The heavy oak door of my bedroom clicked shut. The lock turned from the outside.

I spun around, my heart hammering in my chest.

“Luca!” I screamed, throwing myself against the door. “Luca, it’s a trap!”

A deep, smooth voice echoed from the hallway outside my door.

“Luca can’t hear you, little bird,” Dominic Romano said. “He’s a bit tied up at the moment.”

TITLE: The Head of Security

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