Chapter 11 - Vincent’s Secret Son Was Ordered to Kill Claire—But He Came to Belladonna to Warn Her About the Men Who Still Wanted the Moretti Empire BackHis name was Gabriel Rossi.
No relation to Margaret.
At least according to him.
Claire had learned to distrust coincidences.
Adrian had learned to distrust everyone.
Elena had apparently learned to invite possible assassins to dinner.
“Explain,” Adrian said.
Gabriel sat.
“No guns.”
Marcus appeared behind him.
“That's disappointing.”
Gabriel ignored him.
Vincent had affair with Gabriel's mother, Teresa Hale, for twelve years.
Gabriel grew up knowing father only as “Uncle Vince.”
At eighteen, truth emerged.
Vincent began training him quietly.
Accounts.
Shipping.
Contacts.
Not violence initially.
Business.
Then loyalty.
Vincent believed Adrian had softened family.
Marco had betrayed it.
Nico had failed it.
Gabriel would restore it.
Before Vincent died, he left encrypted archive.
Instructions.
If Adrian dismantled organization, Gabriel was to rebuild.
First obstacle:
Claire Bennett.
“Why me?” Claire asked.
“Because Vincent thought Adrian would become himself again if you disappeared.”
Adrian's face went cold.
Gabriel continued quickly.
“I don't agree.”
“Comforting.”
“I came because people are already rebuilding.”
Marcus frowned.
“Who?”
“Old captains. Raymond's clients. Vincent's remaining partners.”
“How many?”
“Enough.”
Adrian leaned back.
“And they think you're leader.”
“Yes.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Adrian almost smiled.
Gabriel continued.
“Believe evidence.”
He handed drive.
Claire looked at it.
“Why does every family secret come on flash drive?”
Marcus shrugged.
“Portable.”
Files showed money.
Weapons shipments.
Bribes.
A new organization called The Harbor Circle.
Leader identified only as M.
Adrian frowned.
“Margaret?”
“In prison.”
“Marcus?” Claire asked.
Marcus looked offended.
“Thank you.”
“Just checking.”
Gabriel shook head.
“M is woman.”
“How do you know?”
“I met her.”
“Name?”
“She called herself Maria.”
Daria went pale when told.
“Maria Moretti.”
Adrian stared.
“No more relatives.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Apparently not your decision.”
Maria was Lorenzo's widow.
Adrian's mother.
The woman Adrian believed had been mentally declining in private care for ten years.
He visited monthly.
Or thought he did.
Facility records had been falsified.
The woman he visited?
Maria.
But not helpless.
Not confused.
She had been listening.
Watching.
Planning.
Adrian sat in silence.
“My mother.”
Claire touched hand.
“She knew everything?”
Gabriel nodded.
“She believes dismantling organization dishonored Lorenzo.”
“Lorenzo wanted it dismantled.”
“She doesn't believe that.”
“Marco's letter—”
“She thinks Marco was manipulated.”
“By who?”
Gabriel looked at Claire.
“Elliot Bennett.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“My dead father remains remarkably busy.”
Maria had recruited old Moretti loyalists.
She wanted Belladonna returned.
Accounts restored.
Gabriel installed as public successor.
Adrian removed.
Claire eliminated.
“Why warn us?” Adrian asked.
Gabriel looked at Elena.
“Because I met her.”
Elena blinked.
Gabriel smiled awkwardly.
“She told me what Marco actually did.”
Adrian looked between them.
“Oh.”
Claire noticed immediately.
“You two are dating.”
“No,” both said too quickly.
Marcus laughed.
Adrian looked ill.
“This family is impossible.”
Gabriel continued.
“Maria moves tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“Belladonna.”
Of course.
The restaurant had become symbol.
Every generation wanted to own room.
Adrian looked around.
“No.”
Claire knew tone.
Old Adrian.
“No what?”
“We close restaurant.”
“Reasonable.”
“You leave Chicago.”
“Not reasonable.”
“Claire.”
“No.”
Gabriel watched them.
“This is strange.”
Marcus nodded.
“You get used to it.”
Adrian took breath.
“I am asking you to leave Chicago temporarily.”
“Why?”
“Because they specifically want you dead.”
“Fair concern.”
“Thank you.”
“But I decide.”
He closed eyes.
“Of course.”
Claire agreed to safe location.
Not because ordered.
Because sensible.
Maria attacked Belladonna that night instead of tomorrow.
Old trick.
Tell enemy one time.
Move earlier.
Firebomb struck rear entrance.
Employees evacuated.
Gunmen entered kitchen.
Marcus's legal security team responded.
Police arrived.
Claire watched remotely from secure apartment.
Hated every second.
Then screen showed Maria.
Seventy-four.
Elegant.
Walking through smoke.
No weapon.
She entered Adrian's office.
Sat in his chair.
And called him.
“Come home.”
Adrian answered:
“That isn't my home anymore.”
“You've forgotten who you are.”
“No.”
He looked at Claire on second monitor.
“I finally remembered.”
Maria's expression hardened.
“That woman poisoned you.”
“No.”
“She made you weak.”
Adrian smiled sadly.
“You mean she made me stop being afraid of weakness.”
Maria slammed hand.
“Your father built this.”
“My father regretted what he built.”
“Lies.”
“I have his records.”
“Marco forged them.”
“No.”
“Elliot forged them.”
“No.”
“Claire—”
“No.”
Adrian's voice sharpened.
“Stop blaming everyone else because truth makes your grief inconvenient.”
Maria froze.
For first time she looked like mother.
Not strategist.
A grieving widow.
“He loved this family.”
“I know.”
“Then why destroy it?”
“Because loving family and loving system aren't same.”
Maria's eyes filled.
Behind her, Gabriel entered office.
She turned.
“My boy.”
Gabriel shook head.
“No.”
“You belong here.”
“No.”
“Vincent wanted—”
“Vincent wanted me to become a weapon after he died.”
Gabriel looked at Adrian.
“I don't.”
Police entered.
Maria did not resist.
But as officers approached, she smiled.
“You think this ends with me?”
Adrian stared.
“I'm beginning to understand nothing ends cleanly.”
Maria laughed.
“Then ask Marcus what he did the night Marco died.”
Everyone froze.
Claire looked at Marcus.
Adrian slowly turned.
May you like
Marcus's face had gone white.
And for the first time since Claire met him, the loyal security chief had absolutely nothing to say.
Related Stories
