Chapter 13 - The Sixth Man
Dante had spent decades believing the Brotherhood began with five families.
He was wrong.
Domenico Rosselli explained the truth while holding them inside the villa library.
There had always been a sixth man.
Not a family.
A broker.
Someone who connected judges, shipping companies, banks, politicians, and organized crime.
Originally that man had been Domenico’s father.
When he died, Domenico inherited the role.
Victor served as muscle.
Domenico controlled the money.
“You killed Gabriel,” Dante said.
Domenico smiled.
“Victor killed Gabriel.”
“On your order.”
“Yes.”
Lena stared at the man.
“My mother?”
“Victor became sentimental about loose ends.”
Victor gave Domenico a cold look.
Sofia?
Domenico shrugged.
“She was intelligent.”
Dante lunged.
Three guns rose.
Lena shouted his name.
He stopped.
Domenico smiled.
“She found the financial architecture.”
“You had her killed.”
“Yes.”
Dante’s eyes became murderous.
Domenico continued almost casually.
“She should have stayed a wife.”
Lena saw Dante’s entire body tighten.
She stepped closer to him.
Not because he needed physical support.
Because he needed a reminder.
Leo.
Gabriel.
The future.
Not revenge.
Domenico held out his hand.
“The journal.”
Dante gave it to him.
Matteo looked surprised.
Dante did not.
Sofia had been too smart to keep only one duplicate.
Lena understood from his expression.
Domenico did not.
He opened the journal.
“Excellent.”
Lena spoke.
“You’re going to kill us anyway.”
Domenico looked amused.
“Eventually.”
“Then why explain?”
“Because history deserves witnesses.”
“You sound insecure.”
Victor almost laughed.
Domenico’s eyes hardened.
Lena smiled faintly.
There.
Ego.
Useful.
Dante saw what she was doing.
“You think you built something,” Lena continued.
“But nobody remembers you.”
Domenico stepped closer.
“My name is known where it matters.”
“Gabriel’s name survived.”
His expression changed.
“So did my mother’s.”
Lena nodded toward Dante.
“Even Victor is feared.”
Victor smiled.
Domenico glared at him.
Lena continued.
“But you?”
She shrugged.
“You had to fake your own death because the only way to stay powerful was to hide.”
Domenico slapped her.
Dante moved instantly.
The room exploded into violence.
Matteo tackled one guard.
Dante struck another.
Lena dropped.
A shot shattered the window.
Victor disappeared through the garden doors.
Domenico grabbed the journal and ran.
Dante chased him.
Lena shouted.
“Dante!”
But he was gone.
Matteo disabled the final guard.
“You okay?”
Lena touched her cheek.
“Yes.”
They followed.
Outside, Dante caught Domenico near the dock.
The two men fought brutally.
Domenico was older but skilled.
Dante was stronger.
He drove his cousin against a stone wall.
“Who ordered Sofia killed?”
Domenico laughed.
“I just told you.”
“Say it.”
“I did.”
Dante hit him.
“Say her name.”
Domenico spit blood.
“Sofia Rosselli.”
Dante’s fist tightened.
Lena reached them.
“Dante.”
He ignored her.
Domenico smiled.
“Do it.”
Dante raised his fist.
“Dante.”
Lena stepped closer.
“He wants you to.”
Dante looked at her.
“If you kill him, he never testifies.”
“He murdered Sofia.”
“I know.”
“My brother.”
“I know.”
“Your mother.”
“I know.”
Lena’s eyes filled.
“That is exactly why he needs to stand in court and hear every name.”
Dante stared at Domenico.
Slowly, painfully, he lowered his hand.
Italian police arrived minutes later.
Domenico was taken into custody.
Victor escaped by boat.
Again.
But the journal was recovered.
That evening Dante stood beside the lake.
Lena joined him.
“You almost killed him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Dante looked at her.
“Because my niece is irritating.”
She smiled.
“Good answer.”
He stared across the water.
“I spent my whole life believing fear was power.”
“And now?”
Dante looked back toward the villa.
“Fear is expensive.”
Lena thought about that.
Then her phone rang.
Rosa.
Lena answered.
Her face immediately changed.
“What?”
Dante turned.
Lena listened.
“No. Don’t let anyone inside.”
She ended the call.
“What happened?”
Lena’s eyes were wide.
“Someone left something at the estate.”
“What?”
“A photograph.”
Dante waited.
“Of Leo?”
Lena shook her head.
“Of me.”
His face hardened.
“When?”
“Taken yesterday.”
Dante stopped.
Yesterday Lena had been in Italy.
The photograph showed her asleep in the villa.
Someone had entered the house while they were there.
On the back were five words.
May you like
VICTOR WANTS THE GIRL ALIVE.
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