The Mafia Boss Watched Her Dance With His Brother—Then She Slipped Him a Bloody Note
Chapter 3
Luca had spent years believing his brother was careless.
He had never believed Matteo was a murderer.
There was a difference.
“Why would Matteo have your father?”
Elena shook her head.
“Matteo doesn’t know who my father really is.”
“Then what does he know?”
“That Gabriel Moretti has information.”
“What information?”
“Evidence.”
“Against whom?”
“Your family.”
Luca stared at her.
“Be specific.”
Elena hesitated.
“Your father didn’t build the Romano empire alone.”
“I know.”
“He had partners.”
“Everyone has partners.”
“One of them was federal.”
Luca’s expression changed.
“What?”
Elena lowered her voice.
“A corrupt federal agent.”
Luca said nothing.
“Gabriel discovered that your father had been paying him for years.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how does your father fit into this?”
“He tried to expose them.”
Luca stared at her.
“And Matteo?”
“He found Gabriel’s files.”
“Why would Matteo care?”
“Because those files contain something that could destroy him.”
Luca’s eyes hardened.
“What?”
Elena reached into her purse.
She pulled out a photograph.
It showed Matteo standing beside a man Luca recognized.
Thomas Vieri.
One of the organization’s most violent enforcers.
Luca looked at the date.
Three months earlier.
“Matteo has been meeting him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Matteo is trying to take control.”
Luca’s fingers tightened around the photograph.
“Control of what?”
“The entire organization.”
For the first time that night, Luca felt anger.
Not fear.
Not suspicion.
Anger.
He had protected Matteo since their parents died.
He had taken blame for him.
Paid his debts.
Covered his mistakes.
And now his brother wanted his throne.
“Where is Gabriel?”
Elena looked toward the basement.
“Below us.”
Luca glanced at the ballroom.
There were too many people.
Too many cameras.
Too many unknown variables.
“Who knows you’re helping me?”
“Nobody.”
“Matteo?”
“He thinks I’m loyal to him.”
“Good.”
Luca turned.
“Stay here.”
Elena grabbed his sleeve.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I need to know if my father is alive.”
“If you come with me, you may die.”
“I know.”
“Then stay.”
She shook her head.
“I’ve already lost eight years.”
Luca studied her.
Something about her courage reminded him of someone.
His mother.
She had once stood between two armed men and refused to move.
Luca had been sixteen.
He still remembered her voice.
Fear doesn’t decide what you do. You do.
He nodded.
“Fine.”
They moved through a service corridor.
Luca knew the building better than most.
There was an old freight elevator hidden behind the kitchen.
He opened it.
They descended.
The basement smelled of concrete and dust.
A single light flickered.
Elena pointed.
“There.”
A steel door stood at the end of the corridor.
Luca approached.
He heard voices.
One belonged to Matteo.
The other was unfamiliar.
“Where is the ledger?”
Matteo sounded angry.
“I don’t have it.”
“You said Gabriel gave it to you.”
“He didn’t.”
A chair scraped.
Elena’s breathing stopped.
Luca placed a finger against his lips.
They listened.
The second voice spoke again.
“If the ledger isn’t found, your brother keeps control.”
Matteo cursed.
“Then kill him.”
Elena looked at Luca.
His face became unreadable.
The second voice laughed.
“You really think your brother is the problem?”
Silence.
Then:
“He’s not.”
Luca slowly reached for the door handle.
The voice continued.
“The real problem is the woman.”
Elena froze.
“The waitress?”
“Yes.”
Luca’s eyes moved toward her.
“She knows too much.”
A gun was cocked inside.
Luca opened the door.
Everything happened at once.
Two guards turned.
Luca struck the first before he could raise his weapon.
Elena ducked.
The second guard fired.
The bullet struck the wall.
Luca tackled him.
Matteo stood frozen.
And strapped to a chair behind him was an older man with gray hair.
Elena cried:
“Dad!”
Gabriel Moretti lifted his head.
“Elena?”
She ran toward him.
Luca looked at Matteo.
His brother stared back.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Matteo whispered:
“Luca…”
Luca’s voice was ice.
“Tell me why you have her father.”
Matteo looked at Gabriel.
Then at Elena.
Then at the blood on Luca’s hands.
“I can explain.”
Luca stepped forward.
“You have thirty seconds.”
