The Mafia Boss Watched Her Dance With His Brother—Then She Slipped Him a Bloody Note
Chapter 6
Luca’s eyes never left Elena.
“Who?”
She looked at the people surrounding them.
“I can’t say it here.”
The Council’s voice echoed again.
“Eight minutes.”
Luca closed the ledger.
“Everyone move to the kitchen.”
Victoria stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because we’re going to make them think we’re giving them what they want.”
Matteo understood.
“A decoy.”
Luca nodded.
Elena followed.
The ballroom remained locked.
But the kitchen had an old delivery passage leading to the alley.
Luca opened the ledger.
The first pages contained names.
Dates.
Payments.
Locations.
Every page was evidence.
Every name represented a powerful person.
A judge.
A police commander.
A state senator.
A bank president.
A real estate developer.
Then Elena pointed to one entry.
“This.”
Luca looked.
Her father’s name.
Gabriel Moretti — Legal Counsel.
Beside it was another name.
Richard Romano.
And beneath that:
Witness: Victoria Romano.
Elena’s hands shook.
“My father knew everything.”
Victoria nodded.
“He was the only lawyer who tried to stop it.”
Luca looked at his mother.
“Who betrayed him?”
Victoria’s face tightened.
“I don’t know.”
Elena interrupted.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
She pointed at the final page.
There was a signature.
Vincent Russo.
Luca’s lieutenant.
His closest friend.
The man who had been beside him for seventeen years.
Luca stared.
“No.”
Elena nodded.
“He was there when my father disappeared.”
Luca shook his head.
“Vincent was loyal.”
“To you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was he listed as the person who delivered my father to the Council?”
Luca couldn’t answer.
The truth arrived like a physical blow.
Vincent had known about the note.
He had known about Gabriel.
He had been beside Luca all night.
And he had never once asked what the note said.
Luca’s phone rang.
Vincent.
Luca answered.
“Boss.”
“Where are you?”
“Kitchen.”
“Good.”
Luca waited.
Vincent continued.
“I need you to trust me.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“Where is the ledger?”
“With me.”
A pause.
“Don’t lie.”
Another pause.
“Who told you?”
Luca looked at Elena.
“No one.”
Vincent laughed softly.
“You were always smarter than I gave you credit for.”
Luca’s expression became cold.
“Why?”
“Because your father made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He thought blood mattered more than power.”
Luca’s hand tightened around the phone.
“You killed him.”
“No.”
Vincent’s voice became quiet.
“I watched.”
Elena covered her mouth.
Vincent continued.
“The Council killed him.”
“And you helped them.”
“I survived.”
Luca stared at the wall.
“You’ve been betraying me for twelve years.”
“I’ve been protecting you.”
“By what?”
“Keeping the Council away from you.”
Luca laughed bitterly.
“You built the organization they wanted.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if they controlled the Romano name, they controlled Chicago.”
Vincent paused.
“I made sure they never controlled you.”
Luca looked at Elena.
“Then why attack tonight?”
“Because you found the ledger.”
“Where are you?”
“Upstairs.”
Luca’s blood ran cold.
He looked toward the kitchen door.
Footsteps approached.
Vincent’s voice continued.
“Come alone.”
The call ended.
Matteo grabbed a gun.
Luca shook his head.
“No.”
“You can’t go alone.”
“I won’t.”
Elena stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
Luca looked at her.
“No.”
She stared back.
“You’ve forgotten something.”
“What?”
“My father is still alive because I walked into this room tonight.”
Luca didn’t answer.
Elena continued.
“And if Vincent knows about the ledger, he knows about me.”
She looked at Victoria.
“Your family has spent years fighting people who use fear.”
She turned to Luca.
“I’m done being afraid.”
Luca nodded.
They walked toward the ballroom.
The lights flickered.
Then every light turned red.
A voice came through the speakers.
“Three minutes.”
Luca looked at Elena.
“Stay behind me.”
She smiled faintly.
“Not tonight.”
The ballroom doors opened.
Vincent stood at the center.
He held a gun.
And beside him was a man Elena had never seen.
Vincent smiled.
“Give me the ledger.”
Luca stepped forward.
“Come take it.”
Vincent raised his weapon.
“Don’t make me kill you.”
Luca looked at him.
“You already killed my father.”
Vincent’s expression changed.
“No.”
He lowered the gun.
“I killed the man who ordered his death.”
Luca froze.
Vincent pointed toward Victoria.
“Your mother.”
