Chapter 5 - THE NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Claire slapped Dante.
Nobody moved.
Not Gabriel.
Not Enzo.
Not even Dante.
The sound cracked across the medical room.
Claire’s hand shook.
“You stood there and told me you didn’t know him.”
“I didn’t.”
“You were there when he died!”
“Yes.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No.”
“Then tell me what happened!”
Dante’s jaw tightened.
“Not here.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“No more private rooms. No more secrets. Tell me.”
Dante glanced toward sleeping Lily.
Claire lowered her voice.
“Tell me.”
Four years earlier, Dante had received the anonymous message asking for a meeting.
A man claimed to have evidence that Luca’s death had been arranged from within the Moretti family.
Dante drove personally.
No guards.
No convoy.
The source never reached the café.
On the return drive, Dante saw a vehicle racing along the mountain road.
Behind it, another car.
The first vehicle lost control.
Hit the barrier.
Rolled.
Dante stopped.
He pulled the driver out before the vehicle caught fire.
Michael.
Still alive.
Barely.
Claire could hardly breathe.
“You touched him?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Dante closed his eyes.
Two words.
“Claire.”
Her knees weakened.
“And?”
“Lily.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Dante continued.
“He gave me something.”
“What?”
“A hotel key card.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Where is it?”
“Gone.”
Her eyes flashed.
“Convenient.”
“I searched the hotel room the following morning.”
“You went?”
“Yes.”
“What was there?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why didn’t you find me?”
“I didn’t know who Claire and Lily were.”
“You could have investigated.”
“I did.”
He paused.
“Michael Bennett didn’t exist beyond six years of records.”
Because he had fabricated the identity.
Claire wiped her tears.
“The second car?”
“Gone before I reached Michael.”
“Did you see the driver?”
“No.”
“License plate?”
“No.”
She laughed bitterly.
“So Adrian tells me you were there, and all I have is your word.”
“Yes.”
Dante did not try to defend himself further.
That was almost worse.
Claire walked away.
Later that night, she sat beside Lily in the estate library.
Michael’s memory card rested on the table.
Dante’s technical specialist had built an isolated computer system.
No network.
No outside access.
Claire typed possible passwords.
LilyBennett.
MichaelLily.
Bluebell.
The nickname Michael used before Lily was born.
Nothing.
Then Claire remembered something ridiculous.
A sentence Michael repeated whenever Claire worried about becoming a mother.
Three little words.
Our brave girl.
She typed:
OURBRAVEGIRL
The screen changed.
ACCESS GRANTED.
Hundreds of folders appeared.
Bank transactions.
Audio recordings.
Photographs.
Copies of identification documents.
Political donations.
Police payments.
Claire stared.
“This could destroy Adrian.”
Dante stood behind her.
“Yes.”
One folder was titled:
LMB.
Luca Moretti Betrayal.
Dante stopped.
Claire opened it.
Audio played.
Sophia’s voice.
“You promise Luca won’t suffer?”
Adrian responded.
“It will be fast.”
Dante’s face emptied.
Claire looked at him.
Sophia had arranged her husband’s death.
There was no ambiguity anymore.
Another folder.
MB EXIT.
Michael Bennett.
Claire clicked.
A recorded argument.
Michael:
“I’m done, Adrian.”
Adrian:
“You’re my brother.”
Michael:
“I’m going to the Morettis.”
Adrian:
“Then you’re dead.”
Claire began shaking.
Another voice entered.
Female.
Sophia.
“Let me handle him.”
Claire and Dante looked at each other.
Sophia had killed Michael.
Or arranged it.
Not Dante.
Claire closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Dante shook his head.
“Don’t.”
“I accused you.”
“You had reason.”
“I hit you.”
“That was less justified.”
A weak laugh escaped her.
He almost smiled.
Then the computer beeped.
One file had automatically opened because the archive recognized the correct password.
A video.
Michael appeared.
Alive.
Claire stopped breathing.
He sat in what looked like a cheap motel room.
Tired.
Terrified.
“Claire.”
Her hand flew to her mouth.
“If you’re seeing this, I probably failed.”
She began crying immediately.
Michael continued.
“I’m sorry I lied about who I was.”
Lily looked at the screen.
“Daddy?”
Claire pulled her close.
Michael explained everything.
Adrian.
Sophia.
The evidence.
Then he said something that made Dante freeze.
“There is one Moretti you can trust.”
Claire looked at Dante.
Michael continued.
“Dante.”
Dante stared at the screen.
“I’ve never met him, but I watched him for years. He’s dangerous. He’s done things I don’t agree with. But he keeps his word.”
Claire glanced at Dante.
Michael smiled faintly.
“If our daughter ever needs protection and I’m gone, find Dante Moretti.”
Claire broke.
For four years she had accidentally done exactly what Michael wanted.
She had entered Dante’s home.
Trusted him without knowing why.
Michael continued.
“One more thing.”
His face became serious.
“Adrian has somebody inside the Moretti family. Someone besides Sophia.”
Dante stepped closer.
Michael held up a photograph.
The image was blurry.
A man entering a restaurant with Adrian.
Dante whispered:
“No.”
Claire looked at him.
“Who is it?”
Dante didn’t answer.
Gabriel did from behind them.
“That’s our father.”
Claire turned.
Dante and Gabriel’s father had died eighteen months earlier.
A heart attack.
Loved by both sons.
Leader of the Moretti family for thirty-five years.
And the image showed him secretly meeting their greatest enemy.
Dante looked devastated.
Michael’s recording continued.
“If you’re watching this, assume the betrayal goes higher than anyone thinks.”
Then the video ended.
Silence.
Claire held Lily.
Dante stared at the black screen.
His brother murdered.
His father possibly involved.
His sister-in-law a traitor.
His closest lieutenant under suspicion.
His entire family history collapsing.
Claire stood beside him.
Without thinking, she took his hand.
He looked down.
She did not let go.
Then Gabriel spoke.
“Dante.”
“What?”
“There’s something you need to see.”
He placed a recent photograph on the table.
Taken that morning outside a private airfield.
Sophia.
Adrian.
And between them stood an older man with white hair.
Alive.
Dante stared.
Impossible.
Claire looked at him.
“Who is that?”
His voice barely worked.
“My father.”
Salvatore Moretti.
The man Dante had buried eighteen months earlier.
The man whose coffin Dante had personally carried.
May you like
Was alive.
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