Chapter 8 - THE CHOICE BETWEEN BLOOD AND TRUTH
Lorenzo spent three nights reviewing the evidence with his attorneys.
The documents connected Vittorio's financial network to several historical crimes.
Some involved former associates of the Duca organization.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Carlo Duca.
Lorenzo's uncle.
Carlo had helped raise Lorenzo after his father's death.
He had taught him business.
Loyalty.
And the brutal rules of the criminal world.
Lorenzo had trusted him.
Now the records suggested Carlo had participated in financial arrangements connected to witness intimidation and the disappearance of several people.
Lorenzo stared at the documents.
Then called Carlo.
“Come to the estate.”
Carlo arrived the next morning.
He was sixty-four.
Silver-haired.
Elegant.
And smiling.
“Lorenzo.”
He embraced his nephew.
Then noticed the documents.
His smile faded.
“Where did you get those?”
Lorenzo looked at him.
“From Matteo Bellini.”
Carlo went still.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Carlo sighed.
“You should have left that alone.”
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
“Did you know about Matteo?”
Carlo looked away.
“Answer me.”
Carlo sat.
“Your brother wanted to expose the same people.”
Lorenzo froze.
“Paolo?”
Carlo nodded.
The room seemed to tilt.
Lorenzo stared.
“What are you saying?”
Carlo looked at him.
“Paolo discovered things he shouldn't have.”
Lorenzo's voice dropped.
“Did you kill him?”
Carlo shook his head.
“No.”
“Did you know someone planned to?”
Silence.
Lorenzo stood.
His hands trembled.
For fifteen years, he had blamed himself for Paolo's death.
Now he understood that his brother might have been murdered because he tried to expose the very organization Lorenzo had inherited.
Carlo looked up.
“Family loyalty means protecting the family.”
Lorenzo stared at him.
“No.”
His voice was cold.
“Family loyalty means not sacrificing your own blood to protect criminals.”
He called his attorney.
Then the authorities.
Carlo was detained for questioning as the investigation expanded.
That evening, Lorenzo found Elena in the garden.
She looked at him.
“What happened?”
He sat beside her.
Then told her everything.
When he finished, Elena took his hand.
“You did the right thing.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“I may lose everything.”
She shook her head.
“Not everything.”
From the lawn, Mia shouted.
“Uncle Lorenzo!”
Biscuit raced toward them.
Mia followed.
Lorenzo looked at the little girl.
May you like
Then at Elena.
And realized she was right.
