Chapter 4 - THE BROTHER WHO LIED
Gabriel Duca arrived at Cardinale just after midnight.
He wore a navy suit.
His hair was neatly combed.
And on his wrist gleamed a silver chronograph.
Roman stood waiting in the private office.
Marcus remained near the door.
Gabriel smiled.
"What's so urgent?"
Roman said nothing.
He turned the security monitor toward his brother.
The image showed the man in the service corridor.
Gabriel's smile faded.
"What's this?"
Roman stared.
"You tell me."
Gabriel looked at the screen.
"Could be anyone."
Roman pointed toward the watch.
"Take yours off."
Gabriel froze.
"What?"
"Take it off."
Gabriel laughed nervously.
"Roman, come on."
Roman stepped closer.
"Now."
Gabriel slowly removed the watch.
Roman placed it beside the monitor.
Same model.
Same distinctive scratch near the clasp.
Roman's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Where is Sofia?"
Gabriel stared.
"What?"
"Where is my wife?"
Gabriel looked away.
"She's dead."
Roman slammed his hand against the desk.
"Don't lie to me."
Gabriel flinched.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Gabriel whispered:
"You don't understand."
Roman felt cold.
"Then explain."
Gabriel sank into a chair.
"Five years ago, Sofia discovered something."
Roman stared.
"What?"
Gabriel looked up.
"Money."
Roman's jaw tightened.
"What money?"
"Transfers. Accounts. Payments to people who weren't supposed to exist."
Roman felt sick.
"Whose accounts?"
Gabriel said nothing.
Roman leaned forward.
"Gabriel."
His brother closed his eyes.
"Mine."
The confession came slowly.
Gabriel had been diverting money from the Duca family's businesses.
Sofia discovered the transfers.
She confronted him.
He panicked.
He arranged for her to disappear.
Roman stared.
"You killed her?"
Gabriel shook his head.
"No."
"Then where is she?"
Gabriel looked away.
"I don't know anymore."
Roman felt his world collapse.
Gabriel continued.
"I paid people to move her out of Chicago. She was supposed to stay quiet."
Roman's voice broke.
"You let me bury an empty coffin."
Gabriel looked down.
"I thought it was better than telling you."
Roman stared.
For five years, he had grieved.
His son had cried himself to sleep.
And his own brother had known the truth.
Roman stepped back.
Marcus moved toward Gabriel.
Roman raised one hand.
"No."
Marcus stopped.
Roman looked at his brother.
"You are going to tell investigators everything."
Gabriel stared.
"Roman—"
"Everything."
For the first time in his life, Roman chose the law over the family code that had shaped him.
May you like
Not because he had suddenly become innocent.
But because his son deserved a future that wasn't built on lies.
