Chapter 6 - ELEANOR’S SECRET
The person who ordered Salvatore’s death was already dead.
Anthony’s grandfather.
Dominic Moretti.
The family patriarch.
Salvatore’s own father.
Dominic discovered Salvatore planned to cooperate with federal authorities and dismantle parts of the organization.
He considered it betrayal.
He ordered his grandson Michael to deliver a package without telling him what it contained.
Michael obeyed.
The bomb killed Salvatore.
Walter discovered the truth weeks later.
But Dominic threatened Rebecca.
So Walter remained silent.
“Twenty-six years,” Anthony said.
Walter lowered his head.
“Yes.”
“You let me love the man who ordered my father murdered.”
“I was a coward.”
Anthony wanted to hate him.
Instead he saw an old man beside his dying daughter.
Not innocent.
Not evil.
Human.
Then Eleanor entered.
She had heard enough.
“I knew.”
Anthony turned.
His mother stood in the doorway.
“You knew what?”
“That your grandfather was responsible.”
Anthony looked as if she had struck him.
“How long?”
“Twenty-five years.”
Walter whispered:
“Eleanor.”
She ignored him.
“I found Salvatore’s letter after the funeral.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were sixteen.”
“I’m forty-one now.”
“And every year I waited made telling you harder.”
Anthony laughed once.
Bitterly.
“So everyone protected me.”
“No.”
Eleanor’s eyes filled.
“We protected ourselves from watching you become what grief might have made you.”
Anthony stared at her.
“And what did I become anyway?”
Nobody answered.
That hurt most.
Emma, listening from beside Grace, understood something.
Adults lied when they were frightened too.
They simply gave their fear better names.
Protection.
Loyalty.
Family.
Anthony walked out.
May you like
For the first time in his life, no one followed.
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