Chapter 3 - THE HOUSEKEEPER WHO HID A DUCA SECRET
I found Elena in the staff kitchen at half past midnight.
She sat at the table with a cold cup of tea between her hands.
Her eyes were red.
When she saw me, she stood immediately.
“Mr. Duca.”
“Sit down.”
She remained standing.
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
“Elena, please.”
Slowly, she sat.
I placed Gabriel's photograph on the table.
The color drained from her face.
For a long moment, she didn't move.
Then she reached for the picture.
Her fingers trembled.
“Where did you get this?”
“Rocco found it.”
She closed her eyes.
I waited.
Finally, she whispered:
“You know.”
“I know you loved my brother.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“I did.”
I swallowed.
“And Mia?”
Elena looked toward the hallway.
Her voice broke.
“She is Gabriel's daughter.”
I felt as though someone had struck me.
For four years, I'd believed my brother had left nothing behind except memories and a bloodstained watch.
Now his daughter slept beneath my roof.
And I'd spent two years calling her my housekeeper's child.
I looked down.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Elena's expression changed.
“Because the last person I told tried to kill us.”
The room went silent.
She told me everything.
Gabriel had met her at a community fundraiser in Brooklyn.
She was a nursing student then, working evenings to pay tuition.
He introduced himself simply as Gabriel.
Not Gabriel Duca.
Not the younger brother of a feared New York crime boss.
Just Gabriel.
For six months, she hadn't known his surname.
When he finally told her, she'd walked away.
He spent three weeks proving that he wanted a life with her, not another secret arrangement.
Eventually, she believed him.
They fell in love.
Then she became pregnant.
Gabriel was overjoyed.
He bought tiny shoes.
Painted a nursery.
And promised to leave the family's criminal operations behind.
But before he could, he discovered someone was using Duca shipping companies to move illegal cargo.
Gabriel wanted to expose the scheme.
Then he disappeared.
“Two days after the warehouse fire,” Elena whispered, “a man came to my apartment.”
“Who?”
“He wore a gray coat. He knew I was pregnant.”
My hands tightened.
“What did he say?”
“He told me Gabriel was dead. Then he said if I wanted my baby to live, I'd forget the Duca name.”
I felt sick.
“So you ran.”
She nodded.
“I changed apartments. Changed jobs. Stopped contacting everyone.”
“And then you came here?”
She looked down.
“Your mother once told Gabriel that if I ever needed help, I should come to her.”
I swallowed.
“But you didn't tell her who you were.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid someone was watching her.”
I looked toward the corridor.
“Vivien?”
Elena's face tightened.
“She found out three months ago.”
“How?”
“I don't know.”
“What did she want?”
Elena stared at her hands.
“She wanted me to convince your mother to approve the marriage.”
I frowned.
“That's all?”
Elena shook her head.
“She also wanted me to find something.”
“What?”
Elena's eyes filled.
“A silver key Gabriel gave me before he disappeared.”
My heart pounded.
“Where is it?”
She looked up.
“I don't have it anymore.”
“Who does?”
May you like
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Mia.”
