Chapter 6 - THE FIRST SON
Anthony had spent twenty years believing his brother Michael’s death was a wound from an old war.
Now the wound had a face.
Joseph Vescari.
His uncle.
The man erased from the family.
Anthony returned to the estate before sunrise.
No one slept.
Laurel went directly to Marcia.
Anthony expected anger.
Instead Laurel placed the photograph in front of her.
Marcia’s face collapsed.
“That was taken at Michael’s tenth birthday.”
Anthony looked at her.
“You remember.”
“I gave him that jacket.”
Her finger touched the black circle around Michael.
“Joseph was there.”
Anthony went still.
“At the birthday?”
“Yes.”
“You told me he disappeared before I was born.”
Marcia closed her eyes.
“I lied.”
Anthony stepped away.
Laurel watched.
Every new truth seemed to require breaking an older one.
“When did Joseph really disappear?”
Marcia whispered, “After Michael died.”
Anthony stared.
Twenty years later, and his family was still lying about dates.
“Why?”
“Dominic ordered us.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed Joseph killed Michael.”
Anthony leaned forward.
“Believed?”
“There was no proof.”
“Did you believe it?”
“Yes.”
“Then why not tell me?”
“Because you were twenty-eight and already becoming your father.”
That stopped him.
Marcia continued.
“If you knew Joseph might be alive, you would have spent your life hunting him.”
Anthony almost laughed.
“And what exactly did I spend my life doing instead?”
“Building something.”
“On a lie.”
“Yes.”
Marcia’s voice cracked.
“Yes.”
Laurel watched Anthony.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
She knew what that meant now.
The anger had gone beneath the surface.
More dangerous there.
Anthony turned.
“How did Michael die?”
Marcia answered carefully.
“He was meeting someone at a restaurant.”
“Who?”
“Julian.”
Laurel looked up.
Marcia nodded.
“Michael had learned Joseph was manipulating the Vescari-Gallo conflict. Julian had learned the same thing. They planned to meet.”
“Michael was shot outside.”
“Yes.”
“Julian never came.”
“No.”
Laurel's jaw tightened.
“My father.”
Marcia looked at her.
“Julian later claimed someone intercepted him.”
“Who?”
“He never knew.”
Anthony thought of Joseph’s method.
Make two sides believe the other betrayed them.
Michael might have died thinking Julian set him up.
Julian might have spent decades believing Dominic blamed him.
Perfect.
Anthony’s phone rang.
Nathan.
This time Anthony answered immediately.
“Where is Helen?”
“Safe.”
“Bring her home.”
“No.”
Laurel stepped closer.
Nathan continued.
“Joseph contacted me.”
Anthony said nothing.
“He wants a meeting.”
“With you?”
“With all of us.”
“Where?”
“The old Vescari packing house.”
Anthony knew it.
Abandoned for fifteen years.
Owned originally by Joseph before Dominic absorbed the property.
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Anthony laughed.
“He thinks I’ll walk into his house.”
Nathan’s voice hardened.
“He has someone.”
Anthony went still.
“Who?”
A pause.
“Marcia’s daughter.”
Marcia looked up sharply.
Her daughter Claire lived in Chicago.
Kept far from family business.
“What?”
Nathan continued.
“He sent me a photograph.”
Marcia grabbed the phone.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
“Let me hear her.”
“I can’t.”
Marcia’s face turned white.
Anthony took the phone back.
“What does Joseph want?”
Nathan answered.
“You.”
“Only me?”
“No.”
“Who else?”
“Laurel.”
Anthony looked at his wife.
“Why?”
“Joseph says Julian owes him something.”
Laurel whispered, “Then take Julian.”
Nathan heard.
“He wants the daughter.”
Anthony's eyes hardened.
“No.”
Nathan exhaled.
“That is why I called.”
“You’re helping us?”
“I’m helping myself.”
“At least you learned honesty.”
Nathan laughed faintly.
“You want my father. I want my mother’s killer. Laurel wants Helen safe. Marcia wants Claire.”
“And Joseph wants all of us in one building.”
“Yes.”
Anthony looked around the room.
Family.
Exactly what Joseph hated.
Exactly what Joseph knew how to weaponize.
“We’re not going his way.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you tell Joseph I agreed.”
“And?”
Anthony looked at Laurel.
She understood.
The banquet all over again.
Let them believe the trap worked.
Then find who moves.
“Then we decide who leaves the packing house,” Anthony said.
Nathan was silent.
Finally:
“Anthony.”
“What?”
“Joseph told me one thing you should know.”
Anthony waited.
“He said Michael didn’t die because he discovered the Collector.”
Anthony’s voice dropped.
“Then why?”
“Because he discovered Dominic was working with him.”
The call ended.
Marcia sat down.
May you like
Anthony stared at his father’s portrait hanging over the fireplace.
For the first time in his life, he wondered whether Joseph had been the only traitor.
