Chapter 10
Matteo’s voice came through the recorder older than I remembered.
Tired.
Ashamed.
“Raffaele, I helped them.”
I sat on the floor beside the open chamber.
Evelyn sat beside me.
Bianca stood across the room.
Matteo continued.
“Dad told me Evelyn was dangerous because she would make you destroy the family. I believed him because believing him was easier than admitting he feared you.”
I closed my eyes.
“I helped move her. I stood outside while Ethan was born. I told myself I wasn’t the one hurting anyone.”
That sentence could have belonged to half my family.
Then Matteo said:
“That is how cowards survive themselves.”
Bianca looked away.
He described the council plan.
The staged instability.
The intention to replace me temporarily.
The rings already prepared for old captains.
Then his voice changed.
“I heard Evelyn screaming for her son.”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“I watched Bianca carry Ethan out.”
My sister began crying.
“I watched her hand that child to you the next morning while you thanked her.”
I could not breathe.
Matteo continued.
“That was when I understood Dad didn’t want to save Castellano. He wanted everyone to need him forever.”
There it was.
The core.
Not power.
Need.
My father could not tolerate a family capable of continuing without his control.
Matteo stole the recorder.
He planned to bring Evelyn to me that night.
He failed.
“Why?” I whispered.
The recording answered.
“Antonio caught me leaving.”
Antonio looked down.
“I didn’t hurt him,” he said.
Matteo continued.
“Antonio told Dad.”
My jaw tightened.
“Dad gave me one choice. Leave the country and disappear forever, or Evelyn dies before morning.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Matteo chose exile.
He left the recorder behind because he hoped one day someone would find it.
Then his final words came.
“Raffaele, if I’m alive when you hear this, don’t forgive me because I was afraid. Just understand fear explains betrayal. It doesn’t erase it.”
The recorder clicked off.
Nobody moved.
Then Antonio whispered:
“Matteo is alive.”
May you like
I looked at him.
“He contacted me last year.”
