Chapter 5
Michael D’Angelo was sixty.
Older than Roman by five years.
Tall.
Gray hair.
No resemblance dramatic enough to prove anything.
But his eyes were Helena’s.
That was enough to disturb everyone.
Helena entered the basement room.
Saw him.
Stopped.
Michael smiled.
“Hello, Mother.”
She broke.
Not loudly.
One hand against the wall.
Roman had never seen Helena lose control.
Michael looked at him.
“You must be Roman.”
Roman stood.
“You came through a service hall.”
“The front door seemed theatrical.”
“You’re carrying a weapon.”
“Wouldn’t you?”
Fair.
Nico removed it anyway.
Michael allowed him.
Helena whispered:
“I searched.”
Michael’s eyes stayed on her.
“Not hard enough.”
Roman saw the wound.
Old.
Preserved.
“What do you want?” Roman asked.
Michael turned.
“Sophie safe.”
“From who?”
“Lucian.”
Roman stared.
“You’re not with him.”
“I was.”
“Past tense?”
“Yes.”
“What changed?”
Michael looked toward Helena.
“I learned the old man never saved me.”
Helena frowned.
“He found you.”
“Yes.”
“At eighteen.”
“He told me Vittorio stole me.”
“True.”
“He told me you abandoned me.”
Helena went pale.
“False.”
Michael’s jaw tightened.
“I know.”
Roman understood.
Lucian raised resentment the same way Helena raised fear.
Pieces of truth inside lies.
“What did he want you to become?”
“Heir.”
“To what?”
“Ash Circle.”
“Did you?”
“For years.”
Roman looked at him.
“How many people did you hurt?”
Michael smiled without warmth.
“Enough that I don’t ask for forgiveness.”
Good answer.
“What changed?”
“My son.”
“The boy in the photo.”
“Daniel.”
“Alive?”
Michael’s face darkened.
“No.”
Roman watched.
“What happened?”
“Lucian.”
Silence.
“He killed your son.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Daniel wanted out.”
Pattern.
Gabriel.
Lucian.
Vittorio.
All fathers and sons.
Michael continued:
“He said weakness spreads through blood.”
“So he killed him.”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed?”
“For two years.”
Roman stared.
Michael’s shame was visible.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted revenge.”
Roman almost laughed at the honesty.
“Against Lucian.”
“Yes.”
“Then why not kill him?”
“He disappeared before I could.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
“Alive?”
“Probably.”
“What do you know about Sophie?”
Michael looked toward the ceiling as if he could see her.
“Lucian’s last plan was called Little Crown.”
Roman’s face hardened.
“What?”
“He wanted Sophie taken.”
“Why crown?”
“Because she is your only child.”
Nora entered.
Roman had told her to stay upstairs.
She ignored him.
Good.
Michael looked at her.
“Nora.”
She frowned.
“You know me.”
“I watched you.”
Her face hardened.
Michael continued quickly:
“For Lucian.”
“Not proud.”
“When?”
“During pregnancy.”
“After?”
“Yes.”
Nora stepped closer.
“You were one of the men outside my apartment.”
Michael did not deny it.
“You terrified me.”
“Yes.”
She slapped him.
Roman did not stop her.
Michael accepted it.
Nora’s voice shook.
“My baby couldn’t sleep because I kept moving houses.”
“I know.”
“You watched?”
“Yes.”
“Then help me understand why I shouldn’t hate you.”
Michael looked at her.
“You should.”
No excuse.
Nora stopped.
Michael continued:
“Lucian wanted Sophie raised without Roman.”
“Why?”
“To prove D’Angelo men destroy everyone they love.”
Roman looked at Helena.
Again psychological revenge.
Michael added:
“But three years ago Helena ruined the plan.”
Roman frowned.
“How?”
“She made you disappear.”
Helena stared.
Michael looked at her.
“You told Nora Roman was dead.”
“Yes.”
“Lucian needed Sophie to hate a living father.”
“A dead father becomes grief.”
“Not resentment.”
Roman understood.
Helena’s lie had accidentally weakened the revenge.
Michael nodded.
“Lucian became furious.”
“That is why he started taking the money.”
Helena frowned.
“I moved it.”
“Not all.”
Roman looked at her.
“What?”
Michael continued:
“About half your payments never reached Helena.”
Roman stared.
Helena’s face went white.
“That’s impossible.”
“No.”
“Who intercepted?”
Michael looked at Roman.
“Someone with access to your personal transfers.”
Nico immediately shifted.
Internal.
May you like
Michael said:
“The person still sits at your council table.”
