Chapter 5
Sofia’s recording was only four minutes long.
It destroyed thirty years.
She had discovered Rafael Moretti had been manufacturing conflicts between smaller families and then selling Dante’s protection as the solution.
Marcus Cole—Gabriel’s father—had discovered it first.
Rafael killed him.
Not in open war.
Afterward.
Quietly.
Then staged evidence so the death looked connected to the North Yard conflict.
Years later Gabriel learned part of the truth.
He blamed the Morettis collectively.
Sofia found him.
Not to kill him.
To listen.
That was the part that hurt Dante most.
His wife had spoken to a man seeking revenge against his family and decided Dante could not be trusted with the information.
Her recording explained why.
“You still react before you understand when people you love are threatened.”
Dante almost laughed.
Even dead, Sofia knew him.
“I needed proof before I brought this to you.”
No papers followed.
No ledger.
Sofia had refused to keep anything that could be stolen and misunderstood.
Instead she named people.
Old servants.
A retired driver.
A bartender near the eastern docks.
Men and women who had seen moments.
Pieces.
Human memory.
Messy.
Harder to fabricate all at once.
Then:
“Rafael knows I am looking.”
Dante’s hands tightened.
“If something happens to me, do not kill Gabriel first.”
The wording mattered.
Not do not kill.
Do not kill first.
Very Sofia.
“Find out who benefits from the war.”
The recording ended.
Dante remained in the corridor after everyone else moved away.
Lily sat on his knee.
She did not understand why her dead mother’s voice had made her father cry.
She touched his cheek.
“Daddy sad?”
“Yes.”
“Because Mommy?”
“Yes.”
Lily leaned against him.
Dante held her.
For three years, revenge had been impossible because Sofia died in an accident.
Now revenge stood within reach.
That made restraint harder.
Upstairs, Vanessa waited under guard.
Dante entered alone.
She stood.
“You heard.”
“Yes.”
“You believe me now?”
“No.”
Her face fell.
“I believe Sofia.”
The distinction hurt.
Good.
Vanessa sat.
“What will you do?”
“Talk to Rafael.”
“You’ll kill him.”
“Maybe.”
She looked frightened.
Dante noticed.
“For him?”
“For you.”
He almost smiled.
She continued:
“If Gabriel learns you know, he’ll move.”
“Toward Rafael?”
“No.”
“Toward you.”
Dante frowned.
“Why?”
“Because revenge became bigger than truth years ago.”
That sentence stayed.
Gabriel had learned Rafael killed his father.
Yet still wanted Dante hurt.
Why?
Because Dante had benefited from the Moretti machine.
Because he inherited territory built partly from lies.
Because grievance, if fed long enough, stopped needing precise targets.
Dante understood that.
He had lived it.
“What does Gabriel want from Sofia’s room?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“The black rosary.”
Dante took it from his pocket.
“Why?”
Her face changed.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“Do not show him.”
“Why?”
“It belonged to Marcus Cole.”
Dante looked down.
Black beads.
Tiny silver cross.
“Gabriel’s father.”
“Yes.”
“How did Sofia get it?”
“Gabriel gave it to her.”
“Symbol?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Cole men used a black rosary when demanding blood repayment.”
Dante almost laughed.
“A debt token.”
“Yes.”
“Who owes?”
Vanessa looked at him.
“You.”
Silence.
“For Marcus.”
“Yes.”
“Even though Rafael killed him.”
“Gabriel says your father ordered Rafael.”
Dante’s expression darkened.
“Did he?”
“I don’t know.”
There.
The remaining uncertainty.
Rafael may have been executioner.
Dante’s father could still have been origin.
Dante put the rosary away.
“Where is Gabriel?”
Vanessa looked toward the floor.
“He changes locations.”
“You can reach him.”
“Yes.”
“Do it.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“Tell him I found Sofia’s room.”
“That will bring him.”
“I know.”
“You want him here?”
“No.”
May you like
Dante’s voice became cold.
“I want him to believe I do.”
