Chapter 4 - BLOOD DOESN’T MEAN LOYALTY
Luca Moretti walked into the study at 12:17 a.m.
He smiled when he saw Adrian sitting upright.
“Jesus. You look terrible.”
Adrian said nothing.
Luca’s smile faded.
Marco stood near the window.
Hannah had taken Ellie into an adjoining bedroom.
“What’s going on?” Luca asked.
Adrian slid the marina photo across the desk.
Luca looked down.
His expression barely changed.
“Nice picture.”
“That your watch?”
Luca glanced at his wrist.
A silver Patek Philippe.
Same wide band.
Same dark face.
“You’re accusing me because I own a watch?”
“I’m asking.”
“No. You’re accusing.”
Adrian leaned back.
“Where were you at five?”
“At the club.”
“Which club?”
“Rossi’s.”
Marco spoke.
“We checked.”
Luca turned.
Marco continued.
“You arrived at Rossi’s at 5:42.”
“So?”
“Adrian collapsed around 4:32.”
Luca shrugged.
“You want me to account for every minute?”
“Yes,” Adrian said.
Luca stared at his older brother.
They looked similar.
Same dark hair.
Same sharp jaw.
But Adrian had always carried the weight of the family differently.
Luca wanted the power.
Adrian had survived its cost.
“You really think I tried to kill you?”
“I think somebody did.”
“And now you’re looking at me?”
“I’m looking at everyone.”
Luca laughed bitterly.
“Dad dies, you take over. Elena dies, you shut everyone out. Lily dies, and somehow the entire family has to live inside your grief forever.”
Adrian’s eyes changed.
“Don’t say her name.”
“There it is.”
Luca leaned closer.
“The great Adrian Moretti. Everybody has to fear you. Everybody has to obey you.”
“Enough.”
“No. You know what? I’m tired of enough.”
Marco moved forward.
Adrian stopped him with a look.
Luca noticed.
“You always were good at controlling the room.”
“And you always confused control with respect.”
That hit hard.
Luca’s face twisted.
“Go to hell.”
He turned toward the door.
Adrian spoke quietly.
“If you leave this house tonight, Marco will stop you.”
Luca looked back.
“Am I a prisoner?”
“Until I know who poisoned me, everybody is.”
Luca gave a cold smile.
“You know what Dad used to say?”
Adrian waited.
“He said the man who suspects his own blood has already lost his family.”
Adrian’s voice was flat.
“Dad is dead.”
Luca walked out.
Marco waited until the door closed.
“He’s hiding something.”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t believe Hannah?”
“I believe she saw a watch.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Adrian looked toward the adjoining room.
Ellie was awake now.
He could hear her soft voice.
“Mommy, are we in trouble?”
Hannah answered.
“No, baby.”
Adrian closed his eyes for a second.
A lie told to protect a child.
He knew those.
Marco’s phone rang.
He answered.
“This is Russo.”
His expression shifted.
“Where?”
He grabbed a pen.
“When?”
Adrian stood.
“What happened?”
Marco ended the call.
“Vincent used a credit card twenty minutes ago.”
“Where?”
“A gas station in Queens.”
“He’s moving.”
“Yes.”
“Get the car.”
Marco didn’t move.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“The card wasn’t used by Vincent.”
Adrian stared at him.
Marco showed him the security image that had just arrived.
A woman stood at the gas station counter wearing Vincent’s coat.
Hannah stepped out of the bedroom and saw the screen.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Adrian turned toward her.
“You know her?”
Hannah nodded.
May you like
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
“That’s my sister.”
