Chapter 1 - THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD

“Paolo… they told me you were dead.”

Those seven words hit harder than any bullet ever had.

Paolo Ventresca stopped in the middle of the terrace.

His wife, Elise, stood ten feet away with their four-year-old daughter clutched against her chest.

Ava was crying so hard she could barely breathe.

Behind them, the doors to the Ventresca mansion stood wide open.

And between Paolo and his family stood the two women he had trusted since birth.

His mother.

His sister.

Carmela Ventresca looked like she had seen a corpse rise from its grave.

Talia took one step backward.

Then another.

Paolo’s eyes moved from them to Elise.

“What did you say?”

Elise stared at him as though she still wasn’t convinced he was real.

“They told me your plane went down.”

Paolo’s jaw tightened.

“What plane?”

“The one coming back from Sicily.”

“I never got on that plane.”

Elise’s face collapsed.

For six months she had mourned him.

For six months she had worn black.

For six months she had slept beside an empty pillow while Carmela reminded her that the Ventresca family would “take care of Ava.”

Paolo turned slowly.

His mother finally found her voice.

“Son, there has been a terrible misunderstanding.”

“Don’t.”

One word.

That was enough.

Carmela fell silent.

Talia suddenly ran for the doors.

Paolo caught her wrist before she made it two steps.

“Where are you going?”

“Let me go!”

“What are you afraid I’m going to find inside?”

Talia swung at him.

Paolo blocked her arm and shoved her away.

She crashed into a patio chair.

Carmela screamed.

“You don’t put your hands on your sister!”

“My sister just tried to run after my wife told me you buried me without a body.”

Carmela rushed toward Ava.

Elise stepped back.

Paolo moved between them.

“Touch my daughter again and see what happens.”

Carmela froze.

Two of Paolo’s bodyguards, Marco and Darius, stepped onto the terrace.

Paolo didn’t take his eyes off his mother.

“Close the doors.”

Marco hesitated.

“Boss?”

“Close them.”

The heavy glass doors locked with a click.

Talia went pale.

Paolo looked at his wife.

“What happened while I was gone?”

Elise swallowed.

Her hands were trembling.

“They took my phone.”

Paolo’s expression changed.

“They froze every account with my name on it. They fired the staff who spoke to me. Your mother told everyone I was unstable from grief.”

Paolo turned back toward Carmela.

His voice became quiet.

“And Ava?”

Elise’s eyes filled with tears.

“She tried to take Ava away from me tonight.”

Carmela snapped.

“That child is a Ventresca!”

“She is my daughter!”

“She belongs with her family.”

Paolo took one slow step forward.

“You’re looking at her family.”

Carmela’s confidence finally cracked.

Talia whispered, “Mom, tell him.”

Paolo heard her.

“Tell me what?”

Nobody answered.

He looked between them.

“What else did you do?”

Talia shook her head.

Carmela said nothing.

Paolo smiled.

There was no warmth in it.

“Maybe someone else is the one who’s about to die.”

Carmela’s face drained of color.

Elise whispered, “Paolo…”

He lifted a hand without turning around.

“No one is dying tonight.”

He looked directly into his mother’s eyes.

“But somebody’s life is about to end exactly as they know it.”

Then Marco’s phone rang.

He answered.

His expression changed immediately.

“Boss.”

“What?”

“We found something downstairs.”

Paolo turned.

“What did you find?”

Marco hesitated.

“A death certificate.”

Paolo stared at him.

“Whose?”

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Marco looked straight at Paolo.

“Yours.”