Chapter 8: The Lie That Protected Us
“No.””
The word left Dante before anyone else could speak.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Terrified.
I held Leo tighter.
“Who was at the window?””
Dante didn’t answer.
He was staring at my son.
At the child who had just repeated something impossible.
“Leo,” I whispered.
“Did you see the man clearly?””
Leo nodded.
“He had a scar.””
Dante went pale.
A scar.
That meant something.
“You know him,” I whispered.
Dante looked at me.
“Yes.””
My heart sank.
“Who?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then:
“Adrian Moretti.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But the reaction around us said everything.
Mia stepped back.
“Wait.””
Dante looked at her.
“You know that name?””
She swallowed.
“My father mentioned him.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Mia looked uncomfortable.
“Years ago.””
Dante’s expression hardened.
“Your father knew?””
“I don’t know.””
“Think.””
His tone was sharp.
Mia flinched.
I stepped between them.
“Dante.””
He immediately softened.
“Sorry.””
That single word surprised me.
The old Dante never apologized.
Not easily.
Not to anyone.
But now he was trying.
For us.
For Leo.
The next hour revealed the impossible.
Adrian Moretti was Dante’s older cousin.
A man believed dead after a family war years ago.
A man who hated Dante because he believed the Moretti empire should have been his.
“He’s alive?”” I asked.
Dante nodded.
“And he knows about Leo?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
His eyes dropped.
“Because Adrian was the one who discovered my relationship with you.””
My stomach twisted.
“He was watching us?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t he tell anyone?””
Dante’s face darkened.
“Because he was waiting.””
“For what?””
“For Leo to be old enough to matter.””
I hugged my son tighter.
“He’s a child.””
Dante looked at Leo.
“I know.””
Something changed in his voice.
A promise.
A dangerous one.
“No one touches him.””
The following day, we moved locations.
Dante wanted to take us somewhere secure.
I wanted to leave Chicago.
We argued for twenty minutes.
“You don’t get to decide where I go anymore.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
“Yes.””
“Because for three years, you decided everything.””
He nodded.
“You’re right.””
That stopped me.
“You’re not fighting?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I finally understand something.””
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Protecting you doesn’t mean controlling you.””
The answer hurt.
Because it was what I had wanted him to understand years ago.
That evening, we sat in a quiet room outside the city.
Leo played with a toy car between us.
Dante watched every movement.
Every laugh.
Every smile.
Like he was trying to memorize three years he lost.
“Daddy?””
Dante froze.
Leo had never called him that before.
“Yes?””
“Can you play?””
Dante looked confused.
“Play?””
“With cars.””
A tiny smile appeared.
“I can try.””
“You don’t know how?””
“No.””
Leo handed him a blue car.
“You push it.””
Dante nodded seriously.
I almost laughed.
The most feared man in Chicago was being taught how to race toy cars by a three-year-old.
Then my phone rang.
Victoria.
I almost ignored it.
But Dante stopped me.
“Answer.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because she might know something.””
I answered.
Victoria sounded different.
Afraid.
“Elena.””
“What happened?””
“You need to listen carefully.””
I stood.
“Where are you?””
“Doesn’t matter.””
“Victoria—”
“Adrian isn’t after Dante.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He never was.””
Dante stood immediately.
“Put it on speaker.””
I did.
Victoria continued.
“He wants Leo.””
“Why?””
Silence.
Then:
“Because Leo isn’t just Dante’s heir.””
My blood ran cold.
“What are you saying?””
Victoria whispered:
“He’s the key to something your father left behind.””
I looked at Dante.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
Victoria’s voice shook.
“Your father hid something before he died.””
“What?””
Another pause.
Then:
“The truth about who really controls the Moretti empire.””
The call cut.
Dante stared at me.
And for the first time since I knew him…
He looked completely lost.
May you like
Because my father’s secret wasn’t just connected to Dante.
It was connected to me.
