Adrian’s words echoed in Damien’s mind.
Damien stared at him.
“What did you say?”
Adrian coughed, blood staining his lips.
“The man…
you serve.”
Elena looked between them.
“I don’t understand.”
Damien’s expression hardened.
“Adrian, speak clearly.”
Adrian reached for Damien’s jacket and pulled him closer.
“Your father wasn’t the only Moretti who knew the truth.”
Damien froze.
“My father?”
Adrian nodded weakly.
“He made a deal…
years ago.”
“With whom?”
Adrian’s eyes shifted toward Elena.
“With her real father.”
Elena’s heart pounded.
“Who is he?”
Adrian tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
Then his eyes closed.
“Adrian!”
Damien shook him.
“Stay with me!”
Marco checked Adrian’s pulse.
“He’s alive.”
Damien stood.
“We’re getting him out of here.”
Elena grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Damien looked at her.
“You heard what he said.”
“I heard enough.”
Her eyes were filled with tears.
“You knew there was something about my father.”
Damien didn’t answer.
“You knew!”
“Elena—”
“Stop protecting me!”
Her voice broke through the night.
Now every person around me is telling me it was a lie.”
Damien stepped closer.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“And who protects me from you?”
Damien stopped.
The question cut deeper than any bullet.
Elena looked away.
“I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
Damien’s expression softened.
“Then trust what I’ve done for you.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t know what you’ve done for me.”
Damien reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small photograph.
He handed it to her.
Elena stared at it.
It showed her mother holding her as a baby.
Beside them stood a man.
His face was partially hidden by darkness.
But Elena recognized the ring on his finger.
A black crown.
She looked at Damien.
“Who is he?”
Damien’s voice was barely a whisper.
“I don’t know.”
Elena turned toward Adrian.
“But he does.”
Before anyone could respond, headlights appeared through the trees.
Marco raised his weapon.
“More cars.”
Damien looked at the road.
“How many?”
“Four.”
Damien immediately made a decision.
“Get Elena into the forest.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll hold them.”
Elena grabbed his arm.
“No.”
Damien looked at her.
“Go.”
“I said no!”
Another gunshot struck the wrecked vehicle.
“Marco, take her!”
Marco grabbed Elena.
“Come on!”
She fought him.
“Damien!”
He looked at her.
For a moment, their eyes locked.
Then Damien said softly:
“I will find you.”
Marco pulled her into the trees.
Damien turned toward the approaching vehicles.
His face became cold again.
The Mafia King had returned.
Men stepped out of the cars.
Dozens of them.
Then the doors of the final vehicle opened.
A man stepped out wearing a black suit.
He walked calmly through the rain.
Damien raised his weapon.
The man stopped several feet away.
“Damien Moretti.”
Damien stared at him.
He recognized that voice.
It was the voice from the phone.
The man smiled.
“You’ve been searching for me.”
Damien’s finger tightened around the trigger.
“Luciano.”
The man laughed.
“No.”
He slowly removed his gloves.
“My name is Alexander Vieri.”
Damien’s eyes widened.
Alexander stepped closer.
“And I am the man who has been controlling your family for fifteen years.”
From the forest, Elena watched silently.
She couldn’t hear everything.
But she saw Damien’s face.
And she knew something terrible had just happened.
Alexander looked past Damien toward the trees.
His eyes met Elena’s.
He smiled.
“Hello, daughter.”
Elena’s blood ran cold.
To be continued…