Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For a moment, Lorenzo Moretti simply stared at Celeste.
The blood spreading across her emerald gown looked almost black beneath the emergency lights.
“Celeste.”
Nothing.
He pressed two fingers against her neck.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
Evelyn stood frozen beside him.
She couldn't tear her eyes away from Celeste's face.
The woman who had lied to her.
Protected her.
Manipulated her.
Saved her.
Betrayed her.
And, somehow, had still been the closest thing Evelyn had ever had to a guardian.
Now she was dead.
Or appeared to be.
Lorenzo slowly stood.
His face had become terrifyingly calm.
“Seal the tunnel.”
His security men moved instantly.
“Every entrance.”
One of them nodded.
“What about Bell?”
“Find him.”
“And Daniel?”
Lorenzo's eyes darkened.
“Find him too.”
Evelyn stared at Celeste.
“She said something.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“What?”
“Before she…”
Evelyn swallowed.
“She told me not to trust the man who says he's my uncle.”
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
“Bell.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“She wasn't looking at Bell.”
Lorenzo followed her gaze.
Celeste's final glance had been directed toward the opposite end of the tunnel.
Toward someone standing in the darkness.
But there was nobody there now.
Lorenzo crouched beside Celeste again.
He searched her pockets.
A phone.
A small knife.
A key card.
And a folded piece of paper.
He opened it.
Only four words were written.
HE WAS HERE FIRST.
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Evelyn stared at the paper.
“I don't know.”
One of the guards shouted from farther down the tunnel.
“Boss!”
Lorenzo turned.
“What?”
“We found a body.”
“Whose?”
The guard hesitated.
“Adrian Bell.”
Lorenzo went still.
Evelyn's blood ran cold.
“What?”
The guard repeated:
“We found Adrian Bell.”
Lorenzo moved quickly.
Evelyn followed.
They reached a side chamber.
A man lay face down on the concrete.
Dark coat.
Gray hair.
Blood beneath him.
Lorenzo rolled him over.
Evelyn stared.
It was the man from the photograph.
The man who had called her.
Adrian Bell.
Dead.
A single bullet through the chest.
Lorenzo touched the man's neck.
Nothing.
“It's him,” Evelyn whispered.
Lorenzo looked at her.
“You're sure?”
“I heard his voice.”
The security chief examined the body.
“Cold.”
“How long?”
“Maybe fifteen minutes.”
Lorenzo looked at his watch.
They had entered the tunnel less than ten minutes ago.
“That means someone killed him before we got here.”
Evelyn looked toward the darkness.
“Then who killed Celeste?”
Nobody answered.
A sound came from behind them.
A slow clap.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Everyone turned.
A man stepped from the shadows.
Evelyn stopped breathing.
Lorenzo's weapon came up.
The man's face was older than the photograph.
But unmistakable.
Dark hair streaked with silver.
Same eyes.
Same jaw.
Same expression.
Lorenzo whispered:
“No.”
The man smiled.
“Hello, little brother.”
Lorenzo's gun remained fixed on him.
“You're dead.”
The man laughed.
“So I've been told.”
Evelyn looked between them.
“Who is he?”
Lorenzo didn't answer.
The stranger did.
“My name is Matteo Moretti.”
Evelyn felt the world tilt.
Lorenzo's dead brother.
The man whose death had supposedly been confirmed eleven years ago.
The man whose existence had been erased from every record.
Standing twenty feet away.
Alive.
Lorenzo's finger tightened against the trigger.
“I watched them bury you.”
“I know.”
“I saw your coffin.”
“Empty.”
“You're lying.”
“Am I?”
Matteo stepped forward.
The guards raised their weapons.
Lorenzo lifted one hand.
Nobody fired.
Matteo smiled.
“You always were the obedient one.”
Lorenzo's face became stone.
“My brother died eleven years ago.”
“Our father wanted you to believe that.”
“You were in the ground.”
“A body was.”
“Whose?”
Matteo's smile faded.
“Someone who looked enough like me.”
Evelyn stared.
“Why?”
Matteo looked at her.
“Because I discovered what Father was doing.”
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
“What did you discover?”
“That he wasn't protecting the family.”
Matteo paused.
“He was protecting himself.”
Lorenzo said nothing.
Matteo looked at Evelyn.
“And then I discovered her.”
Evelyn stepped backward.
“You knew me?”
“Before you knew yourself.”
“How?”
“Your mother.”
Evelyn's chest tightened.
“You knew my mother?”
“I loved her.”
The words hit harder than a bullet.
Lorenzo's expression changed.
“No.”
Matteo looked at him.
“Yes.”
“You're lying.”
“Ask Daniel.”
Evelyn looked around.
“Where is my father?”
Matteo's smile disappeared.
“Daniel isn't your father.”
Evelyn froze.
“He raised me.”
“Yes.”
“He protected me.”
“Yes.”
“He sacrificed everything for me.”
“Yes.”
“Then what does that make him?”
Matteo stared at her.
“The man who stole you.”
Evelyn's breath caught.
Lorenzo stepped forward.
“Watch what you say.”
Matteo looked at him.
“You still protect people before you know the truth.”
“Tell me where Daniel is.”
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
“From whom?”
Matteo's eyes shifted toward Evelyn.
“From you.”
Evelyn frowned.
“Why would I hurt him?”
“Because eventually you'll remember.”
“Remember what?”
“What happened at the river.”
She went cold.
The same phrase.
Again.
The river.
The night she'd forgotten.
The night everything changed.
Matteo walked closer.
“Your mother didn't die because of the Morettis.”
Evelyn whispered:
“Then why?”
“Because she tried to kill me.”
Lorenzo stared.
“You?”
Matteo nodded.
“She believed I was part of Father's operation.”
“Were you?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Then I wasn't.”
Evelyn couldn't follow.
“You were or weren't?”
“I was inside it.”
“Why?”
“To destroy it.”
Lorenzo stared.
“From inside.”
“Yes.”
“And Celeste?”
“Celeste knew.”
“Daniel?”
“He knew.”
“Your mother?”
“She knew.”
“Then why did they all lie?”
“Because the truth would have killed you.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Matteo looked at her.
“Because it's true.”
He reached into his coat.
Lorenzo immediately raised his weapon.
“Slowly.”
Matteo removed a photograph.
He held it toward Evelyn.
She took it.
Her hands trembled.
The photograph showed a hospital room.
A woman lay unconscious in a bed.
Her mother.
Beside her stood Matteo.
And in the corner—
Evelyn.
A baby.
But there was something else.
A second infant lay in a bassinet.
Evelyn stared.
“There were two.”
Matteo nodded.
“Twins.”
Lorenzo's face went blank.
Evelyn looked at him.
“Where is the other baby?”
Matteo said nothing.
“Where?”
“Dead.”
“No.”
Evelyn looked at the photograph again.
The second child had a tiny silver bracelet.
Three black marks.
The same symbol on her pendant.
“That child had the same mark.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you weren't supposed to survive.”
Evelyn's stomach turned.
“Which one of us survived?”
Matteo looked at her.
“You did.”
“Then why does the bracelet matter?”
“Because it wasn't hers.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“What?”
“It belonged to someone else.”
“Who?”
Matteo's eyes hardened.
“Your mother.”
Silence.
The photograph slipped from Evelyn's hand.
Lorenzo picked it up.
He stared at the second baby.
Then at Evelyn.
“Your mother had twins.”
Matteo nodded.
“One died.”
“What happened to the other?”
Matteo didn't answer.
Lorenzo stepped forward.
“What happened?”
Matteo looked at Evelyn.
“The other child was taken.”
“By whom?”
“Daniel.”
Evelyn felt something break inside her.
“No.”
Matteo continued.
“He took the wrong baby.”
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
“Evelyn wasn't the child he was supposed to save.”
Evelyn stared.
“Then who am I?”
Matteo looked at her.
“The child he stole.”
Lorenzo moved toward him.
“Explain.”
Matteo took a breath.
“Your mother had a daughter.”
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“Yes.”
“She had two.”
“No.”
“One was biological.”
Evelyn froze.
“The other was adopted.”
Lorenzo stared.
“Adopted from whom?”
Matteo's eyes moved to the darkness.
“The Bells.”
Evelyn whispered:
“My mother adopted a Bell child.”
“No.”
Matteo shook his head.
“She didn't.”
“Then?”
“Bell's family gave her the child.”
“Why?”
“Because they were trying to create a bloodline.”
Lorenzo's expression darkened.
“A bloodline for what?”
Matteo looked at Evelyn.
“For control.”
“Control of what?”
“Chicago.”
Evelyn almost laughed.
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.”
Matteo turned.
“Come with me.”
Lorenzo stepped in front of Evelyn.
“No.”
Matteo smiled.
“You don't have a choice.”
Lorenzo raised his gun.
“I always have a choice.”
“Then make the wrong one.”
A red laser appeared on Lorenzo's chest.
Then another.
Then another.
Snipers.
Evelyn looked upward.
“How many?”
Matteo smiled.
“Enough.”
Lorenzo lowered his weapon.
“Where's Daniel?”
Matteo gestured toward the tunnel.
“Come.”
They moved.
The snipers disappeared.
The group entered a hidden chamber.
Daniel sat against a wall.
Alive.
Blood on his forehead.
His hands were bound.
Evelyn ran toward him.
“Dad!”
Daniel looked up.
“Evie.”
She dropped beside him.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded.
Then his eyes moved toward Matteo.
His face changed.
“You.”
Matteo smiled.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Daniel's voice shook.
“I thought you were dead.”
“So did everyone.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“Did he tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Nothing.”
Evelyn stood.
“I'm done with secrets.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Evie…”
“No.”
She pointed at Matteo.
“He says you stole me.”
Daniel's face collapsed.
Matteo continued:
“He says you took the wrong child.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“That's not what happened.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother made me promise.”
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“Everyone made promises to my mother.”
Daniel whispered:
“She knew the truth would destroy you.”
“I'm already destroyed.”
Daniel looked at her.
Then finally said:
“You are not Evelyn Carter.”
Silence.
Lorenzo stared at him.
Evelyn's voice disappeared.
“What?”
Daniel swallowed.
“That's the name we gave you.”
“Why?”
“Because your real name was dangerous.”
“What is it?”
Daniel looked at Matteo.
Matteo answered.
“Isabella Bell.”
Evelyn went completely still.
“No.”
Matteo nodded.
“Your mother's name was Isabella Moretti.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Daniel.”
“I won't let you do this.”
“Do what?”
“Turn her against everyone.”
Matteo laughed.
“She deserves the truth.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“The truth is that you are not my daughter.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
“You never were.”
“But you raised me.”
“Yes.”
“You loved me.”
“Yes.”
“You protected me.”
“With everything I had.”
“Then why did you lie?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Because your mother begged me.”
“For what?”
“To make you believe I was your father.”
“Why?”
“Because if you knew who you were…”
He swallowed.
“…they would never stop hunting you.”
Evelyn whispered:
“Who am I?”
Daniel looked toward Lorenzo.
“She's the last living descendant of the Moretti-Bell bloodline.”
Lorenzo frowned.
“What?”
Daniel continued.
“Your grandfather created the organization.”
Matteo nodded.
“Your grandmother inherited it.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“And your mother was supposed to inherit everything.”
Evelyn's face went pale.
“Everything?”
“The money.”
“The businesses.”
“The political network.”
“The criminal network.”
“The evidence.”
“The ledger.”
Lorenzo stared.
“Then Evelyn isn't the key to the ledger.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“What is she?”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“The owner.”
Silence.
Matteo stepped closer.
“And now you understand why everyone wants you alive.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because whoever controls you…”
He paused.
“…controls Chicago.”
A phone rang.
Lorenzo answered.
His security chief's voice came through.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“The Obsidian is surrounded.”
“By who?”
“Police.”
Lorenzo frowned.
“How many?”
“Dozens.”
“Federal?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
A pause.
“Chicago PD.”
Lorenzo looked at Matteo.
Matteo smiled.
“It's starting.”
Lorenzo's voice became cold.
“Starting what?”
“The takeover.”
Evelyn's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.
Then another.
COME TO THE PENTHOUSE ALONE.
Then a third.
OR YOUR FATHER DIES.
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
He was gone.
She spun around.
“Dad?”
The chamber was empty.
Daniel had disappeared.
Matteo stood by the doorway.
Lorenzo stared at him.
“Where did you take him?”
“I didn't.”
“Then who did?”
Matteo looked toward the ceiling.
“Your mother.”
Lorenzo froze.
“My mother is dead.”
Matteo smiled.
“No.”
He looked at Evelyn.
“She isn't.”
The lights flickered.
Then the entire underground chamber went dark.
A woman's voice came through the speakers.
Soft.
Calm.
Familiar.
“Evelyn.”
She stopped breathing.
Her mother's voice.
Alive.
“Come upstairs.”
A pause.
“I've waited twenty-three years to tell you the truth.”
Lorenzo looked at Evelyn.
“Don't go.”
Her mother's voice continued.
“Bring Lorenzo.”
Then—
“It's time he learned who really killed his father.”
The speakers went silent.
Evelyn looked at Lorenzo.
His face had become unreadable.
“Your mother killed my father?”
Matteo shook his head.
“No.”
He looked toward the elevator.
“She killed mine.”
Evelyn stared.
“What?”
Matteo smiled.
“And she's been waiting for you to remember.”
The elevator doors opened.
Inside stood a single woman.
Gray hair.
Elegant black dress.
Blood-red lipstick.
Evelyn's mother.
Alive.
She looked directly at Evelyn.
Then smiled.
“Hello, daughter.”
Lorenzo raised his gun.
The woman looked at him.
“You really don't remember me, do you?”
Lorenzo froze.
She whispered:
“Your father wasn't the first Moretti I killed.”
The elevator doors remained open.
Midnight had passed.
May you like
And for the first time that night, Evelyn realized the engagement dinner had never been the trap.
She had been the trap from the beginning.
