Chapter 7 - The Morello Rules
Owen had not been kidnapped.
That was the first good news.
The second was that a nurse had seen him leave with Evelyn.
The bad news was everything else.
“She signed him out as his grandmother,” Daniel said.
“Without my permission?”
“The hospital had Victor listed as the father. Evelyn claimed he authorized it.”
Victor looked furious.
“I didn't.”
Valentina turned toward him.
“Then prove useful.”
Within twelve minutes, they located Evelyn's car.
It was parked outside the old Morello estate.
Valentina arrived first.
Victor followed.
Celeste came behind him.
They entered together.
Evelyn was sitting in the drawing room.
Owen slept on a sofa beside her.
Valentina crossed the room and lifted him into her arms.
Evelyn didn't interfere.
“You took my child.”
“I brought him somewhere safe.”
“You don't decide where safe is.”
“Neither does Victor.”
Valentina held Owen against her.
“You're right about that.”
Victor flinched.
Evelyn looked at her son.
“So now you understand.”
Victor tossed Celeste's letter onto the table.
“Did you write this?”
Evelyn read it.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To destroy the test.”
“You could have killed Owen.”
“No. Celeste could have killed Owen.”
Celeste stared at her mother.
“You ordered me.”
“I told you to create real danger. You chose the pond.”
Celeste's face collapsed.
Evelyn's cruelty was different from Celeste's.
Celeste acted from anger.
Evelyn weaponized logic.
Valentina saw that now.
“Why do you want Salvatore's position?”
Evelyn looked surprised.
“I don't.”
Celeste laughed bitterly.
“Still lying.”
Evelyn ignored her.
“I want the position eliminated.”
Victor frowned.
“What?”
“Your father wanted the same thing.”
Evelyn looked toward an old family photograph.
“He discovered that Morello power wasn't protecting the family anymore. It was consuming it.”
Valentina looked at Owen.
“And your solution was to use another generation as a test?”
Evelyn's composure finally cracked.
“Yes.”
One word.
No excuse.
Valentina respected the honesty more than any justification.
“But why me?”
“Because Salvatore thinks you can save it.”
“I don't want to save it.”
“Neither did I.”
Valentina shook her head.
“Stop comparing us.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Fair.”
Then she opened a drawer.
Inside was another ledger.
“The family has rules.”
She placed it on the table.
“Salvatore broke them.”
Victor stared.
“What rules?”
“No children. No trafficking. No narcotics near schools. No violence against uninvolved families.”
Evelyn opened the ledger.
“He crossed every line.”
Victor read.
His face changed.
Celeste joined him.
Valentina didn't.
“I don't care about your criminal rules.”
“You should care about the names.”
Evelyn turned the book toward her.
Valentina looked.
One name stopped her.
Her father.
She stared.
“What is this?”
“Your father discovered what Salvatore was doing.”
“My father died in a car accident.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“No.”
The room disappeared around Valentina.
Owen stirred against her shoulder.
She held him tighter.
Evelyn spoke softly.
“Your father was killed because he intended to expose Salvatore.”
Valentina looked at Victor.
He seemed as shocked as she was.
“You knew?”
“No.”
She looked at Evelyn.
“Proof.”
“That's why I brought you here.”
Evelyn walked toward the fireplace.
She removed a photograph.
Behind it was a safe.
Inside were documents, recordings, photographs.
And one sealed envelope.
Valentina recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her father's.
Her name was written across the front.
VALENTINA — IF YOU EVER FIND THIS, DO NOT BELIEVE THE STORY THEY TOLD YOU.
Her hands began to shake.
For years she had thought the worst thing the Morellos had done was put Owen in the pond.
May you like
Now she realized the pond had merely opened a door.
Behind it was the truth about the day she lost her father.
