Chapter 7: The Brother Who Came Back from the Dead
“Hello, little brother.””
Lucas Moretti stared at the screen.
For seventeen years, he had believed Gabriel Moretti was dead.
He had attended the funeral.
He had watched his father lower an empty coffin into the ground.
He had even placed a white rose on the grave.
And now Gabriel was standing in front of his daughter.
Alive.
“Gabriel.””
The older man smiled.
“You look surprised.””
Lucas tightened his grip on the phone.
“You're supposed to be dead.””
“That's what Father wanted everyone to believe.””
Behind Gabriel, Lily sat on the edge of a leather sofa.
Her little hands were gripping the turquoise inhaler.
“Daddy?””
Lucas immediately softened his voice.
“I'm here, sweetheart.””
“Who is that man?””
Lucas looked at his brother.
“Someone from my family.””
Lily frowned.
“Is he nice?””
Gabriel laughed.
“Oh, I like this child.””
Lucas's expression hardened.
“Don't speak to her.””
Gabriel raised both hands.
“Relax. She's perfectly safe.””
“Put her on the phone.””
“Why?””
“Because I want to talk to my daughter.””
Gabriel studied him.
Then he handed the phone to Lily.
She took it with both hands.
“Daddy?””
“Are you hurt?””
She shook her head.
“I'm okay.””
“Has anyone touched you?””
“No.””
“Have you eaten?””
Lily nodded.
“They gave me chicken nuggets.””
Lucas closed his eyes briefly.
“Good. Listen to me, sweetheart. I need you to be brave a little longer.””
“I am brave.””
“I know you are.””
Lily looked toward Gabriel.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Is he your brother?””
Lucas swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Then why does he look angry with you?””
Gabriel's smile disappeared.
Lucas didn't answer.
Instead, he said, “I'll explain everything when I see you.””
Lily nodded.
“Can you bring Mommy?””
The question nearly broke him.
“Yes. I'll bring Mommy too.””
Gabriel took the phone.
“Touching.””
Lucas's voice became cold.
“If you hurt her, I will personally make sure you regret being born.””
Gabriel laughed.
“You always did have a dramatic side.””
“What do you want?””
“Come to the estate. Alone.””
“I'm not coming alone.””
“Then your daughter stays here.””
Lucas looked at the screen.
Gabriel leaned closer.
“You have until sunrise.””
The call ended.
Marco stood beside the SUV while Lucas watched the rain slide down the windows.
“Boss, we shouldn't go in without knowing how many men he has.””
Lucas checked his weapon.
“He has my daughter.””
“I understand.””
“No, Marco. You don't.””
Lucas turned.
“I spent fifteen years thinking I had no child. Now I know she exists, and some lunatic is using her to settle a family dispute.””
Marco lowered his eyes.
“We'll bring her home.””
Lucas nodded.
Then he looked at the photograph of Gabriel again.
“Tell me what we know.””
Marco opened a folder.
“Gabriel disappeared after the boating accident. The official report said his body was never recovered, but your father arranged a private funeral anyway.””
“Why?””
“Probably to prevent questions.””
Lucas looked out the window.
“Who knew?””
“Your father. Vincent. Margaret Vale. Possibly Victor.””
Lucas shook his head.
“Victor was barely twenty when Gabriel disappeared.””
“Exactly.””
Lucas studied the photograph.
His brother looked older, but the resemblance was unmistakable.
Same dark eyes.
Same sharp jaw.
Same small scar near the left eyebrow.
But Gabriel had always been different.
He was charming when he wanted something.
Cruel when he didn't get it.
And jealous of Lucas long before either of them understood what power meant.
“Did you find out why he survived?””
Marco hesitated.
“We found an old hospital record. Gabriel was treated for severe injuries under a false name shortly after the accident.””
“Where?””
“A private clinic in Connecticut.””
Lucas looked at him.
“Margaret.””
Marco nodded.
“She's been protecting him.””
Lucas leaned back.
“Then Victor isn't the mastermind.””
“Maybe not.””
Lucas looked toward the dark highway.
“Drive faster.””
At the Greenwich estate, Gabriel stood beside the fireplace.
Lily was sitting on the sofa, watching him carefully.
An older woman entered carrying a glass of water.
“She's still refusing to eat.””
Gabriel glanced at the plate.
“Then leave it.””
The woman looked at Lily.
“Sweetheart, you need to eat something.””
Lily shook her head.
“I want my mommy.””
The woman sighed.
Gabriel turned toward her.
“Margaret, give her some space.””
Margaret Vale placed the glass on the table.
Then she crouched beside Lily.
“Your father will come for you.””
Lily looked at her.
“How do you know?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Because he always comes when something belongs to him.””
Lily frowned.
“I'm not a thing.””
The older woman looked genuinely startled.
Then she lowered her eyes.
“No. You're not.””
Lily hugged her inhaler.
“Then why does everyone keep saying I'm something my daddy can lose?””
Margaret didn't answer.
She simply stood and walked away.
Gabriel watched the exchange.
“You're getting sentimental.””
Margaret turned.
“She is a child.””
“She is Lucas's weakness.””
“She is also innocent.””
Gabriel poured himself a drink.
“Innocence is an expensive luxury in this family.””
Margaret looked at him.
“Your father used to say the same thing.””
Gabriel's hand stopped.
“Don't mention him.””
Margaret lowered her voice.
“You've spent seventeen years trying to become the man who destroyed you.””
Gabriel turned sharply.
“Be careful.””
Margaret stepped backward.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Gabriel looked toward Lily.
“Take her upstairs.””
Margaret nodded.
But as she approached the little girl, Lily suddenly asked:
“Do you know my mommy?””
Margaret froze.
“Yes.””
“Is she nice?””
Margaret looked at the child.
“She is a good woman.””
“Then why did you make her cry?””
The question struck harder than Margaret expected.
She slowly knelt.
“Because I made a terrible mistake a long time ago.””
Lily studied her.
“Can you say sorry?””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“I should have done that years ago.””
Lucas arrived at the estate shortly before four in the morning.
The gates opened.
Two armed men escorted him inside.
Marco remained in the vehicle with the rest of the team, monitoring the property.
Lucas walked through the entrance hall.
The house was beautiful.
White marble.
Gold fixtures.
Expensive paintings.
It reminded him of his father's mansion.
He hated it immediately.
Gabriel stood at the top of the staircase.
“Welcome home, little brother.””
Lucas looked around.
“Where is Lily?””
“Straight to business. Just like Father.””
“Where is she?””
Gabriel gestured toward the sitting room.
“She is sleeping.””
Lucas stepped forward.
Gabriel raised one hand.
“Not so fast.””
Lucas stopped.
“What do you want?””
Gabriel descended the staircase.
“I want you to understand something. This was never about money.””
“Then what?””
“Recognition.””
Lucas laughed without humor.
“You've been dead for seventeen years. What exactly do you want me to recognize?””
Gabriel's face tightened.
“That Father chose you.””
“He chose neither of us.””
“He gave you the empire.””
“He gave me a mess.””
“He gave you everything!””
Gabriel slammed his glass against the railing.
“You got the name. The businesses. The men.
The respect. And I got buried in an empty coffin!””
Lucas stared at him.
“Why did he fake your death?””
Gabriel's expression changed.
For a moment, his anger gave way to something darker.
“Because I discovered what he was doing.””
“What?””
Gabriel stepped closer.
“Our father was selling information about his own people. He was trading names, locations, and secrets to anyone willing to pay.””
Lucas frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It made him rich.””
“And you?””
“I threatened to expose him.””
Gabriel smiled bitterly.
“He arranged the accident. I survived. Margaret helped me disappear.””
Lucas looked toward the staircase.
“And Victor?””
“Victor wanted what I wanted.””
“Power?””
“Revenge.””
Lucas shook his head.
“You're using a six-year-old girl to get it.””
Gabriel's face hardened.
“She's the only reason you came here.””
Lucas stepped closer.
“She is my daughter.””
“And that makes you weak.””
“No.””
Lucas's voice was quiet.
“It makes me human.””
For a moment, Gabriel simply stared.
Then he looked toward the sitting room.
“Bring the child.””
A door opened.
Lily appeared with Margaret.
The little girl looked tired.
Her hair was messy, and her pink sweater had a small tear near the sleeve.
But the moment she saw Lucas, her entire face changed.
“DADDY!””
She ran.
Lucas dropped to his knees and caught her in his arms.
He held her so tightly that she giggled.
“Careful, Daddy!””
“I'm sorry.””
He kissed the top of her head.
“I'm so sorry, sweetheart.””
Lily wrapped both arms around his neck.
“I knew you'd come.””
Lucas closed his eyes.
“I will always come.””
Gabriel watched them.
Something moved across his face.
It wasn't quite anger.
It looked more like envy.
Then Lucas noticed Lily coughing.
Once.
Twice.
Her small chest tightened.
“Sweetheart?””
Lily tried to breathe.
Lucas immediately reached for the turquoise inhaler.
“Marco!””
He shouted toward the entrance.
“Get the doctor!””
Margaret hurried forward.
“She has been coughing for the last hour.””
Lucas looked at her sharply.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Gabriel shrugged.
“She said she was fine.””
Lucas stared at him.
“She is six years old!””
He helped Lily use her inhaler while Margaret brought water.
The little girl's breathing gradually settled, but Lucas didn't relax.
He lifted her into his arms.
“We're leaving.””
Gabriel stepped in front of him.
“Not yet.””
Lucas looked up.
“Move.””
Gabriel smiled.
“You're forgetting why I brought you here.””
Lucas's eyes narrowed.
Gabriel reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
“Because your daughter has something you need to know.””
He placed it on the table.
It was an old medical record.
The patient's name was Gabriel Moretti.
And beneath it was a handwritten note from their father.
*The firstborn heir must never be allowed to return.*
Lucas stared at the document.
Then he looked at Gabriel.
“What does this mean?””
Gabriel's smile vanished.
“It means Father didn't just fake my death.””
May you like
He leaned closer.
“He ordered someone to kill me.””
