Chapter 8: The Truth Behind the Empty Grave
Lucas read the medical record again.
The date was seventeen years earlier.
Gabriel had been admitted to a private hospital with multiple injuries following the boating accident.
His condition had been listed as critical.
But the final page contained something Lucas had never seen.
A handwritten instruction.
*If the patient survives, transfer him immediately. No official record. No family notification.*
The signature belonged to Anthony Moretti.
Lucas slowly lowered the paper.
“Why didn't you come back?””
Gabriel laughed.
“Come back?””
He pointed toward the document.
“Your father had me declared dead. He erased my name. He told everyone I was buried. And you want to know why I didn't walk through the front door?””
Lucas looked at him.
“You could have contacted me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Three years after the accident. I sent you a letter.””
Lucas frowned.
“I never received it.””
“Of course you didn't.””
Gabriel stepped toward the fireplace.
“Victor intercepted it. He told me you had read it and refused to respond.””
Lucas's expression hardened.
“Victor was working for you?””
“Not initially. He was working for your father. Then he realized your father was dying and started looking for a new master.””
Lucas looked at Marco's empty place near the entrance.
Everything was connected.
Victor had known about Gabriel.
Margaret had helped hide him.
Vincent had separated Anna and Lucas.
And somewhere in the middle, Anthony Moretti had built a family empire on lies.
“Why did Victor try to kill me?”” Lucas asked.
Gabriel turned.
“Because he wanted the throne.””
“And you?””
Gabriel smiled.
“I wanted my birthright.””
Lucas shook his head.
“You don't want a family. You want an empire.””
Gabriel's eyes darkened.
“Perhaps because the empire was the only thing Father ever loved.””
Lily shifted in Lucas's arms.
“Daddy?””
Lucas looked down.
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Can we go home now?””
Lucas kissed her forehead.
“Yes.””
Gabriel stepped aside.
“Not so quickly.””
Lucas looked up.
“I'm done playing your games.””
“Then perhaps you should hear what Margaret has to say.””
The older woman stood near the fireplace.
Her hands were trembling.
She had been silent throughout the confrontation.
Now she stepped forward.
“Lucas, there's something I should have told you fifteen years ago.””
Lucas looked at her.
“What?””
Margaret glanced at Gabriel.
Then at Lily.
“Your father didn't only order Anna to disappear.””
She swallowed.
“He ordered me to make sure the baby never reached you.””
Lucas felt Lily's small fingers tighten around his collar.
“What are you saying?””
Margaret began to cry.
“I was supposed to take her from the hospital.””
The room fell silent.
Lucas stared at her.
“Take Lily?””
Margaret nodded.
“Your father believed the child would become a threat to the family's succession. He wanted her placed with another family under a different identity.””
Lucas's face turned white.
“Did you do it?””
Margaret shook her head.
“No.””
“Then what happened?””
“Anna found out. She fled the hospital before the arrangements could be completed.””
Lucas looked toward the floor.
He imagined Anna carrying a newborn baby through the cold streets.
Alone.
Terrified.
With nobody to protect her.
And all because his father had decided that an innocent child was inconvenient.
“Why didn't you tell me?”” Lucas asked.
Margaret lowered her head.
“Because I was afraid.””
Lucas stared at her.
“You let me believe Anna abandoned me.””
“Yes.””
“You let her raise my daughter alone.””
Margaret's tears fell.
“Yes.””
Lucas took a slow breath.
“Get out of my sight.””
Margaret didn't move.
“Lucas, please—”
“GET OUT!””
The older woman stepped backward.
Gabriel watched without emotion.
Then he picked up the medical report.
“You see? That's why I never wanted to come back. This family destroys everyone who gets close.””
Lucas looked at him.
“You're no different.””
Gabriel smiled sadly.
“Maybe not.””
At 4:52 a.m., Marco entered the estate.
He carried a tablet and looked unusually tense.
“Boss, we have a problem.””
Lucas was holding Lily in his arms.
“What?””
“Victor has taken control of two of our warehouses. He's also moved several men into the Manhattan headquarters.””
Lucas's expression hardened.
“How many?””
“About thirty.””
Gabriel laughed.
“Victor is making his move.””
Lucas turned toward him.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“You let him take Lily?””
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
“I didn't tell him to take her.””
“Then why is he holding her?””
“Because Victor doesn't answer to anyone.””
Lucas looked at Marco.
“Where is he?””
“Brooklyn. At the old shipping terminal.””
Lucas handed Lily to Margaret.
“Keep her here.””
Margaret looked startled.
“Lucas—”
“I'm bringing Anna.””
He turned toward Marco.
“Get the cars ready.””
Gabriel stepped forward.
“I'll come.””
Lucas shook his head.
“You're staying here.””
Gabriel laughed.
“You think you can order me around?””
“I think you're going to spend the next few hours explaining everything you know about Victor.””
Gabriel's expression hardened.
Lucas continued.
“You want your birthright? Fine. But first, help me get my daughter and her mother out of this mess.””
For a moment, Gabriel said nothing.
Then he nodded.
Anna arrived at the estate just after five.
She ran through the entrance hall, looking around desperately.
“Lily!””
“Mommy!””
Lily jumped from the sofa and ran toward her.
Anna dropped to her knees and wrapped her daughter in both arms.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
She kissed her cheeks.
“Are you hurt? Did they scare you?””
Lily shook her head.
“I'm okay.””
Then she whispered:
“Mommy, I met Daddy's brother.””
Anna froze.
She looked over Lily's shoulder.
Gabriel stood near the staircase.
Their eyes met.
Anna's expression changed.
“Gabriel?””
He gave a faint smile.
“Hello, Anna.””
Lucas turned toward her.
“You know him?””
Anna slowly stood.
“Yes.””
Lucas looked between them.
“How?””
Anna took Lily's hand.
“Because he was the man who came to the hospital the night she was born.””
Lucas felt his stomach tighten.
“What?””
Anna looked at Gabriel.
“He told me Lucas didn't want the baby. He said your father had already arranged everything.””
Gabriel looked away.
Anna continued.
“He was the one who helped me escape.””
Lucas stared.
“You helped her?””
Gabriel nodded.
“I did.””
“Why?””
Gabriel's face changed.
“Because I knew what Father was capable of. And because I didn't want an innocent baby paying for our family's sins.””
Anna's eyes filled.
“You gave me money. You arranged a car. You told me where to go.””
Gabriel nodded.
“But you also told me never to come back.””
“I thought it was the only way to keep you safe.””
Lucas looked at his brother.
For the first time that night, his anger softened.
Not disappeared.
But softened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Gabriel gave a bitter smile.
“Because I was already dead, remember?””
Lucas looked down at Lily.
She was holding Anna's hand.
The little girl glanced up.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Can Uncle Gabriel come to our house?””
Nobody spoke.
Gabriel looked at the child.
Anna looked at Lucas.
Lucas finally answered.
“We'll talk about that later.””
Lily nodded.
Then she yawned.
Anna gently picked her up.
“Let's get you some rest.””
But before they could move, every light in the mansion suddenly went out.
The security alarm began screaming.
Marco pulled his weapon.
“Everyone down!””
Lucas grabbed Lily and pushed Anna behind him.
A loud crash came from the entrance.
Then gunfire.
The guards shouted.
Glass shattered.
Marco rushed toward the hallway.
“Boss, we've got intruders!””
Lucas looked at Gabriel.
His brother had already drawn a weapon.
“Victor?”” Lucas asked.
Gabriel shook his head.
“Not Victor.””
A voice echoed through the darkness.
“Good morning, gentlemen.””
The emergency lights flickered on.
An older man stood at the top of the staircase.
He wore a black overcoat.
His hair was silver.
And his face was unmistakable.
Lucas stared.
“That's impossible.””
Anna gasped.
Gabriel lowered his weapon.
“Father?””
Anthony Moretti smiled.
“It's been a long time, boys.””
Lucas felt the blood drain from his face.
His father had supposedly died eight years earlier.
Two funerals.
Two fake deaths.
And now the entire Moretti family was standing in one room.
Anthony looked toward Lily.
His smile disappeared.
“So this is the child.””
Lucas stepped in front of his daughter.
“Stay away from her.””
Anthony gave a quiet laugh.
“Still making the same mistakes, Lucas.””
Then he looked at Gabriel.
“And you. I see you finally found your way home.””
Gabriel raised his weapon.
“You should be dead.””
Anthony shrugged.
“Apparently, that has never stopped anyone in this family.””
He turned toward Marco.
“Take the girl.””
The guards moved.
Lucas fired into the ceiling.
“ONE MORE STEP!””
The room froze.
Anthony looked at him.
Then he smiled.
“Excellent.””
May you like
He slowly removed a small black device from his pocket.
“Now we can finally discuss the real reason your daughter was born.””
