CHAPTER 5 — The Son Who Came to Kill His Father
The underground wine cellar fell into absolute silence.
Vincent stared at the DNA report as if the words were changing before his eyes.
"No..."
His voice cracked for the first time in decades.
"That's impossible."
Elena slid another envelope across the table.
"You need to see everything."
Inside were dozens of old photographs.
One showed Isabella at twenty-three, standing outside a small church with tears in her eyes.
Another showed Vincent secretly meeting her late at night while the mafia war with the Rossi family was reaching its bloody peak.
Then came a faded ultrasound picture.
On the back, written in Isabella's handwriting, were the words:
"Our little miracle."
Vincent's knees nearly gave way.
Thirty-one years earlier...
He and Isabella had fallen in love before they were married.
During the violence that consumed the city, Vincent had disappeared for months, believing Isabella had left him after receiving threats from his enemies.
When he finally returned, she never mentioned a child.
Months later, she introduced Marcus as the orphaned son of Vincent's late brother.
Vincent never questioned it.
He was too consumed by war.
Too blinded by grief.
Too willing to believe family was all he had left.
The lie had survived for three decades.
A single tear rolled down Vincent's face.
"I raised my own son..."
"...without ever knowing."
Elena lowered her eyes.
"And someone made sure the truth stayed buried."
Suddenly, a loudspeaker crackled to life throughout the underground tunnels.
Marcus's voice echoed through the darkness.
"Uncle..."
"No..."
He laughed softly.
"I suppose I should call you Father now."
Vincent slowly looked up.
"You knew?"
"I've always known."
Marcus's voice was calm.
"Mother told me when I turned eighteen."
Vincent felt as though his heart had stopped.
"Then why?"
"Why are you trying to kill me?"
For several long seconds...
There was only static.
Then Marcus answered.
"Because everything I believed about you was a lie."
"I grew up hearing one story."
"That you sacrificed everyone for power."
"That my real father loved money more than family."
"That you abandoned us willingly."
"I hated you before I even knew your name."
Vincent closed his eyes.
Someone had poisoned his son's heart for decades.
Elena whispered,
"He's telling the truth."
"But it isn't the whole truth."
Marcus continued.
"The empire ends tonight."
"When you're dead..."
"The city finally belongs to someone worthy."
The speakers went silent.
Then the emergency lights shut off.
May you like
Heavy metal doors slammed throughout the tunnel.
They had been trapped.
