Chapter 13 - DANTE'S DEAD BROTHER
Paolo Rosselli had been dead for sixteen years.
At least that was what Dante believed.
Paolo was nine years older.
Brilliant.
Reckless.
Everything Dante’s father admired until the qualities became inconvenient.
Officially Paolo died in a boating accident at thirty-one.
No body recovered.
The family held a funeral anyway.
Gabriel sat at Dante’s dining table listening to a dead man become his possible father.
“This is insane.”
Alina almost laughed.
“Correct.”
Leo sat beside Gabriel coloring a dinosaur blue.
He had been told only:
Gabriel might be family.
Leo accepted this within twelve seconds.
Adults required lawyers.
Dante arranged an independent DNA comparison.
No Rosselli-controlled laboratory.
No family doctor.
No favors.
Alina noticed.
Three years earlier he would have taken control first and explained later.
Progress was irritatingly quiet.
The results arrived six days later.
Paolo Rosselli was almost certainly Gabriel’s biological father.
That made Gabriel Dante’s nephew.
And Alina’s maternal half brother.
Two families joined inside one thirteen-year-old boy.
Gabriel hated it.
“I was fine as Gabriel Vale.”
“You’re still Gabriel Vale,” Alina said.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Then why are there four lawyers outside?”
Fair.
The trust held just over eleven million dollars.
Alina nearly dropped the financial summary.
Gabriel laughed.
“I don't want it.”
Dante answered immediately.
“Don't decide that now.”
Gabriel glared.
“Why? Because I'm a Rosselli?”
“No. Because you’re thirteen.”
That stopped him.
Then they discovered where the money came from.
Paolo had funded the original trust.
Not Dante.
Not Rosa.
Paolo.
Three months before his disappearance.
The trust provided education, housing and medical care for one child.
Gabriel.
Leo’s name had been added later under a survivorship clause.
If Gabriel died before adulthood, the remaining assets transferred to Leo Rosselli.
Alina’s face hardened.
“No.”
Dante understood immediately.
“It makes them competitors.”
“They're children.”
“I agree.”
“Then remove Leo.”
The attorney hesitated.
“Mr. Rosselli cannot unilaterally alter it.”
“Why?”
“Because he is not trustee.”
“Who is?”
The attorney turned the document.
ELIAS ROSSELLI.
Dante’s cousin.
Chief financial officer of several legitimate Rosselli companies.
And one of the few men Dante had trusted throughout the chaos that first brought Alina into his life.
Elias arrived that evening.
He denied creating the amendment.
Then Alina showed him the document.
His face changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Dante noticed.
“You've seen this.”
Elias said nothing.
“Answer.”
“Yes.”
Alina stood.
“You knew Gabriel existed.”
“Yes.”
Gabriel pushed away from the table.
“How long?”
Elias looked at him.
“Since you were born.”
Everyone froze.
Then Gabriel asked the question that mattered.
“Did my father know me?”
Elias closed his eyes.
May you like
“Yes.”
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