Chapter 7 - The Betrayal Inside the DeLuca Family
Three weeks passed.
Kane vanished.
The federal investigation expanded.
Hundreds of accounts were frozen.
Several officials were arrested.
But Adrian's world remained unstable.
Someone inside his organization was leaking information.
Every move they made was anticipated.
Every safehouse was compromised.
Then Gabriel disappeared.
Adrian received a message.
Come alone.
Bring Vivian.
The old train station.
Midnight.
Vivian knew it was a trap.
Adrian knew too.
But Gabriel was family.
They went.
The station was empty.
Then the lights turned on.
Gabriel was tied to a chair.
Blood on his shirt.
Vivian rushed toward him.
“Stop.”
Adrian held her back.
A voice came from the shadows.
“You really do make bad decisions.”
Dominic Luces emerged.
Vivian froze.
“Dominic.”
He looked older.
Tired.
But alive.
“I didn't betray you.”
Adrian aimed his gun.
“Then why is Gabriel tied up?”
“Because your uncle did it.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“My uncle?”
A man stepped forward.
Marco DeLuca.
Adrian's father's younger brother.
The man who had helped raise him.
The man Adrian trusted.
Marco smiled.
“You were always too sentimental.”
Adrian stared.
“You worked for Kane.”
“I worked for myself.”
“You sold my father.”
Marco shrugged.
“Luca was weak.”
Vivian felt sick.
“You gave Kane our location.”
Marco looked at her.
“I gave him your mother.”
“What?”
“Your mother was supposed to die quietly.”
Adrian stepped forward.
Marco continued.
“But Kane wanted something else.”
He looked at Vivian.
“He wanted the key.”
“You mean me.”
“Yes.”
Marco pulled out an old photograph.
It showed Vivian's mother carrying baby Vivian into a church.
Behind her was Marco.
“He was there when you were hidden.”
Vivian's eyes widened.
“You knew me.”
“Of course.”
“Then why didn't you tell Adrian?”
“Because Adrian needed to become hard.”
Marco's voice was cold.
“He needed to inherit the empire.”
“And me?”
“You were a weakness.”
Adrian's face changed.
“My entire life…”
Marco smiled.
“You were manipulated beautifully.”
Adrian fired.
The bullet hit the floor beside Marco.
“Next one won't.”
Marco's men raised their guns.
The station erupted.
Dominic attacked from behind.
Gabriel broke free.
Vivian ran.
Adrian fought his uncle.
Finally, Marco went down.
But before he did, he whispered:
“Kane isn't the end.”
Adrian grabbed him.
“Who else?”
Marco laughed.
“You really don't know?”
His eyes moved toward Vivian.
“Her mother had another child.”
Vivian froze.
“What?”
May you like
Marco smiled.
“Your sister.”
