The Race Begins
1176 Words
No one spoke.
The words hung in the air.
Every member of the Moretti family will know she exists.
Izzy felt sick.
"What does that mean?" she whispered.
Thomas looked at her.
"It means you're no longer a secret."
Silence.
"It means people who never knew you existed are suddenly going to want something from you."
Her stomach tightened.
"And if I don't want anything to do with them?"
His expression became sad.
"That may not matter."
Wonderful.
Just wonderful.
She had gone twenty-eight years without knowing she had a biological father or a brother.
Now she apparently had an entire crime family.
The universe had a strange sense of humor.
Adrian stepped forward.
"How do you know they're coming?"
Thomas's expression darkened.
"Because I heard them talking."
"You were with them?"
"No."
A pause.
"But I know someone who is."
Silence.
"I have a friend who still works for the family."
Everyone listened carefully.
"He called me this morning."
Thomas swallowed hard.
"They found Eleanor's file."
The room went cold.
"They know she had a daughter."
"And they know about Gabriel?" Izzy asked.
Thomas nodded.
"Probably."
Gabriel looked pale.
This was all happening too fast.
Way too fast.
"They're looking for both of you."
Nobody liked the sound of that.
Luca sighed.
"Can we have one week without someone hunting one of you?"
"No," Marco said.
"Apparently not."
Izzy looked exhausted.
"I don't even know these people."
"That won't matter to them," Thomas said quietly.
Silence.
Then—
"We need the safety deposit box."
Everyone looked at Adrian.
"The letter said the answers are there."
He looked directly at Izzy.
"And right now, answers are exactly what we need."
She nodded.
He was right.
As terrifying as it was…
They needed to know the truth.
All of it.
Thomas looked nervous.
"The bank opens in an hour."
A long silence followed.
Then Marco sighed.
"This feels like a trap."
"It probably is," Luca agreed.
"Everything is a trap lately."
Also true.
Adrian looked at Izzy.
"You don't have to do this today."
She looked surprised.
"Really?"
"You've had enough shocks for one lifetime."
A small smile appeared.
Then disappeared.
"No."
She took a deep breath.
"I want to know."
Silence.
"I need to know."
Adrian studied her for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
Luca immediately sighed.
"I have a bad feeling."
"You always have a bad feeling."
"Because bad things keep happening."
Also true.
Thirty minutes later, they were back in the SUVs.
This time, there were two vehicles.
Extra security.
Extra men.
Extra everything.
Apparently becoming a secret mafia heir came with bodyguards.
She sat in the back beside Adrian.
Thomas and Gabriel rode in the second vehicle.
The atmosphere felt strange.
Not uncomfortable.
Just…
New.
She had a father.
A brother.
And she had no idea what to do with that information.
Beside her, Adrian looked exhausted.
"You're pale."
He looked at her.
"Thank you."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
"You should still be in bed."
A tiny smile appeared.
"You've said that several times."
"Because it's true."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then—
"You're worried about me."
Her cheeks warmed.
"No, I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm really not."
A smile tugged at his lips.
"You absolutely are."
She folded her arms.
"I just don't want anyone bleeding on me today."
That earned an actual laugh.
A real one.
The sound made her smile.
"You like making me laugh."
She blinked.
"What?"
"You smile afterward."
Now she was the one blushing.
Fantastic.
Luca suddenly turned around in the front seat.
"I've never seen either of you smile this much."
"Turn around," Adrian said.
"No."
"Please."
Luca grinned.
"No."
Marco sighed.
"I hate all of you."
The drive into town was strangely normal.
Almost peaceful.
Which meant something terrible was probably about to happen.
The bank came into view.
A small brick building sitting near the center of Blackridge.
Adrian immediately frowned.
"So did I."
Because there were three black SUVs parked outside.
Vehicles that definitely hadn't been there before.
Marco's hand moved toward his weapon.
Luca sighed.
"I knew it."
"They're here," Thomas whispered.
Everyone went silent.
Two men stood outside the bank.
Both in dark suits.
Both watching the street.
Watching the bank.
Watching for them.
"They beat us here."
Silence.
"What do we do?" Gabriel asked.
Nobody answered immediately.
Then—
"We go in anyway."
Everyone looked at Adrian.
"Are you serious?" Luca asked.
"They don't know we're here."
"They're literally staring at the building."
"They're waiting."
Silence.
"For what?" Izzy asked.
Adrian looked at her.
"For you."
Her blood ran cold.
He was right.
They were waiting for her.
To claim her?
Kidnap her?
Kill her?
She didn't know.
And honestly, she didn't want to.
"No."
Everyone turned toward her.
"No more running."
Silence.
"I'm tired of secrets."
She looked at Adrian.
"I'm tired of being afraid."
Then she looked toward the bank.
"I want the truth."
Nobody spoke.
Then Thomas smiled softly.
"You sound exactly like your mother."
That made her chest ache.
Adrian looked at her.
For a long moment.
Then—
"Okay."
Luca looked horrified.
"We're encouraging this?"
"Apparently."
"Fantastic."
Adrian turned toward Marco.
"You and Luca take the back entrance."
Both men nodded.
"I'll go with Izzy."
"No."
Everyone looked at Thomas.
He swallowed.
"I'm going with my daughter."
Silence.
For some reason…
That made her smile.
My daughter.
Nobody had ever called her that before.
Adrian noticed.
And for reasons he didn't understand…
He didn't like it.
At all.
Which was ridiculous.
Because Thomas was her father.
Her actual father.
Still…
He didn't like it.
At all.
A few minutes later, they slipped into the bank through a side entrance.
The manager looked terrified.
Very reassuring.
"Miss Carter?"
She nodded.
"We've been expecting you."
Oh.
That wasn't creepy.
He led them to a private room.
Then to the vault.
Rows of metal boxes lined the walls.
The manager stopped.
"Box 317."
Her hands shook.
She held up the silver key.
The manager inserted his key.
Then stepped back.
"Take your time."
The room became quiet.
Everyone watched.
She slowly slid open the box.
Inside was…
A thick envelope.
Several photographs.
A journal.
And a small velvet pouch.
She stared.
"That's it?"
Thomas picked up the journal.
His face immediately lost all color.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
"No, no, no."
"What?" Gabriel asked.
Thomas looked terrified.
He turned the journal around.
On the cover, written in elegant handwriting, were four words:
The Moretti Family Ledger
The room went completely silent.
Because somehow…
The thing everyone had been searching for…
The thing people had been willing to kill for…
Had been sitting in a bank vault all along.
Then the alarm started.
Everyone jumped.
A loud siren echoed through the bank.
The manager burst into the room.
His face was white.
"They're here."
Silence.
"Who?" Adrian demanded.
The man looked terrified.
"The Morettis."
A cold chill swept through the room.
"They've surrounded the bank."
And suddenly…
There was no easy way out.
- Writer
