STOLEN REVENGE

Chapter Thirteen: The Last Survivor

The rain came down in sheets over Raveno City, turning the empty streets into rivers of reflected neon light.

Dante Moretti stood beside his black SUV outside an abandoned church on the outskirts of the city. His phone vibrated in his hand.

"He's alive," Sofia said over the line. "Barely. But he's willing to talk."

Dante's jaw tightened. The mysterious prisoner they had rescued from Bellini's underground prison had spent two days drifting in and out of consciousness. Whatever Bellini had done to him had nearly killed him. Now he had finally agreed to reveal the truth.

"The corrupt cops found his location twenty minutes ago," Sofia continued. "If we're moving him, we do it now."

"We're on our way." Dante hung up and looked at Valentina. "Let's bring our ghost back to life."

Valentina loaded her pistol and smiled coldly. "Something tells me we're going to regret hearing what he has to say."

Neither of them realized just how right she was.

The safe house sat hidden behind an old textile factory near the docks. It belonged to one of Dante's most trusted allies, a former intelligence officer named Gabriel Russo.

For nearly fifteen years, Gabriel had served the Moretti family faithfully. He had saved Dante's life more than once and knew secrets that very few people did. If there was one person Dante trusted completely, it was Gabriel.

The moment Dante entered the safe house, he noticed something strange. It was too quiet. No guards stood at the entrance. No music played in Gabriel's office. No sarcastic remarks welcomed him inside.

Sofia was waiting beside the staircase, her expression tense.

"Where's Gabriel?" Dante asked.

"He left thirty minutes ago," she replied. "Said he was checking the perimeter."

Valentina frowned. "That's unlike him."

Dante ignored the growing feeling in his stomach and followed Sofia upstairs.

The witness lay on a hospital bed connected to several medical machines. His face was bruised and swollen, and old burn marks covered his neck and arms. He looked older than his sixty years. His trembling eyes widened when Dante entered the room.

"The son of Alessandro Moretti," the old man whispered.

"You know my father?" Dante asked.

The man laughed bitterly. "I helped build his empire."

The room fell silent. Valentina stepped forward. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lorenzo Vitale."

Dante froze. The name had appeared several times in the secret documents recovered from Bellini's headquarters. Lorenzo Vitale was supposed to have died twenty years ago.

"You were one of the founders?" Sofia asked.

Lorenzo slowly nodded. "There were four of us."

"Tell me their names," Dante demanded.

Lorenzo looked toward the window nervously. "We don't have much time."

Before he could continue, gunfire erupted downstairs. Bang! Bang! Bang! The entire safe house shook.

"We're under attack!" one of Dante's guards shouted through the radio.

Valentina immediately drew her weapon. "How did they find us?"

Dante looked at Sofia. "Lock this room down."

The sound of automatic weapons echoed throughout the building. Screams followed, then more gunshots. The attackers weren't here to capture anyone. They were here to erase everyone.

Valentina peered through the security camera feed. "Police tactical units," she said.

Dante frowned. "Impossible."

"They're using official police vehicles."

Sofia cursed under her breath. "The commissioner is involved."

Dante already suspected as much. Raveno City's corruption ran deeper than anyone imagined.

The police officers stormed through the lower floor, executing guards as they moved upstairs. Lorenzo's face went pale.

"They've finally come for me." "Who?" Dante asked. "The Ghost."

The name sent a chill through the room.

"Marco Bellini worked for him," Lorenzo continued. "All of us did."

Dante leaned closer. "Tell me who The Ghost is."

Lorenzo hesitated. "He has worn many faces over the years. Politicians serve him. Judges fear him. Crime families pay tribute to him."

Gunfire exploded outside the bedroom door. The attackers were getting closer. Valentina kicked over a bookshelf to barricade the entrance.

"We have maybe three minutes," she warned.

Lorenzo grabbed Dante's wrist. "Listen carefully. The fourth founder never died."

Dante's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"He disappeared and created The Circle."

The Circle. The secret organization responsible for controlling Raveno City's criminal and political empire.

"He betrayed your father," Lorenzo whispered. "He ordered Alessandro's murder."

The room suddenly fell silent. Everything Dante believed about his father's death began to crumble.

"Who is he?" Dante asked.

Lorenzo took a deep breath. "The fourth founder is"

The bedroom door exploded inward. Three masked officers opened fire. Valentina immediately returned fire, dropping two attackers. Dante tackled Lorenzo to the floor while Sofia shot the third officer in the chest.

More footsteps approached. Too many.

"We're trapped!" Sofia shouted.

Dante pulled Lorenzo behind the overturned bed. "You were saying?"

Lorenzo coughed violently, blood staining his lips. "The fourth founder is Gabriel Russo."

For a moment, Dante forgot how to breathe.

"No," he whispered. "It can't be."

"He changed his identity twenty years ago,"

Lorenzo continued weakly. "He created Gabriel Russo after faking his death. He's been beside you your entire life."

Dante's entire world shattered in seconds. Gabriel had raised him after his father's death. Gabriel had trained him, protected him, advised him, saved his life. It was impossible unless that was exactly why he had survived for so long.

Suddenly, slow applause echoed from the hallway. Clap. Clap. Clap. Everyone froze.

A familiar voice spoke calmly from the shadows. "I'm impressed, Lorenzo. You managed to stay alive longer than expected."

Dante's blood ran cold. Gabriel Russo stepped into the doorway wearing a black trench coat. Behind him stood six heavily armed police officers. His expression was unreadable.

"You should have stayed dead," Gabriel said to Lorenzo.

"You murdered Alessandro!" Dante shouted.

Gabriel smiled faintly. "No, Dante." He tilted his head slightly. "I ordered it."

The words struck harder than any bullet.

"Why?" Dante asked.

"Because your father was becoming weak," Gabriel replied calmly. "He wanted to destroy everything we built. The Circle couldn't allow that."

Valentina raised her weapon. "You manipulated him his entire life."

Gabriel's smile widened. "I made him stronger."

Before Dante could react, Gabriel pulled out a silenced pistol and fired. The bullet tore through Lorenzo's chest. Blood splattered across Dante's hands.

The old man smiled weakly before whispering his final words. "The Ghost has always been family." His eyes closed forever.

Gabriel slowly lowered his weapon. "You should have listened to your father, Dante. Never trust anyone."

More footsteps echoed throughout the building. Dozens of corrupt officers surrounded the room. Dante realized the horrifying truth: the mastermind behind every betrayal, every murder, and every secret had been standing beside him for years.

And now, The Ghost had finally revealed himself.

Gabriel smiled as he pointed his gun directly at Dante's head. "Tell me, son," he said softly. "Are you ready to learn why your father begged me to spare your life?"

The room fell silent. Then Gabriel whispered five words that changed everything.

"He wasn't your real father."

To Be Continued…