THE HEIR OF SHADOWS

The Funeral The rain had been falling since dawn. Lia Moretti stood beneath a black umbrella, staring at the fresh grave in front of her. ALESSANDRO MORETTI Her father's name was carved into the marble. She stared at it, trying to accept the fact that she would never hear his voice again. Three days ago, her father had been alive. Three days ago, she had believed she knew him. Now she wasn't so sure. Hundreds of people stood around the cemetery, dressed in black. Some whispered among themselves. Others simply watched Lia. That was the strange part. Nobody looked at her like they were looking at a grieving daughter. They looked at her like she had inherited something. Something dangerous. Lia tightened her fingers around the umbrella. "Why are they staring at me?" Her aunt Elena stood beside her. "Because you're Alessandro's daughter." "That's not an answer." Elena looked away. Before Lia could ask again, the sound of an approaching car cut through the rain. A black car stopped near the cemetery gates. A young man stepped out. He was dressed entirely in black. His dark hair was slightly wet from the rain, and his expression was calm, almost emotionless. He walked toward them. Lia didn't recognize him. But Elena did. Her aunt's face immediately changed. "Who is he?" Lia asked. Elena lowered her voice. "Matteo Romano." The name sounded familiar. Then Lia remembered something her father had once said. Never trust a Romano. Matteo stopped a few feet away. His eyes met Lia's. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said. Lia studied him. "Did you know my father?" "Yes." "How?" Matteo hesitated. "I knew him better than you think." Lia felt a chill that had nothing to do with the rain. "What does that mean?" Matteo glanced toward Alessandro's grave. "Your father's death changes everything." "What everything?" But Matteo had already turned away. "Wait!" He stopped. "Why are you here?" Matteo looked over his shoulder. "Because someone should have told you." "Told me what?" His expression hardened. "Your father wasn't the man you thought he was." Then he got into the car. Lia watched him disappear through the gates. That evening, Lia returned home alone. The Moretti mansion felt different. Too quiet. Her father's absence seemed to fill every room. She walked into his study. His desk was exactly as he had left it. She opened the first drawer. Nothing. The second. Nothing. The third drawer was locked. Her father had never kept it locked before. She searched the desk until she found a tiny key beneath an old photograph. Her hands trembled as she inserted it into the lock. Click. The drawer opened. Inside was a small black box. No name. No explanation. Only a strange silver symbol engraved on its lid. A snake wrapped around a crown. Lia touched it. Then she noticed an envelope underneath. Her name was written across it. LIA. She opened it. Inside was a single sheet of paper. The first line made her heart stop. If you are reading this, I am already dead. She read on. There are things about our family that I should have told you. Things that may put you in danger. Her breathing became shallow. Do not trust the Romanos. She stopped. That was exactly what her father had told her years ago. But then she reached the final paragraph. Most importantly, Lia, do not trust anyone who claims to know the truth about my death. At the bottom of the letter was one final sentence. The war between the Morettis and the Romanos was never what you were told. Lia stared at the words. A sound suddenly came from outside the study. Footsteps. Slow. Heavy. Someone was walking toward the door. Lia quickly folded the letter and hid it inside her jacket. The doorknob began to turn. She held her breath. The door opened. And standing in the doorway was Matteo Romano.