The billionaire mafia bride

The Secret She Never Told

CHAPTER 13

THE SECRET SHE NEVER TOLD

Rain poured against the windows of the safe house.

For the first time in hours, Serena could hear nothing but the sound of water hitting the glass.

Dante was alive.

That was all that mattered.

He lay on the bed, his wound carefully bandaged. The bullet had only grazed his side, but the blood loss had been enough to frighten everyone.

Serena sat beside him.

She hadn't left his side since they escaped the Moretti estate.

Dante slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Serena.

"You look terrible."

Serena's eyes widened.

"You're awake."

"I've been awake."

"No, you haven't."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"You've been crying."

Serena quickly wiped her face.

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"You're injured. You don't get to argue with me."

Dante chuckled softly, then winced.

Serena immediately became serious.

"Don't move."

"I'm fine."

"You nearly died."

"But I didn't."

"Because you're stubborn."

He reached for her hand.

"Because you were there."

Serena's expression softened.

She intertwined her fingers with his.

"I thought I was going to lose you."

Dante looked at her for a long moment.

"You won't."

She leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"Rest."

Dante closed his eyes.

But before he could fall asleep, Serena's mother appeared at the doorway.

"Serena."

Serena looked up.

Her mother's face was pale.

"We need to talk."

---

An hour later, Dante was asleep.

Serena sat across from her mother in the small living room.

For several minutes, neither woman spoke.

Finally, Serena broke the silence.

"Tell me everything."

Her mother looked down at her hands.

"I knew this day would come."

"What day?"

"The day you discovered who your father really was."

Serena's heart tightened.

"I already know about the Black Serpents."

Her mother shook her head.

"You know nothing."

She reached into her bag and pulled out an old envelope.

Serena stared at it.

"What is that?"

"Your father's last letter to me."

Serena's hands trembled.

"Why didn't you give it to me?"

"Because he specifically told me not to."

"Why?"

Her mother looked into her eyes.

"Because he knew what would happen if you learned the truth."

Serena opened the envelope.

Inside was a single photograph.

Her father.

Her mother.

And a baby.

Serena stared at the photograph.

"That's me."

Her mother nodded.

"Yes."

Serena turned the photograph over.

There were words written on the back.

MY TWO DAUGHTERS WILL COMPLETE WHAT I STARTED.

Serena froze.

"Two daughters."

"Yes."

"Isabella."

Her mother nodded.

"But that's not the secret."

Serena looked at her.

"Then what is?"

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

"Your father didn't create the Black Serpents."

Serena frowned.

"What?"

"He inherited them."

"From who?"

Her mother hesitated.

"His father."

Serena's heart began racing.

"And his father inherited them from..."

Her mother whispered,

"The Morettis."

Serena stared at her.

"That's impossible."

"It isn't."

Her mother leaned closer.

"The Moretti and Serpents' bloodlines have been connected for generations."

Serena shook her head.

"Then why did my father fight them?"

"Because he discovered what they were doing."

"What?"

"Human trafficking. Illegal weapons. Political assassinations. Blackmail."

Serena covered her mouth.

"He tried to destroy the organization from within."

Her mother nodded.

"That's why they wanted him dead."

Serena stared at the photograph.

"And Dante's father?"

"Luciano knew."

"Was he part of it?"

Her mother looked away.

"Yes."

Silence filled the room.

Serena suddenly understood.

The old hatred.

The Moretti family.

Her father's disappearance.

Dante's secrets.

Everything was connected.

But her mother wasn't finished.

"There is something else."

Serena looked up.

"What?"

"Your father didn't disappear."

Serena froze.

"What do you mean?"

"He survived."

Her breath caught.

"He's alive?"

Her mother nodded.

"Yes."

Serena stood so quickly that the chair nearly fell backward.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Mom!"

"I haven't seen him in years."

"Then how do you know he's alive?"

Her mother pulled another document from the envelope.

"Because he sent this to me six months ago."

Serena took it.

It was a bank statement.

A private account.

The name on it was hidden.

But the account had received a transfer six months earlier.

One billion dollars.

Serena stared.

"One billion?"

Her mother nodded.

"Your father has been rebuilding his empire."

Serena's heart pounded.

"Why?"

"Because he's preparing to come back."

"Come back for what?"

Her mother's eyes filled with fear.

"For you."

Serena stopped breathing.

"Why me?"

Her mother whispered the words that changed everything.

"Because you're the true heir."

Serena shook her head.

"To what?"

"The Moretti empire."

Silence.

"Your father left everything to you."

Serena's eyes widened.

"But what about Isabella?"

"Isabella inherited the Black Serpents."

Her mother looked directly at her.

"You inherited the legitimate empire."

Serena slowly sat down.

Everything suddenly made sense.

The attacks.

The ledger.

The key.

The people hunting her.

They weren't trying to kill a random woman.

They were trying to control an heir.

Her mother reached for her hand.

"That's why I had to hide you."

Serena whispered,

"You didn't abandon me."

"No."

Her mother's tears finally fell.

"I was trying to keep you alive."

A noise came from the hallway.

Both women turned.

Dante stood there.

He had heard everything.

Serena looked at him.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough."

His eyes were fixed on the document in her hand.

"You're the heir."

Serena nodded slowly.

Dante walked toward her.

His face was serious.

"Then everything changes."

Serena looked up at him.

"Are you afraid of me?"

Dante reached for her hand.

"No."

He kissed her fingers.

"I'm afraid for you."

A sudden sound came from outside.

Three knocks.

Everyone froze.

Dante immediately reached for his gun.

"Who is it?"

No answer.

Then a photograph was pushed underneath the door.

Serena picked it up.

Her blood ran cold.

It was a picture of her father.

Standing outside the safe house.

Alive.

And beneath the photograph were five words:

TELL MY DAUGHTER I'M COMING.

Serena stared at the picture.

Her father was alive.

And he was coming for her.

But neither Serena nor Dante knew whether he was coming to protect his daughter...

Or claim the empire he had left behind.