Chapter 5 - The Priest's Son Who Wanted the Ledger Back

Adrian stared at Father Thomas.

"Daniel Santoro."

The priest nodded.

"Your son."

"Yes."

"And he runs Saint Gabriel."

"Yes."

Victor said:

"He started asking about the old accounts five years ago."

Adrian frowned.

"To expose them?"

Father Thomas looked ashamed.

"At first."

"And then?"

"He realized how much remained."

Adrian's face hardened.

"Properties?"

"Accounts."

"Land."

"Art."

Victor added:

"No one knows the total."

Adrian asked:

"Daniel thinks the ledger tells him where everything is."

Lucia answered through the phone.

"It does."

Victor closed his eyes.

"Lucia."

She continued:

"Account numbers."

"Codes."

"Names."

"Everything."

Adrian asked:

"Why keep it?"

"Insurance."

Michael whispered:

"My idea."

Adrian laughed.

"Of course."

Lucia said:

"But it kept us alive."

Father Thomas continued:

"Daniel has also been searching for you."

"Me?"

"He believes Michael left part of the code with you."

Adrian touched the black cross-and-vine tattoo on his neck.

Thomas stared at it.

Adrian noticed.

"What?"

"Who designed that tattoo?"

"My father."

Michael answered through the phone.

"I drew it."

Adrian froze.

"I was eighteen."

"Yes."

"What is it?"

Michael hesitated.

"Dad."

"A key."

Elena looked at him.

Adrian touched the vine.

"You tattooed a code on me."

"Not the whole code."

Father Thomas stepped closer.

"Saint Gabriel seal."

Three leaves.

Two thorns.

One broken circle.

Thomas whispered:

"It matches the old vault mark."

Adrian stared at the tattoo.

"You put a bank key on my body."

Michael answered:

"I thought no one would know."

Victor laughed bitterly.

"Gabriel would have."

Adrian asked:

"Does Daniel?"

Thomas nodded.

"I think so."

Adrian looked around the ballroom.

Security.

Guests.

Staff.

"Mia."

I stepped forward.

"How many unfamiliar staff tonight?"

"Three."

"Where?"

"Two catering."

"One coat room."

Adrian looked at his security chief.

"Lock the east doors."

Then a crash came from upstairs.

Alessandra went pale.

"My room."

We ran.

Her bedroom door was open.

Window broken.

Seven letters gone.

A man in catering uniform lay unconscious near the balcony.

Alive.

No identification.

Father Thomas looked outside.

A black car sped through the gate.

Victor whispered:

"Daniel."

Adrian looked at his phone.

The call with Lucia had disconnected.

His face changed.

He called back.

No answer.

Elena tried.

Nothing.

Father Thomas whispered:

"Oh no."

Adrian turned.

"What?"

"Daniel knew Lucia had the ledger."

Adrian's voice went cold.

"Where exactly does my mother live?"

"Mérida."

"Address."

Thomas hesitated.

Adrian stepped closer.

"Address."

The priest gave it.

Adrian called his pilot.

Then looked at Alessandra.

She stepped forward.

"I'm coming."

"No."

Her face fell.

Adrian continued:

"You stay with Elena."

Elena frowned.

"I'm going."

Adrian looked at his sister.

"You just found me."

"And you just found me."

She stepped closer.

"I'm not waiting another twenty-eight years because men decided where I should be."

Adrian almost smiled.

"Fine."

Alessandra whispered:

"And me?"

Adrian looked at her.

"You lied to me."

She nodded.

"I did."

"But your mother froze the trust."

"Yes."

"You knew Daniel was searching for the ledger?"

Her face changed.

Adrian saw.

"You did."

She whispered:

"Two weeks."

Silence.

Victor looked shocked.

Alessandra continued:

"He contacted me."

"What did he want?"

"The letters."

"And?"

"I refused."

"Did you tell anyone?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I thought I could handle it."

Adrian looked away.

Then back.

"You can come."

She froze.

"Why?"

"Because if Daniel contacted you, he may do it again."

No forgiveness.

Only usefulness.

Thirty minutes later, they left for the airport.

Adrian's phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

A photograph.

Lucia and Michael.

Sitting at a kitchen table.

Taken through a window.

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

Underneath:

BRING THE MAN WITH THE TATTOO.