Chapter 9 - Gianni Marcel Finally Told Mara the Part That Was His

Gianni Marcel looked smaller than his reputation.

That was the first thing Mara noticed.

Not weak.

Smaller.

Age had reduced him.

Eighty-one.

White hair.

Hands that trembled slightly when he lifted a cup.

Dante stood in the assisted living room.

No greeting.

No hug.

Mara stood beside the window.

Not behind Dante.

Beside.

Gianni looked at her.

"Thomas's daughter."

Mara hated the phrase less from him.

Maybe because he sounded ashamed.

She said:

"Mara."

He nodded.

"Mara."

Dante spoke.

"You are alive."

"Yes."

"Nine years."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Gianni looked at Mara.

"Because I failed her father."

Dante's face hardened.

"That is not an answer."

Gianni nodded.

"No."

Then he told them.

Thomas had discovered Roman's theft.

Gianni created the trust.

Not as generosity.

As leverage.

Thomas agreed to hold the evidence.

Then Roman found out.

Thomas came to Gianni the night before his death.

Asked for protection for his wife.

His daughter.

Himself.

Gianni said no.

Why?

Because helping Thomas openly would reveal Gianni knew about the theft.

It would threaten the family.

The company.

His position.

Mara stared.

"So you chose your empire."

Gianni nodded.

"Yes."

"And my father died."

"Yes."

Dante looked sick.

Gianni continued:

"I tried to fix it afterward."

Mara laughed bitterly.

"By giving me stock?"

"No."

"The trust already existed."

"Then what?"

"By keeping Roman away from you."

Mara frowned.

"Roman knew where I was."

"Yes."

"Why didn't he touch me?"

Gianni looked at Dante.

"Because I threatened his son."

Silence.

Dante stared.

"Roman has a son?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

Gianni looked down.

"Rafe."

The room went still.

Dante's security chief.

The man guarding the door outside.

Mara stared.

"Rafe is Roman's son."

"Biological."

Dante laughed once.

No humor.

"Does anyone in my life have the father they claim?"

Gianni almost smiled.

Then stopped.

Dante opened the door.

"Rafe."

He entered.

One look at Gianni.

Then Dante.

He knew.

"You told him."

Gianni nodded.

Rafe closed his eyes.

Dante asked:

"How long have you known?"

"Since I was eighteen."

"Why work for me?"

"Because I hate him."

"Roman."

"Yes."

"Did he know?"

"Yes."

"Did you help him find Mara?"

"No."

Mara watched his face.

She believed him.

Dante asked:

"Did you know about the ring?"

"Only that Roman wanted it."

"Did you know why?"

"No."

Gianni said:

"I kept that from everyone."

Rafe looked at him.

"Except Arthur."

Gianni nodded.

Dante stared.

"Arthur knew because you told him."

"Years ago."

"Why?"

"He was supposed to keep the ring away from Roman."

Mara laughed softly.

Instead he built an engagement around it.

Gianni continued:

"Arthur became greedy."

Dante asked:

"Why put the ring into circulation now?"

Gianni looked at Sienna's engagement photograph on Dante's phone.

"Because I asked Arthur to."

Silence.

Dante stared.

"You arranged the ring delivery."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I knew Mara worked for you."

Mara froze.

Gianni looked at her.

"I found you three years ago."

Her pulse jumped.

"You knew."

"Yes."

"Why not tell me about the trust?"

"Because I wanted to know whether you were like Thomas."

Mara laughed in disbelief.

"A test."

Gianni lowered his eyes.

"Yes."

Dante looked furious.

Mara beat him to it.

"You let me clean your son's house for three years to test my character."

Gianni said nothing.

"You watched me work for wages while a billion-dollar trust carried my name."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because money changes people."

Mara stared at him.

"So does being lied to."

Gianni's face broke.

That one landed.

Dante said:

"You don't get to decide what she deserved to know."

"No."

Gianni nodded.

"I know that now."

Mara looked at the old man.

Then at Dante.

Then Rafe.

Every powerful man in the story had made the same mistake.

They called control protection.

They called secrecy patience.

They called delay wisdom.

Mara said:

"What happens to Roman?"

Rafe answered:

"Police have him."

"Arthur?"

"Cooperating."

"Petra?"

"Charged."

"Sienna?"

Dante looked away.

Mara understood.

Not criminal.

But not untouched.

Then Gianni looked at the ring in Dante's hand.

"You activated the trust."

Mara nodded.

"Yes."

"What did you do with it?"

"Half goes to employees."

Gianni stared.

"Half?"

"Yes."

"And the rest?"

"In trust."

"For what?"

Mara looked at Dante.

Then back.

"I haven't decided."

Gianni smiled.

"Thomas would have liked that."

Mara shook her head.

"You don't get to tell me what my father would like."

His smile disappeared.

"You're right."

She stood.

Then Dante asked:

"One last thing."

Gianni looked at him.

"Why a ring?"

Gianni sighed.

"Because I thought whoever wore it would understand loyalty."

Mara looked at the diamond.

Then said:

"No."

Everyone turned.

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She continued:

"You thought whoever controlled it would."