Chapter 5 - Vittorio Came Home

Vittorio arrived in New York the next afternoon.

He did not go to the Moretti estate.

He went directly to Bellori’s.

That told Luca everything.

His father entered with a cane.

Silver hair.

Dark overcoat.

The same signet ring visible in the six-year-old photograph.

He looked older than Luca remembered from Palermo.

Smaller too.

But his eyes were still sharp.

The four boys were not present.

Luca had moved them and Emma to a secured townhouse.

Vittorio looked at Belini first.

Then Marco.

Then Luca.

“You found her.”

Luca did not invite him to sit.

“You knew where she was.”

Vittorio’s mouth tightened.

“I knew enough.”

“For six years?”

“Yes.”

Luca absorbed the word.

No apology.

No excuse.

Just yes.

“Why?”

Vittorio leaned on the cane.

“Because you were twenty-eight, under federal scrutiny, fighting two internal factions, and about to inherit a family that would have eaten those children alive.”

Emma’s voice came from the doorway.

“So you saved them by erasing their father?”

Vittorio turned.

He had not known she was there.

Good.

Emma stepped into the room.

Simple black dress.

No fear left in her face.

Vittorio looked at her for a long moment.

“You kept them safe.”

“You watched us.”

“I made sure you had enough.”

Emma’s expression hardened.

“I worked two jobs.”

“I know.”

“That makes it worse.”

Vittorio looked at Luca.

“I offered her money.”

“She refused.”

“Yes.”

“And you still decided for both of us.”

“Yes.”

Luca’s voice dropped.

“Did you edit the recording?”

Vittorio exhaled.

“I authorized it.”

Emma closed her eyes.

Belini looked at him.

“You told me it was real.”

“It was his voice.”

“Not his meaning.”

Vittorio ignored her.

Luca stepped closer.

“Why Belini?”

“The Vescari alliance protected our ports.”

“So you traded my life for contracts.”

“I protected the family.”

Luca almost smiled.

There it was.

The phrase everyone used before hurting someone.

Vittorio continued.

“You think this is simple because now you have four boys with your face.”

“I think it became simple when you lied.”

“You would have married Emma.”

“Yes.”

“You would have pulled her into our world.”

“That was my decision.”

“You would have made those boys targets.”

“That was our decision.”

Emma looked at Luca.

Our.

Again.

Vittorio’s expression changed.

“Three share your blood type.”

Luca stared at him.

“So you made the call.”

“Yes.”

Emma’s hands curled.

“Why?”

“To slow you down.”

“With a medically meaningless fact?”

“To make you ask questions before emotion made decisions.”

Luca stepped closer.

“You don’t get to teach me caution after six years of lies.”

Vittorio’s jaw tightened.

Then Marco entered.

He carried a sealed laboratory envelope.

The DNA results.

Everyone looked at it.

Luca did not open it.

He handed it to Emma.

Her eyes filled.

“You should.”

“No.”

“Luca.”

“You were doubted first.”

She opened the envelope.

Read.

Then read again.

Her shoulders shook once.

Luca waited.

Emma looked at Vittorio.

“All four.”

Silence.

“All four boys are Luca’s.”

Vittorio closed his eyes.

Not surprised.

Luca saw that.

“You already knew.”

Vittorio opened his eyes.

“Yes.”

Emma stared.

“You knew?”

“I had testing done years ago.”

Luca’s voice became dangerously calm.

“And you still made that call.”

“Yes.”

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That was the moment Luca stopped seeing his father as a man who had made one terrible decision.

He saw a man still making it.