Chapter 8 - The Boy Paul Planned to Inherit Through

Paul called at 10:12 a.m.

Matteo answered.

No greeting.

“Where is Luca?”

Paul laughed.

“So you read the trust.”

“Where is he?”

“Safe.”

Matteo closed his eyes.

That word.

Again.

Paul continued.

“The sale closes at four.”

“No.”

“Then your brother becomes an orphan.”

Antonio grabbed the phone.

“You touch him—”

Paul hung up.

Silence.

Matteo looked at Antonio.

“My brother.”

The word felt strange.

Antonio looked broken.

“I should have told you.”

“Yes.”

“I thought distance kept him safe.”

“Yes.”

“I was wrong.”

“Yes.”

No comfort.

Not yet.

Agent Cole traced the call.

Industrial district.

Romano Logistics warehouse.

Matteo stared.

“My warehouse.”

Paul was hiding inside company property.

Again.

Always inside Matteo’s life.

Federal agents prepared a raid.

Matteo refused to stay behind.

Agent Cole argued.

He ignored her.

So did Antonio.

Sofia came too.

Frank said:

“I am seventy-eight.

Someone should make reasonable choices.”

Then followed anyway.

Valentina wanted to come.

Matteo looked at her.

“No.”

She flinched.

Then nodded.

Good.

Henry remained with investigators.

He gave them access codes.

Warehouse 12.

Paul’s old private storage.

The raid began at noon.

Agents entered from loading docks.

Matteo and Antonio followed behind the second team.

Inside:

Empty pallets.

Old vehicles.

Office cages.

Then a voice:

“Dad?”

Antonio stopped.

Luca.

Thin boy.

Dark hair.

Thirteen.

Tied to a chair in the office above.

Paul stood behind him.

Gun.

Matteo stared.

The boy looked like Antonio.

And a little like him.

Paul smiled.

“Family reunion.”

Antonio whispered:

“Luca.”

The boy started crying.

“Dad.”

Matteo’s face hardened.

Paul looked at him.

“You finally get to be the older brother.”

Matteo stared.

“Let him go.”

“Sign the sale.”

“No.”

Paul smiled.

“You always were stubborn.”

“You taught me.”

Paul’s smile faded.

Matteo continued.

“You forged emails.

Forged transfers.

Used my signature.

Used Valentina’s.

Tried to own my brother through a trust.”

Paul shrugged.

“Family business.”

Antonio moved.

Paul pressed the gun closer to Luca.

“No.”

Antonio stopped.

Matteo looked at Luca.

“You know who I am?”

The boy shook his head.

Paul laughed.

“Your famous brother never visited.”

Matteo ignored him.

“I’m Matteo.”

Luca stared.

“My brother?”

“Yes.”

Paul smiled.

“Touching.”

Matteo kept looking at Luca.

“Do you trust your dad?”

The boy looked at Antonio.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Matteo looked at Paul.

“Do you trust him?”

Luca shook his head.

“No.”

Paul frowned.

Matteo almost smiled.

“Smart.”

Then Frank’s voice sounded over the warehouse intercom.

“Paul.”

Paul froze.

Everyone looked up.

Frank continued.

“I still know the old lift controls.”

Suddenly the warehouse lights died.

Paul shouted.

Emergency lights flashed.

Antonio moved.

Agent Cole’s team breached the office.

Matteo grabbed Luca.

Gunshot.

Glass shattered.

Paul ran through a side door.

Agents followed.

Antonio held Luca.

The boy clung to him.

Matteo looked away.

Not because he was jealous.

Because it hurt to see his father know how to hold a son.

Then Luca looked at him.

“Are you really my brother?”

Matteo nodded.

“Yes.”

Luca wiped his face.

“Do you have the car?”

Matteo frowned.

“What car?”

“The black Mercedes.”

Everyone stared.

Luca continued.

“Dad showed me pictures.”

Antonio looked embarrassed.

Matteo almost laughed.

“Yes.”

Luca smiled.

For one second, the warehouse felt normal.

Then Agent Cole returned.

“Paul escaped.”

Matteo’s face hardened.

“How?”

“Old freight tunnel.”

Frank swore quietly.

Matteo looked at Antonio.

“Where does it lead?”

Antonio answered:

“The river yard.”

Sofia went pale.

“The original explosion site.”

Matteo understood.

Paul was going back to where everything started.

And Agent Cole’s phone rang.

She answered.

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Then looked at Matteo.

“Victor Hale just arrived there too.”