Chapter 7 - The Priest at Gate Nine

They found Father Luca at Gate Nine.

One suitcase.

No collar.

Just a dark coat.

Khloe stopped in front of him.

“You’re my uncle.”

He closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

“That is a terrible way to answer.”

“I know.”

“You knew who I was.”

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

“Since your first week at the restaurant.”

Khloe stared.

“You watched me serve tables.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because Carlo watches me.”

She laughed bitterly.

“Everyone keeps solving danger with silence.”

Luca nodded.

“Yes.”

“Did it work?”

“No.”

That answer stopped her.

Enzo stood several feet away.

He let Khloe lead.

She asked:

“Did Victor kill my mother?”

Luca’s eyes filled.

“Yes.”

“On Carlo’s order.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have proof?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“In the suitcase.”

Enzo’s security moved closer.

Luca opened it.

Inside:

Three missing ledger pages.

Photographs.

A signed statement.

A small audio tape.

Khloe took the photographs.

Her mother.

Rosa.

Meeting Enzo’s father.

Antonio.

Then Victor.

Then Carlo.

Luca said:

“Your mother knew Carlo ordered the port murders.”

Khloe looked at Enzo.

“What port murders?”

Enzo answered.

“Four dock workers found a container they were not supposed to open.”

“What was inside?”

“Weapons.”

“Carlo’s?”

“Yes.”

Luca continued.

“Rosa translated a conversation in which Carlo ordered the four men removed.”

Khloe’s jaw tightened.

“And Antonio wanted to expose him.”

“Yes.”

“Until Carlo threatened Enzo.”

Luca nodded.

Enzo looked away.

Khloe asked:

“Did my father know all of this?”

“Eventually.”

“Why marry my mother if he knew?”

Luca almost smiled.

“Because he loved her.”

Simple.

No conspiracy.

Just that.

Khloe’s eyes filled.

Luca continued.

“Your father helped create the storage unit.”

“And the ledger.”

“Yes.”

“He lied on the tape.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To protect Antonio’s name.”

Enzo stared.

“My father.”

“Yes.”

Khloe looked at Luca.

“He knew Antonio betrayed her.”

“Yes.”

“And still protected him.”

“Because Rosa asked him to.”

Silence.

Enzo frowned.

“Why?”

Luca looked at him.

“Because your father came back.”

Enzo’s expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

“Years later.”

“How many?”

“Ten.”

Antonio found Rosa in Ohio.

Apologized.

Told her the full truth.

Offered to testify.

Khloe whispered:

“My mother forgave him.”

Luca shook his head.

“No.”

“She accepted his help.”

Different.

Important.

Luca continued.

“They built a new case together.”

Enzo stared.

“My father never told me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because Carlo still had people around you.”

Enzo laughed softly.

“My entire childhood was a hostage negotiation I did not know existed.”

Luca looked at him.

“Yes.”

Khloe asked:

“What happened to the new case?”

Luca’s face changed.

“Victor found out.”

“And killed my mother.”

“Yes.”

“What about Antonio?”

Luca looked at Enzo.

“He died six years ago.”

Enzo frowned.

“Cancer.”

Luca did not answer.

Enzo’s face changed.

“No.”

Luca whispered:

“Poison.”

Silence.

Enzo stepped closer.

“My father had cancer.”

“He did.”

“So?”

“Victor accelerated it.”

“How?”

“Medication.”

Enzo stared.

“Who ordered it?”

Luca looked at the ledger page.

“Carlo.”

Enzo’s hands curled.

Khloe said:

“Proof?”

Luca handed him the signed statement.

A hospice nurse.

Payment records.

Victor’s signature.

Carlo’s authorization code.

Enzo’s face went empty.

Khloe watched him absorb two truths at once.

His father betrayed Rosa.

Then tried to repair it.

Then was killed for trying.

Enzo asked:

“Why are you leaving?”

Luca looked at Khloe.

“Because Victor called me.”

“What did he say?”

“That if I gave you the pages, someone would die.”

“Who?”

Luca’s eyes moved toward Enzo.

“Khloe.”

She laughed once.

Of course.

Enzo’s voice hardened.

“You were going to disappear.”

“Yes.”

“To protect her.”

“Yes.”

Khloe shook her head.

“No.”

Luca looked at her.

“No more.”

She took the missing pages.

“If someone wants me because of these, they already know I exist.”

Luca stared.

Khloe continued.

“You leaving does not erase me.”

No answer.

Enzo looked at her.

Then nodded.

Luca’s phone rang.

Unknown number.

Everyone froze.

He answered on speaker.

Victor Dane.

“You missed the bus.”

Luca said nothing.

Victor continued.

“Put Enzo on.”

Enzo took the phone.

“Victor.”

“Boss.”

Enzo’s voice was calm.

“Where are you?”

“At the Onyx Room.”

Khloe frowned.

Victor laughed.

“You should come back.”

“Why?”

“Because Carlo is here.”

Silence.

Enzo looked at Luca.

Victor continued.

“And he has Sal.”

Enzo’s eyes narrowed.

“Why should I care?”

Victor answered:

“Because Sal finally remembered where Rosa hid the original recording.”

Khloe stared.

“What recording?”

Victor heard her.

“Rosa.”

A pause.

“The recording she made the night Carlo ordered your mother’s death.”

Khloe’s face went cold.

Victor continued.

“Come alone.”

Enzo said:

“No.”

Victor laughed.

Then Enzo added:

“She’s coming too.”

Khloe looked at him.

Victor stopped laughing.

Enzo smiled.

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