Chapter 9: The Brother’s Demand
Rico Moretti had never been afraid of walking into danger.
That was the part people misunderstood.
They thought men like him survived because they didn’t fear anything.
The truth was simpler.
They survived because they knew exactly what they were afraid of.
And Rico knew.
His fear was asleep upstairs.
His fear had messy brown hair.
His fear called for warm milk.
His fear had spent the evening holding a waitress’s finger because he didn’t know how to ask his father for comfort.
Leo.
That was why the photograph bothered him.
Not because Matteo had found him.
Because Matteo had watched.
He had been close.
Close enough to take a picture.
Close enough to hurt him.
“Where is he?””
Dante looked at Rico.
“Matteo?””
“Yes.””
“We’re still tracking.””
Rico grabbed his jacket.
“No.””
Dante immediately stopped him.
“Sir.””
“I’m going.””
“That’s exactly what he wants.””
Rico turned.
Dante rarely challenged him.
“Explain.””
“He knows you’ll come angry.””
“I am angry.””
“Yes.””
Dante stepped closer.
“And that makes you predictable.””
The room went silent.
Even Clara looked surprised.
But Rico didn’t get angry.
Because Dante was right.
Matteo knew him.
Better than most enemies.
Maybe better than family should.
Rico looked at the photograph again.
Then at Leo sleeping.
“What does he want?””
Sarah answered quietly.
“Control.””
Everyone looked at her.
She continued.
“Matteo doesn’t just want the assets.””
“What else?””
Sarah swallowed.
“He wants you to lose.””
Rico frowned.
“He wants to prove Elena chose the wrong man.””
Clara felt something shift.
This wasn’t about money.
It was personal.
Matteo wanted Rico broken.
And the easiest way to break him was through the person he loved most.
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Rico looked at the number.
Unknown.
He answered.
“Matteo.””
A laugh came through the speaker.
“Still answering your own calls.””
Rico’s grip tightened.
“Where is my son?””
“You sound angry.””
“Where.””
Matteo sighed.
“You always rush.””
“You have five seconds.””
“You know, Elena hated that about you.””
Rico went silent.
“Don’t say her name.””
“Why?””
Matteo’s voice softened.
“She was the only person who ever saw you clearly.””
Rico looked away.
“What do you want?””
“A conversation.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
A pause.
“Because you need to hear the truth.””
Rico’s eyes narrowed.
“What truth?””
“The truth that Elena never trusted you.””
The words hit.
Hard.
Clara saw it.
Even after everything.
Even after the threats.
That sentence hurt him most.
Matteo continued.
“She knew you were dangerous.””
Rico said nothing.
“She knew your enemies would eventually reach your family.””
“Where is Leo?””
“She knew you would fail him.””
The room went still.
Then Rico spoke.
“Where is my son?””
Matteo sighed.
“There you are.””
“What?””
“The man I remember.””
A pause.
“Not the husband.””
“Not the father.””
“The fighter.””
Rico’s expression changed.
“Matteo.””
“You want Leo back?””
“Yes.””
“Then come alone.””
Dante immediately shook his head.
Rico ignored him.
“Where?””
Matteo gave an address.
Clara recognized it.
An abandoned warehouse near the waterfront.
Her stomach tightened.
“It’s a trap.””
Rico looked at her.
“I know.””
“Then don’t go.””
He looked upstairs.
At Leo.
“I have to.””
Clara stepped closer.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
She took a breath.
“You don’t.””
Rico stared.
“He has my son.””
“And he wants you angry.””
“He has my son.””
“I know.””
Her voice softened.
“But Leo doesn’t need a man who walks into a trap.””
Rico looked at her.
“He needs his father.””
“Yes.””
A pause.
“He needs you alive.””
The words stopped him.
Because nobody had said that.
Not once.
Not his employees.
Not his family.
Not even himself.
Rico looked at Dante.
“Keep them safe.””
Dante nodded.
Then Clara said:
“I’m coming.””
“No.””
The answer was immediate.
“I’m not asking.””
“You’re not going.””
“Why?””
“Because I can’t protect you.””
Clara looked at him.
“Then don’t.””
He frowned.
“What?””
“Trust me.””
The room went silent.
Trust.
The one thing Rico Moretti had almost lost completely.
Clara continued.
“Matteo knows how you think.””
She looked at the photo.
“He expects you to come in angry.””
Then she looked at Rico.
“So don’t.””
Rico studied her.
“You think you know him?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“But I know you.””
That surprised him.
“You’ve known me for one night.””
“Yes.””
A small pause.
“And I already know you love your son more than you love winning.””
Rico looked away.
Because she had just said something nobody else knew.
The old Rico wanted revenge.
The father wanted Leo.
Only one could win.
An hour later, Rico stood outside the warehouse.
The wind from the river cut through his coat.
Dante waited in the car.
Clara sat beside him.
“You’re sure?””
Rico looked at her.
“No.””
The honesty surprised her.
Then he looked toward the building.
“But I’m going anyway.””
The warehouse door opened.
A figure stepped into the light.
Matteo.
He smiled.
“Brother.””
Rico walked forward.
“Where is my son?””
Matteo tilted his head.
“You don’t even want to talk?””
“No.””
“Still impatient.””
Rico stopped.
Then Matteo said something that made him freeze.
Something that changed the entire night.
“Before you see Leo…”
A pause.
“You should know your son wasn’t the only thing Elena left behind.””
Rico stared.
“What does that mean?””
Matteo smiled.
“It means your wife had another secret.””
And behind him, a small voice called out.
“Daddy?””
Rico’s blood went cold.
Because Leo was not alone.
A woman stepped into view.
And Rico recognized her.
May you like
Elena’s sister.
The woman everyone believed had died years ago.
