Chapter 20
“Lucian had a heart condition.”
Nico’s brow furrowed.
“I was told he had pneumonia.”
“You were told many things.”
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Because Matteo said you were too young to understand, and because I believed that if I obeyed him, I could protect both of you.”
Her gaze moved to Nico.
“I was wrong.”
She explained that Lucian had been taken to a private clinic after collapsing at home.
The doctors had warned that the child needed an operation, but Matteo refused to allow it.
He believed the expense would expose the family’s finances and that Lucian’s illness would make him appear weak to the men who depended upon him.
Celia had tried to take both boys and leave.
Matteo had discovered the plan.
The night before the operation, Lucian disappeared from the clinic.
Celia had been told he died during the transfer.
But she never saw his body, never received a medical report, and never believed the story.
“He had arranged for Lucian to be moved elsewhere,” she said.
“Where?”
“I did not know.”
Nico’s fingers curled at his sides.
“Then how did you know he lived?”
“Because your mother found him.”
Norah’s breath caught.
“My mother?”
Celia nodded.
“Sofia had been working with Elias Varga for years.”
“They knew your family?”
“They knew what Matteo was doing.”
The old records in the ledger suddenly made sense.
The returned payments.
The protected beneficiaries.
The properties transferred into names that belonged to people no one in the Moretti family would think to search for.
Sofia had not merely been running a catering business.
She had been helping people escape the reach of men who believed wealth gave them ownership of other lives.
“Elias was once my father’s accountant,” Nico said.
“He was also the only person inside the organization willing to keep records of what Matteo concealed.”
Celia’s voice softened.
“He helped Sofia find Lucian.”
“Where was he?”
“In a clinic outside the city.”
“Why was he there?”
“Because Matteo had arranged for him to be registered under another name.”
Nico turned toward Norah.
“Your mother found my brother.”
Norah nodded slowly.
“She raised him?”
“Not in the way you think,” Celia said.
“She could not take both of you without drawing attention.”
“So she took one.”
“She took you,” Celia replied.
Norah felt the room tilt.
“But I am not Lucian.”
“No.”
“Then why does the ledger say she protected your son?”