Chapter 3 - The Name Her Mother Buried
Elena pulled her hand away.
“My father died in a car accident.”
“Michael Vance did.”
“You just said—”
“Gabriel Valenti disappeared before you were born.”
Elena stared at him.
“You're telling me my entire life is a lie.”
“Parts of it.”
“That isn't better.”
“No.”
“Who killed him?”
Dante looked toward Marco.
“Bring it.”
Marco placed an old leather folder on the table.
Inside were photographs.
Letters.
Bank statements.
A handwritten note.
Elena recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her mother's.
She read the first line.
If anything happens to me, protect Elena.
Her knees weakened.
Dante pulled out a chair.
“Sit.”
“Don't tell me what to do.”
“Then fall dramatically. But I'd prefer the chair.”
Elena glared at him.
Then sat.
Dante almost smiled.
She continued reading.
Gabriel discovered money being moved through Valenti Shipping. Millions disappearing into accounts connected to Carlo Vanel.
Elena looked up.
“Vanel.”
“My uncle.”
“What happened to him?”
“He's still alive.”
Her face changed.
Dante continued.
“Gabriel threatened to expose him.”
“And your uncle killed him.”
“I believe so.”
“You believe?”
“I don't execute people based on belief.”
The cold simplicity of the statement reminded Elena exactly who she was speaking to.
“You say that like it's reasonable.”
“In my world, restraint is considered progress.”
She looked back at the papers.
“Why would Greg watch me?”
“Carlo learned I was searching for Sofia's daughter.”
“And?”
“He assumed you had the evidence.”
“I didn't even know it existed.”
“Carlo didn't know that.”
Elena suddenly remembered Greg grabbing her arm.
His questions.
His constant interest in her schedule.
“That's why he always wanted to know when I was leaving.”
Dante nodded.
Her phone buzzed.
A text.
GREG: YOU LEFT YOUR BAG. COME BACK ALONE.
Dante saw her expression.
“What?”
She showed him.
Marco cursed.
Dante held out his hand.
“Phone.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“You promised not to control me.”
His jaw tightened.
“This isn't control. This is security.”
“Then ask.”
A long pause.
Dante exhaled.
“May I see your phone?”
She handed it over.
Marco looked like he'd just witnessed someone train a lion.
Dante read the message.
“Your bag isn't there.”
“How do you know?”
“I had someone collect it.”
Elena stared.
“You did what?”
“I anticipated Greg might use it.”
“You went through my things?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Marco did.”
Marco cleared his throat.
“Boss.”
Elena glared at both men.
“Unbelievable.”
Then Dante's phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes.”
His expression changed.
“When?”
Marco straightened.
Dante's voice became dangerous.
“Lock down the hospital.”
Elena stood.
“What happened?”
Dante ended the call.
“Someone asked the nurses what room Toby is in.”
Her face went white.
“Take me there.”
“Elena—”
“Now.”
Twenty-five minutes later, they entered NYU Langone through a private entrance.
Elena rushed toward Toby's room.
The boy was awake.
“Elena!”
She hugged him carefully.
“Hey, troublemaker.”
Toby looked past her.
“Who's Batman?”
Dante stopped.
Elena blinked.
“What?”
Toby pointed.
“Him.”
Dante looked down at his black suit.
“Batman?”
“You've got scary guys following you.”
Marco coughed to hide a laugh.
Dante walked closer.
“I'm Dante.”
Toby studied him.
“Are you my sister's boyfriend?”
“No,” Elena and Dante said simultaneously.
Toby grinned.
“Okay.”
Elena kissed his forehead.
“How do you feel?”
“Like everybody keeps poking me.”
“I'll tell them to stop.”
“The doctors?”
“Yes.”
“You can't boss doctors around.”
Dante quietly said, “You'd be surprised.”
Elena shot him a look.
Toby smiled.
“I like Batman.”
Then a nurse entered.
“Ms. Vance?”
“Yes?”
“The surgeon is ready to speak with you.”
Elena followed her into the hallway.
Dante remained with Toby.
The surgeon explained the procedure.
The risks.
The timeline.
Elena listened until her fear became a knot beneath her ribs.
“Can you save him?”
“We have an excellent chance.”
When she returned, Toby was showing Dante a deck of cards.
“You cheated,” Dante said.
“I did not.”
“You have three aces.”
“Maybe I'm lucky.”
“You're ten.”
“Exactly.”
Elena stopped in the doorway.
Dante Vanel—the man half of New York feared—was sitting beside her little brother arguing about cards.
Toby looked at her.
“Elena?”
“Yeah?”
“Dante said he'll be here when I wake up.”
Elena looked at Dante.
“You said that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dante met her eyes.
“Because I keep promises.”
A man approached at the end of the hallway.
Marco immediately moved between them.
The stranger lifted both hands.
“Easy.”
He was in his sixties.
Expensive suit.
Silver hair.
And eyes almost identical to Dante's.
Dante stood.
“Carlo.”
Elena froze.
Carlo Vanel smiled at her.
“So.”
His gaze moved across her face.
“Sofia's daughter finally came out of hiding.”
Dante stepped forward.
“You have ten seconds to explain why you're in this hospital.”
Carlo smiled.
“I came to warn you.”
“About what?”
Carlo looked at Elena.
“Your mother lied to you.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
“About what?”
Carlo's smile disappeared.
May you like
“About Dante.”
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