Chapter 26 - The Last Debt of Antonio Duca
Marriage did not make Roman less dangerous.
It made his schedule more annoying.
Clara discovered this during their third week.
“You have a meeting at seven.”
Roman remained in bed.
“No.”
“You scheduled it.”
“I was unmarried then.”
“That was three weeks ago.”
“A different life.”
Clara laughed.
Peace suited him badly.
But it suited them.
Then Adrian arrived with Sofia’s final letter.
Catherine had found it hidden inside the lining of the baby blanket.
Roman opened it at breakfast.
There was only one page.
Roman,
If you ever learn the truth, there is one debt I need you to pay.
Not to me.
To Elias.
Your father imprisoned him in an abandoned customs building after discovering he copied the ledger.
I helped Elias escape, but he was badly injured.
I never learned whether he survived.
If he did, he deserves to know Adrian lived.
If he did not, find where he rests.
Do not let a man who risked everything for truth disappear without a name.
Roman folded the letter carefully.
Adrian looked at him.
“We find him.”
Roman nodded.
Their search led to Maine.
A fisherman remembered an injured man arriving twenty-five years ago under the name Eli Vale.
Hospital records revealed he survived.
Then disappeared again.
A marriage certificate surfaced.
Elias Vane had married a nurse.
A daughter was listed as next of kin.
Lucia Vane.
Daniel Kessler’s mother.
Clara stared at the file.
“Daniel believed Elias died because of Antonio.”
Roman nodded.
“But Elias lived.”
“For how long?”
Marcus found the answer.
Seventeen more years.
Elias died peacefully.
Not murdered.
Not hunted.
But he had never contacted Lucia.
Why?
The answer came from a letter stored with his will.
My daughter,
I stayed away because Arthur Kessler threatened you.
Your husband’s family discovered what I knew.
They promised that if I returned, they would kill you and Daniel.
So I became dead while still breathing.
Clara closed her eyes.
Daniel had spent his whole life hating the wrong family for his grandfather’s disappearance.
Not entirely wrong.
Antonio had tortured Elias.
But Arthur Kessler had forced his permanent exile.
Roman sat silently.
Adrian looked toward him.
“We have to tell Daniel.”
“He won’t believe it.”
“Then show him.”
Daniel awaited trial in federal custody.
Rhodes arranged the meeting.
When Roman entered the interview room, Daniel laughed.
“Visiting your trophy?”
Roman placed Elias’s letter on the table.
Daniel did not touch it.
“What is that?”
“Your grandfather’s handwriting.”
Daniel’s smile vanished.
He read.
Once.
Twice.
By the third paragraph, his hands shook.
“No.”
Roman said nothing.
“My mother said Antonio killed him.”
“My father nearly did.”
Daniel looked up.
“But Arthur finished the job.”
Daniel pushed away from the table.
“No.”
Roman remained seated.
“I spent years lying to myself about my father.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Do not compare us.”
“I’m not.”
Roman stood.
“I learned the truth and decided what to do next.”
He nodded toward the letter.
“Now you get the same choice.”
Roman left.
Outside, Clara waited.
“What happened?”
“He read it.”
“And?”
Roman looked toward the locked door.
“He looked like me.”
Clara understood.
Not physically.
Like Roman when the mythology of his father collapsed.
A man discovering hatred was easier than grief.
Hours later, Rhodes called.
Daniel wanted to cooperate fully.
All remaining accounts.
Officials.
Private operatives.
Everything.
The war was finally devouring its own secrets.
But Daniel made one request.
He wanted to speak with Adrian.
Alone.
Roman immediately said no.
May you like
Adrian immediately said yes.
And once again, the brothers prepared to argue.
