Chapter 13 - the confrontation begins
Gabriel’s grip tightened on the phone receiver, his gray-blue eyes instantly turning to steel.
"Who is this?" Gabriel demanded quietly.
"My name is Contessa Elena Vance," the woman replied smoothly over the clear line. "I am the chief representative of the Council of Rome. Your father was a dear friend of mine thirty years ago."
"My father is dead, Contessa," Gabriel said. "And his empire stays in New York."
"Your father’s empire was built on Council capital, Gabriel," the Contessa corrected softly, a faint, chilling smile audible in her tone. "Under clause four of the 1996 charter, now that Grace Reed-Caruso has been officially named as an heir to the port deal, her legal guardianship must be ratified by the Council in person."
"She doesn't need ratification from Rome," Gabriel stated coldly. "She has my protection."
"She has your protection in New York, Don Gabriel," the Contessa replied. "But if you refuse to bring the child and the Master Crest key to our summit in Paris next week, the Council will declare the Caruso bloodline void and seize every asset tied to account 7704-B."
Gabriel looked across the room at Grace, who was sleeping peacefully in her crib, then at Hannah, who was watching him with wide, anxious eyes.
"If anyone from your Council steps foot in New York," Gabriel warned, his deep voice carrying absolute, lethal authority, "I will eliminate them on the tarmac."
"We don't need to come to New York, Gabriel," the Contessa chuckled softly. "Check the small wooden box inside your late brother's archives. File number nine."
The line went dead with a soft click.
Gabriel hung up the phone. He stood up, walked straight to Julian’s archival box on the shelf, and pulled out file number nine.
Inside was an official Italian adoption decree dated twenty-seven years ago—stamped with the seal of the City of Rome.
Gabriel scanned the text rapidly, his breath catching in his chest.
The document listed the adoption of a three-year-old boy named Julian Caruso.
May you like
Gabriel’s hands trembled slightly as he stared at the paper.
Julian was not his biological brother. Julian had been adopted from Rome by Gabriel's father twenty-seven years ago.
