Chapter 12 - the bloodline logs
An hour later, Victor sat alone in the subterranean vault beneath his mansion.
On the heavy steel table lay his father’s original leather-bound ledger from thirty years ago, alongside the reclaimed gold signet ring.
Victor pressed the signet ring against the wax seal on the ledger's spine. The internal mechanism clicked, and the heavy book sprang open.
Victor flipped through the yellowed pages, stopping at an entry stamped with the official Moretti seal from seven years ago:
October 14 — St. Jude's Hospital, Chicago. Twin birth recorded under secrecy protocol. Infant A (Female - Maya) returned to New York. Infant B (Male - Leo) placed under guardianship of Vincent Moretti in Paris.
Victor’s breath hitched in his chest. "Paris?"
He looked closer at the document. Attached to the page was an original birth certificate bearing his late wife Elena's signature, alongside a French residence permit issued seven years ago.
Elena hadn't been killed, and she hadn't been kidnapped. She had fled to Europe seven years ago with his infant son to keep the boy out of the Chicago syndicate's reach.
Footsteps echoed down the vault stairs. Marco walked in, holding a encrypted satellite phone.
"Don Victor," Marco said, his voice tight. "We just intercepted a private flight manifest departing JFK airport for Paris at noon today."
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"Who booked the flight?" Victor asked, standing up.
"Sofia," Marco revealed. "She used her private passport. She’s going to meet Elena."
