Chapter 5 - the footage in the vault
"Take him down to the holding vaults beneath the garage," Adrian commanded coldly, his voice echoing through the suite as four loyal guards rushed forward, pinning Dante in heavy iron cuffs and dragging the traitor out of the room.
Titan released his grip, trotting back over to Sophia, sitting beside her pink floral dress and licking her small hand to comfort her.
Elena scrambled over on her knees, pulling Sophia into her arms, weeping uncontrollably with relief. "Oh baby... are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm okay, Mommy," Sophia whispered, wiping her mother's tears with her little hand. "Titan saved us."
Adrian stepped over to the mother and child. He knelt down gracefully, his broad frame towering over them, his dark eyes looking into Elena's pale face with deep, unshakeable intensity.
"You knew my brother, didn't you, Elena?" Adrian asked softly.
Elena froze, her breath catching in her throat. She looked up into Adrian's bearded face, seeing the exact dark eyes of the man she had loved six years ago.
"How... how do you know?" Elena stammered, tears glistening on her eyelashes.
Adrian reached out, pulling the small silver locket from Titan's spiked collar—the locket Sophia had unlatched earlier. He popped the rear panel open with his thumb.
Inside was an inscription written in fine, elegant engraving: To Elena, my heart forever — Julian Moretti.
"Julian was my younger brother," Adrian murmured, his deep voice thick with a sudden, heavy grief. "He disappeared six years ago during the syndicate war in Venice. We buried an empty casket."
Elena pulled a folded, yellowed envelope from beneath her white maid apron, holding it out to Adrian with trembling hands.
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"Julian didn't die in Venice, Mr. Moretti," Elena revealed softly. "He died in a private hospital in Milwaukee four years ago... and before he passed, he wrote this letter for you."
Adrian took the letter, his broad fingers trembling slightly as he broke the aged red wax seal.
