Chapter 17 - THE SON WHO CAME HOME
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The gunshot struck the wooden pew behind Rocco.
He pulled Sophia and Elena to the floor as Dominic drew his weapon and rushed toward the side entrance.
A second shot echoed outside.
Then silence.
Rocco's guards secured the chapel within minutes, but the shooter had escaped through the maintenance road. They found only a discarded rifle and a vehicle with stolen plates.
Dominic returned with blood running down his sleeve.
“You're hurt,” Rocco said.
“It's nothing.”
“Sit down.”
The bullet had grazed Dominic's arm. Dr. Reed arrived to treat him, and the chapel was sealed until investigators could collect the evidence.
Rocco turned back to Dominic.
“You said Matteo is alive.”
Dominic nodded.
“I was told he had been adopted under a different identity. I thought the arrangement was temporary, but Victor threatened to expose my involvement if I tried to interfere.”
“You let me bury my son.”
“I thought he was safer away from you.”
Rocco's face hardened.
“You don't get to decide what a father can survive.”
Dominic lowered his head.
“I know.”
The following morning, a private investigator located Gabriel Bennett, a twenty-six-year-old emergency physician living in Seattle.
His adoption records were sealed. His birth certificate listed a different date, and his biological parents were unknown.
But a photograph taken at a childhood clinic showed a small silver bracelet bearing the same identification number as Matteo's original record.
Rocco stared at the photograph.
“Bring him here.”
The investigator warned that Gabriel might refuse.
“Then ask him to meet me somewhere neutral.”
Three days later, Gabriel arrived at a private hotel suite under heavy security. He was tall, dark-haired, and carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to making decisions under pressure.
He looked at Rocco without recognition.
“Mr. Moretti?”
“Yes.”
“You said you had information about my birth.”
Rocco placed the photograph of the twins on the table.
Gabriel studied it.
“Who are these babies?”
“You and your brother.”
Gabriel's expression changed.
“I was adopted.”
“You were separated from your twin.”
“That's impossible. My adoption records say I was abandoned.”
“They were falsified.”
Gabriel looked toward the window.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he asked the question Rocco had feared.
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn't. Not yet.”
Rocco pushed a sealed DNA report across the table.
“Read it. Verify it independently. Then decide.”
Gabriel opened the report.
The genetic results established a direct biological relationship between him and the archived Moretti family samples. A second comparison confirmed that he was Rocco's son.
Gabriel's hands trembled.
“You knew I existed?”
“No.”
“Did you look for me?”
Rocco swallowed.
“I didn't know there was anyone to look for.”
Gabriel laughed bitterly.
“So you were grieving a dead child while I grew up believing nobody wanted me.”
Rocco had no defense.
“Yes.”
Gabriel stood.
“I need time.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
Gabriel moved toward the door, then stopped.
“Who is the baby?”
Rocco told him about Leo, the abandoned infant, and the evidence connecting the child to Isabella Hart.
Gabriel's expression grew serious.
“I've seen that name before.”
“Where?”
“In my adoption file. There was a note that my biological mother had tried to contact the agency.”
Rocco's pulse quickened.
“What did it say?”
May you like
Gabriel looked at him.
“She was alive when the record was created.”
