Chapter 2

"What?" Victor went completely limp and collapsed onto the sofa.

Isabella turned pale with fright, grabbing Victor's hand, trembling. "Do something! If our Marco really goes there, he's dead."

Victor had no choice but to look back at Lucas and soften his tone. "Lucas, I was a bit harsh just now, but this situation involves the survival of the entire Moretti family. I hope you can help us..."

Lucas glanced at him, too tired to keep going back and forth. "I'll help, but you have to tell me how my grandfather died."

Victor's expression stiffened for a moment, then he smiled again. "Your grandfather died of a heart attack..."

"That's a lie!" Lucas clenched his fists, his face hard. "I lived with my grandfather for over ten years. You think I wouldn't know if he had a heart condition?"

He glanced over at Marco and let out a cold laugh. "If you don't want to talk, fine. Let your precious son go pay for it."

Isabella immediately lost it. She grabbed Victor's arm and cried out, "What are you waiting for? Just tell him! Do you really want Marco to go die?"

Seeing that Lucas wasn't going to back down, Victor let out a long sigh and finally told the truth. "Your grandfather came to Harmony City last month. He kept saying he needed to find a doctor named Morris Gallant — said he wanted to get you treated."

Lucas's fingers tightened slightly.

Treated? Had his grandfather come to Harmony City to find a way to deal with Pan's bloodline on his behalf?

"Where is this doctor now?" Lucas asked, his eyes turning red.

"How would I know? I'm busy every day — I don't have time to help him track down a doctor. So I just..." Victor's eyes started to shift as he spoke.

"Say it!" Lucas demanded.

"So I just gave him a random hospital address and told him to go find the doctor himself. He left and didn't come back that day. The next day, the police found his body on the outskirts of the city."

Lucas clenched his fists, his face twisting with rage. "You got my grandfather killed?"

"It wasn't me!" Victor denied it immediately. "He was my father, too. No matter how cold-hearted you think I am, I wouldn't kill my own father... I never understood why he risked everything back then to protect you, some kid with no clear background. But he was still my dad!"

Lucas stared into Victor's eyes and could tell he wasn't lying this time.

Learning the truth about Alfredo's death only made the pain worse.

He had a feeling — Morris had something to do with Alfredo's death.

"Oh, right. Your grandfather left something behind before he died," Victor said suddenly.

"What is it?" Lucas asked quickly.

Victor was about to turn and get it when Isabella stopped him. Her eyes shifted, and a small smile crept onto her lips. "Let's make a deal. You go to the Colombo family, and we'll hand it over."

Lucas was quiet for a few seconds, then said quietly, "Give it to me first. Then I'll agree."

Victor and Isabella looked at each other, both seeing the same deep frustration in the other's eyes.

Lucas was a lot harder to deal with than they'd expected.

In the end, Victor gave in and nodded at Isabella.

Isabella went upstairs. A few minutes later, she came back down holding a brown kraft paper envelope.

She handed it to Lucas.

Lucas took it but didn't open it right away. He felt the thickness first.

The envelope was stuffed full — it seemed like there was more than one thing inside.

Lucas tore it open and poured the contents into his palm.

Two things.

A silver cross, roughly made, like it had been crafted by hand.

And a badge.

Bronze, about the size of a coin, with a complex design engraved on it.

Lucas looked closely. It looked like a goat's head, but the horns weren't ordinary — they were twisted into a strange shape, like some kind of ancient symbol.

The moment he made out the design, a wave of intense discomfort rose from deep inside him. His temples throbbed, and his ears began to ring.

Lucas threw the badge to the floor and gasped for air.

Victor and Isabella both froze, clearly not expecting that reaction.

Marco leaned forward from the sofa and looked curiously at the badge on the floor. His eyes suddenly went wide.

"I've seen that symbol before!" Marco said loudly. "I saw it in the Colombo family's daughter's room! She had the exact same badge hanging by her bed!"

"Shut up!" Victor shot to his feet, his face going pale. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't listen to him." Victor gave Lucas an awkward smile. "That badge is probably something your grandfather picked up at a flea market. It's worthless."

Lucas knew he was lying, but didn't bother calling him out.

Could his grandfather's death be connected to the Colombo family? It looked like he had to pay the Colombo Estate a visit.

He put the badge and the cross back in the envelope and tucked it into his backpack.

"Lead the way," he said flatly.

Isabella and Victor both visibly relaxed. Victor immediately sent someone to take Lucas away.

After Lucas got in the car, Victor went back inside and sank onto the sofa.

Marco sat beside him, looking put out. "Dad, why did you stop me from saying anything about that badge? Maybe Lucas's background has something to do with the Colombo family..."

"Shut up!"

This time, it was Isabella who snapped at him.

She turned around and said seriously, "Listen carefully. The fact that Lucas is not our biological son can never leave the three of us. Ever."

"Why not?" Marco didn't get it.

"Idiot!" Victor shouted. "If anyone finds out he's not one of us, do you think the Colombo family will let us walk away from this?"

Marco opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Victor stood up, his voice low. "Besides, he won't last long at the Colombo family anyway. A kid who grew up in the countryside, with no idea how to act around people like that — he won't survive three days. He'll never find out who he really is. That's better for everyone."

Lucas rode for forty minutes before finally arriving at the Colombo Estate.

It was much bigger than he'd imagined.

The iron fence was covered in security cameras, with a guardhouse every hundred feet, where he could just make out armed guards inside.

Lucas had barely stepped out of the car when two broad-shouldered men in black suits walked over. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lucas," he said. "I'm here on behalf of the Moretti family."

The two men exchanged a look and nodded, then started patting him down.

After checking him thoroughly and finding nothing, they said, "Follow us."