All Chapters of Blood and Badge : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Swiss AlpsSpring, a year laterThe snow was slowly melting on the mountain slopes when Elena received the call.The phone vibrated on the kitchen table as she prepared breakfast. Dante was in the garden with Matteo, teaching him how to plant tomatoes, a terribly ordinary activity that still seemed like a miracle to them.The name on the screen: MOM.Elena answered with a smile. "Mom, how are you?"But the voice that answered wasn't her mother's."Mrs. Rossi?" A man's voice, professional, tense. "This is Dr. Verdi, from the hospital in Crotone. Your mother... has been in an accident."The world stopped."What kind of accident?""A fall. On the stairs at her house. She has a fractured hip and a minor head injury. She's stable, but..." The voice hesitated. "She's asking about you. Constantly."Elena leaned against the counter, her legs suddenly unable to support her."I'll be right there."She hung up. She walked out into the garden with a determined stride, though inside she was trembl

Villa Isabella, Sabine MountainsEveningThe dining table could seat twenty people.Today there were only four.Elena sat between Dante and the boy, across from Enzo. Salvatore's place. The boss's place. The black roses in the central vase seemed to watch them, their velvety petals shimmering in the candlelight.Enzo poured wine with the calm of someone who had waited decades for this moment."You know," he said, filling his glass, "I always imagined this dinner." Ever since I was a child. Ever since I knew you existed. He took a sip. "They're smaller than I expected."Dante didn't touch his glass. "What do you want, Enzo?""I want what was stolen from me." Enzo put down his glass. "My name. My place. My heritage. Everything Salvatore denied me because my mother wasn't good enough for his family.""Your mother was a mistress. Like others." Dante held her gaze. "Salvatore had many.""But I'm the only one who survived." Enzo smiled, a cold smile. "The others... disappeared. Accidents, i

Villa Isabella, Montes SabinosOne week laterThe library smelled of dust and secrets.Elena had spent three days going through boxes they'd found in the basement: old files, yellowed photographs, letters that no one had opened in decades. Dante was in Rome, negotiating with the mob bosses. The boy was in Switzerland, with Bruno.Alone.Perfect for what she needed to do.Box number seven was different from the others. Smaller, heavier, with a lock that gave way at the first kick.Inside, a single envelope."For Dante. Only for him."The handwriting was feminine, old-fashioned, shaky.Elena hesitated. It wasn't her letter. It wasn't her secret.But secrets killed. She'd learned that all too well.She opened the envelope."Dear Dante:If you're reading this, it's because I'm no longer here. And because someone finally dared to tell you the truth I had to keep silent for years.I'm not your mother.Isabella, the woman who raised you, who loved you like a son, didn't give birth to you. Sh

Villa Isabella, Montes SabinosOne week laterSummer had arrived with its burden of heat and silence.Elena was in the garden, watching Matteo play with Bruno. The boy had grown in recent months, not only physically, but in that quiet way that traumatized children learn to survive. His gray eyes no longer held that blood-curdling coldness. Now they shone with something akin to peace.Dante arrived from the house, two glasses of lemonade in his hands."Everything alright?"Elena nodded, accepting the glass. "Yes. For the first time in a long time, yes."Dante sat down beside her. "I'm glad."The silence was comfortable, necessary. The kind of silence you only have when you have nothing to hide.Or so they thought.Elena's phone rang. She looked at the screen: UNKNOWN.She answered. "Hello?""Miss Rossi?" A young, trembling female voice. "My name is Carla. Carla Moretti."Elena tensed. "Moretti?""Yes. I'm... I'm Salvatore's daughter." Pause. "Dante's sister. Or half-sister. I'm not sur

Villa Isabella, Montes SabinosThree weeks laterSummer was drawing to a close.Elena was in the garden, pruning red roses—always red now—when the car appeared on the dirt road. She recognized it immediately. Dante's black Maserati, but it wasn't Dante behind the wheel.It was Marco.Beside him, Luca.And in the back seat, a figure Elena never expected to see again.Enzo.Elena put down her shears, wiped her hands on her pants, and walked toward them with a determined stride. She didn't know what to feel: anger, relief, fear, hope. All mixed in a knot in her stomach.Marco got out first. "Elena.""Marco." Her voice was neutral. "What's he doing here?""He has something to tell you." Marco opened the back door.Enzo got out slowly. He was dressed casually: jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, not the prison uniform Elena had expected. He was thinner and paler, but his gray eyes were still the same."Hello, Elena."Elena didn't answer."I got out of prison a week ago." Enzo took a step forwa