Page 134 of Peasants and Kings
“But how does killing Hadrian help the Borgia?” I asked in confusion, my stomach turning at the thought of human trafficking.
Hadrian looked at me. “I’m anutpresser, a professional blackmailer. If I die, everything I know about the five families will become public. That’s the dead man’s switch. If anyone kills me, a whole slew of people go down in flames.”
“But why would the Borgia be okay with their own secrets coming out? That’s what would’ve happened if the assassin had been successful, right?” I asked, still trying to piece it all together.
Angelo picked up the thread of conversation. “If the Borgia got immunity from the government, they don’t care about their own secrets coming out and it will leave the other four families vulnerable. It will take time to verify this. But if it’s true, it needs to be handled delicately and quietly.”
“We can handle it quietly if you want, but an example needs to be made,” Hadrian said, his tone dark.
Angelo nodded. “It will be done.”
“Good.” He paused. “There’s another reason why I invited you here. It wasn’t just about the assassin.”
All eyes were on Hadrian, giving him their undivided attention.
“I also invited you here to reunite you with your kin.”
Nico’s brows snapped together.
“Kin?” Angelo repeated. “What are you talking about?”
Hadrian looked at me and gave a nod.
I took a deep breath and after a moment I said, “My name isn’t Eden. It’s Sterling. And my mother was Violetta Moretti.”
There was a stunned silence in the room and then Nico erupted. “Impossible!” His body quivered as though he was barely able to control himself.
Angelo’s face was inscrutable. He stared at me and then glanced at Hadrian. When his eyes came back to mine, he said, “Child, I don’t know what you’re up to, but you had better explain yourself. Where is my sister? If you know—”
“My mother is dead. You are Angelo Moretti, and within you flows the blood of theCompagnia Bianca del Falco. My mother fled Italy after the Foscari murdered my father, Gianni Russo. She went to the United States and raised me in secret. I’ve spent my entire life on the run, but it ends here and now, and I can prove to you who I am.”
Angelo’s expression contorted as he struggled to process what I’d just told him, and as he was about to say something, Hadrian raised a hand and said, “No. Wait. She’ll show you.”
I looked to the ceiling and removed my right contact lens. I blinked a few times to clear my vision, and then lowered my gaze to reveal a brilliant turquoise blue eye to the room.
Angelo flinched. Luca gasped. Nico gripped the edge of the table. Tor didn’t react at all.
I took out my left contact lens in the same fashion, uncovering a green eye the color of peridot.
The Moretti men stared at me in shock.
Angelo swallowed a few times, clearly attempting to find his voice. “When did Violetta die?”
I glanced at Hadrian, silently calling on his strength. “A little over a year ago.”
“How did she…” Nico trailed off, sounding drained of all his energy.
“She took her own life,” I swallowed, “to protect me. She was afraid the Foscari would find me…and she warned me not to come to you. But here we are, and I have to know; did you know that she was pregnant when she left Italy?”
“No,” Angelo said. “We had no idea. Neither did the Foscari. They’ve been looking for Violetta, and as far as we knew, they never caught up with her. Our business with them ended after she slighted their family, and we haven’t been in contact with them for years. She embarrassed us in a way you can’t understand. She spat on the legacy of generations past. She turned her back on family for the love of a man who was unworthy, and by doing so she has dragged the Moretti name through the filth.”
“Papà,” Tor said.
“Yes, son,” Angelo said with a nod at his second eldest. To me, he stated, “We have a chance now to make things right for generations.Youwill help us make things right.”
The finality of his statement sent a pit of despair deep into my belly. He finally rose from his seat, as did Nico and Tor.
Hadrian’s voice lashed like a whip. “Sterling was not raised by theCompagnia Bianca del Falco.She is under no obligation to honor her mother’s pledge.” His jaw was tight with anger.
