Page 85 of Claimed By the Enemy

“By people who saw an opportunity to turn two powerful families against each other. People who benefited from our mutual destruction.”

“What people?”

Uncle Enzo studies my face for a long moment, as if weighing how much truth I can handle.

“People close to your family, Domenico. People you trust.”

“You’re talking about Uncle Riccardo.”

“I’m talking about a man who has spent sixteen years feeding both our families lies designed to keep us at each other’s throats while he profits from our war.”

“That’s impossible. Riccardo raised me. He’s been like a father-”

“He’s been like a parasite. Living off your pain, your anger, your need for revenge.”

“You’re lying.”

“Am I? Tell me, Domenico, who benefits from you and Sophie destroying each other? Who profits from the Moretti and Bellini families remaining enemies instead of allies?”

I think about Uncle Riccardo’s warnings about Sophie. His insistence that I couldn’t trust her, that marrying her was a mistake. His suggestion that I should make her disappear.

“Even if what you’re saying is true,” I say carefully, “that doesn’t explain why you trained Sophie to come after me.”

“Because I believed Riccardo’s lies just like you did. Until I started questioning why a sixteen-year-old feud was still so profitable for some people. Until I realized that every time our families fought, one man always seemed to benefit.”

“Riccardo.”

“Your uncle came to me the day after your parents died, Domenico. With evidence, with witnesses, with proof that your father had betrayed our friendship.” Uncle Enzo’s voice grows harder. “But evidence can be manufactured. Witnesses can be bought. And proof… proof can be very convincing when you want to believe it.”

“When did you start to doubt?”

“When Sophie began questioning her mission. When she started finding documents that contradicted everything I’d been told. When I realized that a person trained for revenge was falling in love instead.” He looks between us. “Love makes you see things differently. Makes you ask questions you never thought to ask before.”

“So you investigated.”

“I investigated. And what I found…” Uncle Enzo shakes his head. “Riccardo Moretti has been playing both our families for sixteen years.”

“Why?”

“Power. Money. Control. With both our families weakened by grief and hatred, he’s been able to expand his influence, absorb our business interests, and position himself as the power behind the throne.”

“That’s why Sophie came to work for me. To get close enough to find evidence.”

“That was the plan. But Sophie fell in love with you instead.”

Uncle Enzo moves away from the yacht’s railing, his weathered hands gripping the polished chrome as he turns to face me fully.

“She did, didn’t she?”

“Yes. Against all her training, against everything I taught her about loyalty and duty, she fell in love with the enemy.” Uncle Enzo almost smiles, the first genuine expression I’ve seen from him tonight. “I should have seen it coming. Sophie always was too soft-hearted for revenge.”

I lean against the opposite railing, the cool harbor breeze cutting through my shirt. “Is that why you want to kill me? Because she chose me over you?”

“I don’t want to kill you, Domenico. I want to work with you.” He glances at his men, who have positioned themselves strategically around the yacht’s deck, then back at me. “To do what?”

“To destroy the man who murdered both our families. To give Sophie and you a chance at the happiness you both deserve.”

“And if I don’t believe you?”