Page 40 of Code Name: Dante

“Have a seat, sweetie,” Alice said, pulling out a chair. When Lark sat down, I took the chair beside her, relieved to see the monitor where the images were before was now dark.

“Do you remember my friend Tex? I told you that he and I sometimes work together?” Alice began.

Lark nodded.

“He’s been helping me find whatever we can on the Castellano family.”

“Okay,” Lark said, looking from Alice to me, then back again.

“He found photos that were kept on Vincent’s personal server. Many photos,” said Alice.

Lark reached for my hand. “Of me?”

“Look at me,” I said.

Her eyes were wide and brimmed with tears.

“It appears Vincent has had someone keeping tabs on you through the years.”

“Years?” she mouthed.

I nodded. “Most of your life.”

“Oh my God.” She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

“The choice is yours, sweetie,” said Alice. “I can show them to you now, or later, or never.”

Her hand gripped mine so hard her knuckles were white. “Not now.” She turned to Alice. “Can you give us a minute?”

“Of course,” she said, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.

“I have to know. One way or another,” Lark said once we were alone.

I nodded again. “I understand.”

“How soon can I get my DNA tested?”

“I’ll make a couple of calls and see what we can arrange.”

“Okay,” she said, still gripping my hand. “Alessandro?”

My heart ached as tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with you as long as you need me, even if it means the prosecutor has to request the trial be delayed.”

She nodded too. “That’s not what I was going to say.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them. “I’m sorry. Go ahead.”

Lark took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I hate him,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I do too.” I’d never meant it more than I did right now.

Not wantingto leave Lark on her own, I sent a message to Tank, asking about the logistics of having her DNA tested. He responded by offering to contact Onyx Yáñez, the commander of the K19’s Shadow Operations team, who lived on the other side of the lake and who Tank believed could administer the test.

A few minutes later, he sent a follow-up message, saying Onyx would arrive within the hour.

“I’m going to get mine tested too,” I told her. “That way, if there’s any delay in accessing Vincent’s results, we won’t have to wait.” My gut clenched with the verbal acknowledgment that if she was my brother’s daughter, my DNA alone would confirm it.

“I can’t just sit here and wait,” she said, pushing the chair back and standing. “Can wedosomething?”