Chapter 13: The Truth of My Blood

EMILIA POV

The gunshot echoed across Black Canyon.

Chaos erupted instantly.

Ghost burst from one of the abandoned mine tunnels, firing with deadly precision.

"Get down!" he shouted.

Bullets ripped through the floodlights, plunging half the canyon into darkness.

Marco and the Iron Serpents attacked from the surrounding cliffs exactly as planned.

Motorcycles roared.

Gunfire echoed.

Men shouted from every direction.

Victor Kane didn't even flinch.

Instead, he calmly watched the battle unfold as if he'd expected it all along.

"I told you he wouldn't stay away," he said with a faint smile.

"You're insane," I snapped.

"Maybe."

"But I'm also telling the truth."

He pointed toward the folder lying at my feet.

"Open it."

"I'm not interested."

"You should be."

"Because Vincent Romano spent twenty-six years hiding who you really are."

Before I could answer, Ghost reached me.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind a boulder.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Good."

"We're leaving."

"Mama C—"

"Marco's getting her."

Ghost looked toward Victor.

"Don't listen to anything he says."

"He's trying to get inside your head."

Victor laughed loudly.

"Still protecting her from the truth, Ghost?"

"Just like Vincent did."

Ghost's jaw tightened.

"Shut up."

"Tell her then."

"Or should I?"

For the first time since I'd known him...

Ghost hesitated.

My stomach tightened.

"Axel..."

"What isn't he telling me?"

Ghost remained silent.

"Answer me."

Victor slowly picked up the folder and tossed it toward us.

"Read the birth certificate."

"Then ask your boyfriend why he already knew."

The folder landed at my feet.

With shaking hands, I opened it.

Inside were hospital records.

DNA reports.

A faded birth certificate.

Mother's Name:

Isabella Romano.

Father:

Damian Kane.

I froze.

"Kane..."

Victor smiled.

"My older brother."

"Your biological father."

"No..."

"This is fake."

"Look at the DNA report."

My hands trembled violently.

Every document carried official government seals.

Nothing looked forged.

"Vincent loved you like his own daughter," Victor continued.

"But your real father founded the Black Wolves before he was murdered."

"Vincent took you to stop our enemies from using you."

"He disappeared with you."

"Raised you as his own."

I looked at Ghost.

"Tell me he's lying."

Ghost closed his eyes.

"Axel..."

"Tell me!"

He finally spoke.

"Your father..."

"Vincent..."

"Told me the truth six years ago."

My entire body went numb.

"You knew?"

"Yes."

"For six years?"

"Yes."

"And you never told me?"

"It wasn't my secret."

"It was my life!"

"I know."

"Don't say you know!"

"You promised no more lies!"

"I promised no more lies from today forward."

"I kept Vincent's promise."

"Just like I kept leaving you."

Tears blurred my vision.

"Everyone keeps deciding what's best for me."

"Dad."

"You."

"Marco."

"When do I get to choose?"

Ghost reached toward me.

I stepped back.

"Don't."

"Please..."

"Emilia."

"Don't touch me."

Before either of us could move, Marco appeared with Mama C.

"We've got her!"

"Let's move!"

Victor simply stood there watching.

"Think carefully, Emilia," he called.

"You belong to us by blood."

"Sooner or later..."

"You'll come looking for the rest of the truth."

Ghost grabbed my arm.

"We have to go!"

Reluctantly, I followed.

The Serpents retreated under heavy gunfire.

Within minutes, everyone reached the motorcycles.

Ghost helped Mama C climb into one of the trucks.

I climbed onto his Harley without saying a word.

The ride back was painfully silent.

My arms never wrapped around his waist.

Instead, I sat stiffly behind him, unable to process everything I'd learned.

Back at the clubhouse, Mama C was immediately taken to the infirmary.

Marco approached me carefully.

"Em..."

"Did you know too?"

Marco looked shocked.

"Know what?"

"About my real father."

"No."

"Dad never told me."

"Only Ghost knew."

I looked across the room.

Ghost stood alone near the garage entrance.

His eyes met mine.

Filled with regret.

Filled with pain.

But I couldn't look at him anymore.

I quietly walked upstairs and locked myself inside my room.

Hours later, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Emilia..."

Ghost's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Please talk to me."

I remained silent.

"I know you're angry."

"You have every right to be."

"But I never lied because I wanted to hurt you."

"I was trying to protect your father's final wish."

Still, I said nothing.

After several long minutes, his footsteps slowly disappeared down the hallway.

I looked down at the folder resting on my bed.

One final envelope remained unopened.

Across the front, someone had written five words.

"Only Emilia Must Read Alone."

With trembling fingers...

I broke the seal.