Chapter 53 Taking control
Rafael
I woke to the sound of voices downstairs. Marco and Vittorio were arguing about something. I got dressed quickly and went down to find them in the small dining room, surrounded by papers. Helena's phone sat on the table between them.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Marco looked up, his face grave. "Boss, you need to see this." He handed me the phone. "I've been going through Helena's files all night and I found something. A list of everyone involved in the conspiracy."
I scrolled through the names. Dozens of them. Doctors. Scientists. Lawyers. Politicians. My hands trembled as I read.
"This is massive," I said.
"Look at the top," Marco said.
I looked and my blood ran cold.
Project Architect: A.M.
Project Supervisor: Dr. Helena Russo
Primary Funder: CLASSIFIED
Secondary Operatives: 47 listed
"A.M.," I said. "Antonio Martinez."
"Maybe," Vittorio said quietly. "Or maybe not."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "What do you mean?"
"Keep scrolling," Marco said.
I did and then I saw it. A scan of an old document. A contract. Dated twenty-six years ago.
Agreement between Valserro Industries and Morelli BioTech for the establishment of Project Genesis.
Signed: Marcus Valserro
Signed: Antonio Martinez
Witnessed by: Isabella Morelli
My heart pounded in my chest. "Isabella," I breathed. "She was involved from the beginning."
"Not just involved," Vittorio said. "She was the witness. Which means she knew about Eva before Eva was even created."
I felt sick. "But why would Isabella help create something that would threaten her own position in the family?"
"Because she thought she could control it," Marco said. "Look at the next page."
I scrolled to another document. This one more recent. Dated five years ago, right before Eva's death. My hands shook as I read.
Contingency Protocol: In the event of Subject E-01's termination, Subject L-01 will be activated and placed with Rafael Valserro under controlled circumstances.
"They planned it," I whispered. The words barely escaped my throat. "They planned Eva's death. They planned Flora's awakening. They planned everything."
My chest tightened with rage and sorrow.
"But there's more," Vittorio said. He pulled out a separate folder. "We found this in Antonio's safe house. It was hidden in a false bottom."
He handed me a photograph. It showed a group of people standing in front of a laboratory. I recognized my father immediately. Younger, but definitely him. Next to him stood Antonio Martinez. And Helena Russo, also younger. But there were others too. A woman I didn't recognize. Asian features, warm smile. And a man who made my blood run cold because I knew that face.
I felt the color drain from my face. "That's Dr. Chen," I said. "Flora's therapist."
"Not just her therapist," Marco said. "According to these documents, Dr. Chen was one of the original scientists on Project Genesis. He helped create the genetic matching process."
A wave of nausea washed over me. "So Flora's therapist is one of the people who made her and we just let her go to him every week?"
My fists clenched at my sides.
"It gets worse," Vittorio said. He pulled out another document. "Dr. Chen has been filing reports. Weekly reports on Flora's psychological state. Her memories. Her attachment to you."
I felt betrayed. Furious. "He's been spying on her this whole time, he's been reporting back to someone."
"But who?" Marco asked. "Antonio is dead. Helena is in custody. Who's Dr. Chen reporting to?"
"Maybe we should ask him," a voice said from the doorway.
We all turned. Flora stood there, dressed and ready. But she wasn't alone. Catherine was with her. And both of them had guns.
My heart lurched. "Flora? What are you doing?"
"What I should have done weeks ago," Flora said. Her voice was calm, determined. "Taking control of my own life."
"We know about Dr. Chen," Catherine added. "We've known for two days."
I stared at them, disbelief and something like hurt washing over me. "You knew? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because we needed to be sure," Flora said. "We needed proof that you weren't involved, Rafael."
Her words hit me like a physical blow. My heart sank. "You thought I was part of the conspiracy?"
"Can you blame me?" Flora asked. Her eyes held mine, searching. "Your father created Eva. Your family's company funded the project. How did I know you weren't still working with them?"
"I would never," I started.
"I know that now," Flora interrupted. Some of the tension left her shoulders. "We broke into Dr. Chen's office last night. Read his files. You're clean. But there's something else you need to know."
Catherine stepped forward. "A.M. doesn't stand for Antonio Martinez."
I felt confusion wash over me. "Then who?"
"Antonio was just a puppet," Catherine said. "The real Architect is still out there. And they've been watching us this whole time."
"Who is it?" I demanded. My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Flora and Catherine exchanged a glance. I saw uncertainty flicker between them.
"We don't know," Flora admitted. Frustration colored her voice. "Dr. Chen's files reference the Architect, but never by name. Only by initial. A.M."
My shoulders tightened with tension.
"But we know where they'll be," Catherine said. "Tonight. There's a meeting. All the remaining conspirators are gathering to discuss what to do about Flora now that Antonio and Helena are out of the picture."
"Where?" Marco asked.
"The old Valserro estate," Catherine said. "The one your father abandoned fifteen years ago, Rafael. They think it's safe because it's been condemned."
"It's a trap," Vittorio said immediately. Alarm rang in his voice. "They're trying to lure us in."
"Maybe," Flora said. "But it's also our only chance to end this. To find out who the Architect really is."
Fear gripped my chest. "Absolutely not. You're not walking into a trap."
I moved toward her but she held up her hand.
"I'm not asking for permission," Flora said. Her voice was steel. Unbreakable. "I'm telling you what I'm going to do. You can come with me or not. Your choice."
I looked at her. Really looked at her. The woman standing before me wasn't the scared stranger who'd woken up in my apartment months ago. She wasn't even the brave woman who'd confronted Helena. This was someone new. Someone stronger. Someone who had been through hell and was still standing.
Pride swelled in my chest alongside my fear.
"Okay," I said finally. "But we do it smart. We plan. We prepare. And if anything looks wrong, we pull out immediately."
Relief flickered across Flora's face. "Agreed."
Vittorio pulled out his phone. "I'll get my men. We'll need backup."
"And weapons," Marco added. "Lots of weapons."
"The meeting is at midnight," Catherine said. "That gives us twelve hours to prepare."
I looked at Flora. At the woman I loved who was about to walk into danger. Fear gnawed at me, but so did determination.
"Then we better get started," I said.