Chapter 13: The War Beneath the Varric Name
The first bullet shattered the window before anyone heard the gunshot.
The abandoned house erupted into chaos.
Glass rained across the floor.
The babies cried.
The guards moved.
And Matteo Varric became the man everyone feared.
Not because he was ruthless.
Not because he was powerful.
Because someone had threatened his family.
“Down!””
His voice cut through the room.
Liana dropped behind the table with both children in her arms.
Daniel moved beside her.
Teresa grabbed the doctor and pulled her away from the window.
Matteo stood in the center of the room, calm in a way that terrified everyone.
The storm outside had arrived.
And it had brought the past with it.
“Front entrance,” one guard shouted.
“Two vehicles approaching from the east,” another replied.
Matteo looked at Daniel.
“How many?””
“Too many.””
A bitter smile crossed Matteo’s face.
“Finally honest.””
Daniel almost laughed.
Almost.
Then another shot came.
Closer.
The walls shook.
Liana looked at Matteo.
“You can’t fight everyone.””
He glanced back at her.
“No.””
His eyes moved to Nico.
“But I can stop them from reaching you.””
The words were not a threat.
They were a promise.
And somehow that frightened her more.
Because she knew Matteo Varric.
She knew what he was capable of.
The world knew him as a man who destroyed enemies.
But she had seen something nobody else had.
A father terrified of losing his child.
Outside, the attackers surrounded the house.
At the center of them stood a man who had spent decades waiting.
Waiting for the Varric family to fall.
Victor Varric.
Matteo’s uncle.
The man who had helped build the empire.
The man who had taught Matteo everything.
The man who believed Matteo had stolen his destiny.
Victor looked at the house.
A smile appeared.
“After all these years.””
The man beside him looked confused.
“What?””
Victor watched the windows.
“He finally knows.””
“Knows what?””
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“That the Varric name was never his.””
Inside, Matteo received the call.
He answered immediately.
“Victor.””
A quiet laugh came through.
“You sound disappointed.””
“I’m deciding how long you have left.””
“You always were dramatic.””
Matteo’s expression did not change.
“You killed Isabella.””
A pause.
Then:
“She was going to ruin everything.””
Liana heard those words.
Her face changed.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Matteo remained silent.
That silence was more dangerous than anger.
“You loved her,” Victor continued.
“Yes.””
“And she made you weak.””
“No.””
Matteo looked at his family.
“She made me human.””
Victor laughed.
“That is why you will lose.””
Matteo walked toward the window.
“You think this is about power.””
“It is.””
“No.””
His voice lowered.
“This is about the fact that you never understood family.””
The line became quiet.
Victor’s voice hardened.
“You have no idea what your father did.””
“Then tell me.””
“He chose you.””
The words surprised Matteo.
“What?””
Victor continued.
“Your father chose you over me.””
The truth hung in the air.
“He built everything. He trusted you. He gave you the future.””
A pause.
“And I spent my entire life watching a boy inherit what should have been mine.””
Matteo understood.
This was never just about money.
It was about jealousy.
A wound that had been growing for decades.
“You destroyed your own family because you were jealous.””
Victor’s voice turned cold.
“I destroyed a mistake.””
“No.””
Matteo looked at Nico.
“You destroyed yourself.””
The attack began.
Matteo’s guards fought back.
Daniel moved through the house, protecting the children.
Liana stayed close to him.
She watched Matteo from across the room.
A man divided between two worlds.
The world he built.
And the family he almost lost.
“Will he survive this?”” she asked Daniel.
Daniel looked at Matteo.
“He always has.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
Daniel was silent.
Then:
“This time is different.””
“Why?””
“Because before, he had nothing to lose.””
Another explosion shook the house.
Liana held her baby tighter.
Now Matteo had everything to lose.
The fight lasted less than twenty minutes.
But to Matteo, it felt like years.
Because every second reminded him of Isabella.
The accident.
The lies.
The secrets.
The moment he almost lost Nico.
When the shooting finally stopped, the silence was worse.
Matteo stepped outside.
Victor stood in the open field.
Alone.
Waiting.
“You always wanted this,” Matteo said.
Victor smiled.
“Yes.””
“To destroy me.””
“No.””
Victor looked at him.
“To prove I was right.””
Matteo stared.
“You’re sick.””
“No.””
Victor shook his head.
“I’m the only one who understood the truth.””
“What truth?””
“That power belongs to the person willing to do anything for it.””
Matteo looked at him.
“And you did.””
“Yes.””
“You lost.””
Victor frowned.
“Why?””
“Because I learned something you never did.””
Matteo looked back at the house.
At Liana.
At his children.
“Family isn’t something you control.””
Victor’s expression changed.
“It’s something you protect.””
For the first time, Victor looked uncertain.
Then Matteo’s phone rang.
The doctor.
Matteo answered.
Her voice was urgent.
“Matteo.””
“What?””
“I found something in Isabella’s letter.””
“What?””
“A hidden message.””
Matteo looked toward Victor.
The man was watching him.
“What message?””
The doctor whispered:
“Isabella knew Victor was not the final enemy.””
Matteo froze.
“Then who is?””
The answer came quietly.
“Someone even closer.””
The call ended.
And Matteo slowly turned.
May you like
Because suddenly, the war was not over.
It had only changed shape.
