Chapter 5 - The Box Beneath the Floor
The box had been hidden inside the wall of Lena's childhood home.
She had never known about it.
Her mother had discovered it after Thomas disappeared.
She had hidden it again because she was terrified.
After her mother's death, Lena found the location in an old notebook.
She had never opened it.
Until now.
Dante insisted on going with her.
They left Sophia with Mrs. Caruso and two guards.
The old house stood in a quiet neighborhood outside the city.
Peeling paint.
Overgrown yard.
Broken porch light.
Lena stopped at the front door.
"I haven't been here in years."
Dante looked at her.
"You don't have to do this alone."
She glanced at him.
"I know."
Inside, dust covered everything.
Lena took them upstairs.
Her old bedroom was small.
A faded wallpaper pattern covered one wall.
She knelt near the floorboard.
"Here."
Dante lifted the loose board.
Beneath it was a metal box.
Locked.
Lena pulled out the brass key.
It fit.
The lid opened with a click.
Inside were three notebooks, a flash drive, several photographs, and a letter.
Lena picked up the letter.
It was addressed to her.
My little Lena.
She covered her mouth.
Dante stood beside her without speaking.
She read.
If you're reading this, then I failed to protect you.
I'm sorry.
Do not trust Adrian Vale.
Do not trust the people who tell you Luca is dead.
And whatever happens, never let anyone find the ledger.
The ledger contains evidence against men who believe they own everything.
Dante's expression hardened.
"There is no ledger."
Lena shook her head.
"Maybe there is."
They opened the notebooks.
Dates.
Names.
Payments.
Bribes.
Judges.
Police officers.
Politicians.
Business owners.
Every transaction connected to an underground network that had survived by hiding beneath legitimate businesses.
Dante's name was not there.
His father's was.
His uncle's.
Luca's.
Victor's.
And one other name.
Elias Grant.
Dante stared at the page.
His head of security.
"No."
Lena looked at him.
"What?"
"Elias has been with me for fourteen years."
"Maybe that's why."
They returned to the mansion after midnight.
Dante didn't confront Elias.
Not yet.
Instead, he watched.
Elias appeared normal.
He checked cameras.
Walked through the halls.
Spoke with guards.
Then, at 2:14 a.m., he entered the old library.
Dante followed silently.
Elias stood near the fireplace.
He removed a small device from his pocket.
The wall camera flickered off.
Dante stepped into the room.
"Looking for something?"
Elias spun.
His face changed.
For the first time in fourteen years, Dante saw fear in the man's eyes.
"You."
Dante walked closer.
"You've been feeding someone information."
"No."
"Then explain the camera."
Elias raised his hands.
"I can explain."
"Do it."
"I've been trying to find the person behind this."
"By turning off my cameras?"
"I was protecting you."
"From whom?"
Elias hesitated.
Then he whispered.
"Your uncle."
Dante's eyes narrowed.
"My uncle is dead."
"No."
Elias shook his head.
"He isn't."
The room went silent.
Dante stared at him.
"Where is he?"
Elias looked toward the window.
"Closer than you think."
A gunshot shattered the glass.
Elias shoved Dante backward.
The bullet struck the wall.
Guards rushed in.
Elias collapsed.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Dante caught him.
"Who fired?"
Elias gasped.
"Warehouse."
"What warehouse?"
"Pier nine."
Then he looked toward the doorway.
A tiny figure stood there.
Sophia.
Lena screamed.
"Sophia!"
The child had escaped her room.
She was holding Sunny.
Dante ran toward her.
A second shot hit the ceiling.
Dante shielded Sophia beneath his coat.
The guards dragged them away.
Lena grabbed her daughter.
Dante's heartbeat thundered.
He looked at Elias.
The injured man whispered one final thing.
"Your father ordered it."
Dante froze.
"Ordered what?"
Elias closed his eyes.
"The deaths."
Dante stood motionless.
May you like
Everything he believed about his family was collapsing.
And somewhere in the city, a man who had supposedly died thirteen years earlier was waiting for Dante to uncover the truth.
