Chapter 4 - His Mother’s Hidden Room
Vincent found the room two days later.
It was behind a false wall in his father's study.
Inside were letters.
Dozens.
All written by his mother.
The first one began:
Vincent, if you're reading this, your father lied to you.
He read until sunrise.
His mother had discovered the money laundering operation.
She had confronted his father.
His father threatened her.
She planned to expose everything.
A man named Gideon Voss helped facilitate the financial network.
Marco Costa knew.
Vincent's mother vanished after arranging for a private investigator to take evidence outside the city.
The investigator was Charmian's father.
Vincent sat on the floor.
His entire life had been built on a myth.
His father had been a hero.
His uncle had been loyal.
His mother had died peacefully.
All lies.
Charmian stood at the doorway.
"You found it."
He nodded.
She stepped inside.
"She was alive for six years after she disappeared."
Vincent looked up.
"How do you know?"
"My father received letters."
"Where is she now?"
"I don't know."
He stared.
"You're telling me my mother could still be alive?"
Charmian shook her head.
"Not now."
She handed him an envelope.
The handwriting matched his mother's.
The final letter was dated eight years ago.
I couldn't come home.
Too many people were watching.
Vincent's eyes filled.
He didn't cry.
He had forgotten how.
Charmian sat beside him.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Vincent said:
"I don't know who my family is anymore."
Charmian answered quietly:
"You know who you are."
He looked at her.
"What if I don't?"
"Then you get to decide."
Those words stayed with him.
That afternoon, Matteo found a connection between Voss and Marco.
Marco had transferred money to three companies.
One belonged to Voss.
One belonged to a judge.
One belonged to a private security firm that had been watching Vincent for months.
Vincent confronted Marco.
His uncle denied everything.
Until Vincent placed the ledger on the table.
Marco went silent.
"You betrayed Dad."
"No."
"You betrayed me."
Marco's face hardened.
"You don't understand what your father built."
"I understand he destroyed our family."
"He was trying to protect it."
"By killing people?"
"He did what he had to do."
Vincent stared.
"And you?"
Marco sighed.
"I did what I had to do to survive."
Vincent almost laughed.
"That's what cowards call betrayal."
Marco looked toward the window.
"Voss has people everywhere."
"So do I."
"No."
Marco met his eyes.
"You used to."
That night, Marco was found dead.
The official report said suicide.
Vincent knew immediately it wasn't.
The same message arrived on every secure device inside the house.
ONE LOOSE END.
Vincent understood.
Voss was eliminating anyone who might testify.
Charmian walked into the room.
"What happened?"
Vincent looked at her.
"Marco is dead."
She closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"He knew your father."
"Yes."
"Did my father order your father's death?"
"No."
"Who did?"
"Voss."
Vincent looked toward the windows.
"What does he want now?"
"The last pages."
"How many?"
"Three."
"Where are they?"
Charmian stared at him.
"With someone I trusted."
"Who?"
She took a breath.
"My brother."
Vincent's head snapped around.
"He has them."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Elias will only give them to me."
Vincent stared at her.
"You're asking to go back to Voss."
"I have to."
"No."
"My brother is sixteen."
"And you're nineteen."
"He is all I have."
Vincent stepped closer.
"And you are under my protection."
Her eyes flashed.
"I never asked for protection."
"You don't have to."
"That's not how my life works."
"Maybe it should."
She stared at him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then she whispered:
"I don't know how to believe that."
Vincent answered:
"Then don't."
May you like
He took a breath.
"Just let me prove it."
