Chapter 6 - The Betrayal That Came From Inside
The relationship between Clara and me became the strangest secret in the house.
Not because we were ashamed.
Because everything around us was dangerous.
Elena noticed.
Matteo definitely noticed.
Dominic pretended not to.
Silian, my head of security, noticed within a day and never commented.
For the first time in years, I began learning how to live instead of simply defend.
Then Victor returned.
He walked into the estate at noon.
No weapon visible.
No guards.
Just his old expression.
"Vincent."
I drew my gun.
Dominic moved behind me.
Victor raised his hands.
"I'm not here to fight."
"Then you're here to die."
He looked past me.
"Where is Elena?"
I didn't answer.
He smiled bitterly.
"She's alive."
"Because of Clara."
Victor looked toward her.
"Yes."
Clara went pale.
"You know me."
"I've always known you."
I moved between them.
"You don't get to say another word to her."
Victor laughed.
"Why? Because you're in love with her?"
Silence.
Clara's cheeks flushed.
Victor looked at me.
"Interesting."
He reached into his coat.
Every guard raised a weapon.
Victor slowly produced a photograph.
"Anthony has your daughter."
I froze.
"What daughter?"
Victor smiled.
"Elena's pregnant."
The world stopped.
I looked at Elena.
She was standing at the hallway entrance.
Her face was white.
"What?"
She touched her stomach.
"I was going to tell you."
"You knew?"
"I found out two weeks ago."
Victor laughed.
"Anthony knows too."
My mind raced.
Elena was pregnant.
After everything.
After surviving the bombing.
And my uncle knew.
Victor continued.
"He wants the baby because the Rossi bloodline gives him leverage."
I stepped toward him.
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Why would you come here?"
"Because Anthony wants me dead."
He threw a flash drive onto the table.
"Everything you need is here."
I picked it up.
Victor looked exhausted.
"I never wanted the bombing."
"You worked for him."
"I was trapped."
"Like Clara?"
He looked at her.
"Yes."
Clara's eyes hardened.
"What happened to your father?"
Victor looked at me.
"Anthony killed him."
I realized something.
Everyone who had worked for Anthony eventually became afraid of him.
That was his real weapon.
Not money.
Fear.
Victor gave us a location.
An old vineyard outside Illinois.
We moved immediately.
The operation was carefully planned.
Police were involved.
Federal agents.
Security.
For once, I didn't rely only on my own people.
We found the compound at midnight.
Anthony was there.
He looked exactly as I remembered.
Older.
Calm.
Smiling.
And Elena's hand was resting on her stomach.
She was surrounded by guards.
Anthony looked at me.
"You finally came."
I stepped forward.
"You threatened my family."
"Your family was always mine."
"No."
He smiled.
"You're your father's son."
"I'm not."
"You act exactly like him."
I looked at Clara.
Then Elena.
Then Matteo, who was watching from a secure vehicle with Dominic.
"No."
I shook my head.
"That's where you're wrong."
Anthony's expression changed.
"I choose what I become."
The police moved in.
His men surrendered faster than expected.
Anthony tried to escape.
He didn't get far.
Victor testified.
Daniel testified.
Elena testified.
Clara testified.
And I gave every piece of evidence I had.
For the first time in my life, I chose not to bury an enemy.
I chose to let the truth destroy him.
Months later, Anthony was convicted.
Victor received protection and entered witness relocation.
The network collapsed.
My business was audited.
Several properties were seized.
It was painful.
But it was clean.
I sold the parts of my empire connected to illegal activity.
Then I kept only the businesses that could survive without fear.
Matteo continued therapy.
He began standing with support.
Then one afternoon, he took three steps.
I was crying so hard Dominic had to pretend not to notice.
Clara was laughing.
Matteo fell into my arms.
"I did it."
"Yes."
"I did it."
"You did."
Clara joined us.
And for the first time, all three of us were crying for the right reason.
That night, I asked Clara to move into the house.
She looked at me.
"Is this another security decision?"
"No."
"What is it?"
"A selfish one."
She smiled.
"Explain."
"I want to wake up and know you're here."
Her expression softened.
"Then yes."
May you like
I held her.
This time, there were no cameras.
