Chapter 5 - The Betrayal Inside the House
Alessandro spent the entire night reviewing the files.
The information on the drive was devastating.
Victor had been operating a network that reached into construction, logistics, vineyards, political consultants, private security firms, and even several banks.
But the most disturbing evidence was hidden in a folder labeled SALVATORE.
There were payment records.
Photographs.
Communication logs.
And a list of people Victor had recruited.
At the top of the list was an unexpected name.
Owen Cain.
Alessandro stared at it.
Owen had worked for him for twelve years.
He had protected the family.
Saved Alessandro's life twice.
Taken bullets meant for him.
How could he be involved?
Alessandro looked toward the security monitor.
Owen was standing near the south gate.
He had no idea what Alessandro now knew.
The next morning, Alessandro called him into the office.
"Close the door."
Owen did.
"We have a problem."
"What kind?"
"Victor."
Owen's expression remained neutral.
"What did he do?"
Alessandro slid a photograph across the desk.
Owen saw his own face.
His expression changed.
"Boss—"
"Explain."
Silence.
Then Owen sat down.
"He had my daughter."
Alessandro froze.
"What?"
"When Victor recruited me, I refused."
"Then?"
"He threatened my daughter."
Owen's voice cracked.
"She was seventeen."
Alessandro stared.
"You should have told me."
"I was trying to protect her."
"By protecting Victor?"
"I fed him false information."
Alessandro narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"Most of what I gave him was fake."
"But not all."
Owen looked away.
"I had no choice."
Alessandro stood.
"There's always a choice."
Owen nodded.
"I know."
Then he looked toward the door.
"He's going to come for Elena."
"He already did."
"No."
Owen's face turned pale.
"He knows about the baby."
Alessandro's entire body stiffened.
"How?"
Owen whispered:
"Because someone inside this house told him."
They realized it at the same moment.
Someone had leaked Elena's location.
Someone had known about the pregnancy.
Someone had known Midnight was difficult.
Someone had known Marco's identity.
Alessandro had trusted his household.
Now he understood that the enemy might have been inside the estate the entire time.
He immediately ordered a lockdown.
Everyone was questioned.
Kitchen staff.
Drivers.
Cleaners.
Gardeners.
But nothing surfaced.
Then Elena disappeared.
Her room was empty.
Her shoes were gone.
Her phone remained on the table.
Alessandro felt something close to panic.
He ran downstairs.
"Find her."
Owen's voice became urgent.
"We're checking every camera."
They discovered Elena had entered the greenhouse.
Then the feed went black.
A single minute later, the lights returned.
She was gone.
Alessandro rushed to the greenhouse.
A chair was overturned.
A single piece of cloth had been torn from Elena's uniform.
On the floor lay a small silver pendant.
Alessandro recognized it.
Marco had worn the same symbol.
His brother's family crest.
A note lay beside it.
BRING THE BABY'S TRUST DOCUMENTS.
OR SHE DIES.
Alessandro's anger became cold.
He had dealt with enemies his entire life.
But this was different.
They had touched someone under his protection.
And Elena was carrying his brother's child.
He would tear apart everything standing between them.
Gabriel appeared behind him.
"They're using her to get the trust."
"What trust?"
Gabriel looked shocked.
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Marco left property for his daughter."
"How much?"
Gabriel laughed bitterly.
"A lot."
He explained that Marco had quietly accumulated assets outside the family business.
Land.
Investments.
Several accounts.
A private vineyard.
And a controlling interest in a shipping company that Victor had spent years trying to acquire.
The child stood to inherit everything.
But the trust could only be activated if Marco was confirmed dead.
Victor wanted the trust documents.
If he could prove the documents were invalid, he could seize the assets.
"Where are they?"
"Elena knows."
Alessandro looked at the note.
"We need to find her."
They traced the vehicle.
It had left through a service road.
Owen identified the route.
"Old cannery."
Alessandro took a helicopter.
Gabriel followed.
They landed outside an abandoned structure thirty miles away.
The place was surrounded by armed men.
Alessandro looked at Gabriel.
"Stay here."
Gabriel shook his head.
"I'm going in."
"You were dead for eight months."
"I'm done hiding."
They entered.
Gunfire erupted.
Alessandro's security team moved quickly.
Inside the main building, Elena was tied to a chair.
Victor stood behind her.
He smiled.
"You came."
Alessandro raised his weapon.
"Let her go."
Victor laughed.
"You're willing to trade everything for a woman you met three weeks ago."
Alessandro looked at Elena.
She was terrified.
But she nodded slightly.
Don't do it.
He understood.
Victor continued.
"The baby belongs to Marco."
"Yes."
"And the trust belongs to me."
"No."
Victor's smile vanished.
"Then she dies."
Before he could act, the lights went out.
Midnight's scream echoed from outside.
Victor turned.
"What the hell?"
Alessandro smiled for the first time.
Gabriel had released the horse.
Midnight thundered through the open loading area.
Victor's men scattered.
Alessandro rushed forward.
He reached Elena and cut the ropes.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"The baby?"
"I'm okay."
Victor ran.
Gabriel chased him.
The confrontation ended with Victor arrested outside by state police who had arrived with evidence from Alessandro's investigators.
Elena collapsed against Alessandro.
For the first time, her composure broke.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't apologize."
"I should have told you."
"We're past that."
She looked at him.
"Why did you come?"
He stared at her.
"There wasn't anywhere else I would have gone."
Her eyes filled with tears.
That night, back at the estate, Elena finally handed Alessandro the trust documents.
But there was one more page.
She opened it.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Marco.
And the words changed everything.
For my brother Alessandro, if he survives me.
Protect my daughter.
Not because she is a Salvatore.
Because she is innocent.
The rest of the page contained a final instruction.
There is one thing I never told him.
He was not betrayed.
He was chosen.
Elena looked up.
Alessandro frowned.
"What does that mean?"
May you like
She whispered:
"Marco knew you were the only one who could save us."
