Chapter 8 - The Man Behind The Betrayal
Victor explained everything.
Mason hadn't disappeared because he was afraid.
He disappeared because he had infiltrated the organization trying to destroy it from inside.
For years, he had worked with Luca's father.
Then with Elias.
Then with Victor.
He had discovered a larger network.
The Valente family was not the center.
It was one branch.
The real leader was a man called Gabriel.
Gabriel had manipulated the Petrovs, the Valentes, and several other groups.
He had started wars to weaken them.
He had arranged deaths.
He had stolen money.
He had created false betrayals.
And he wanted one thing.
The vault.
The documents inside could expose him.
Mason had stolen the first piece.
My mother had hidden the second.
Mia had unknowingly carried the third.
The teddy bear.
The paper inside it contained the final coordinates.
I looked at Victor.
“Where is Mason?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Then why help us?”
“Because he asked me to.”
“When?”
“Three days ago.”
Three days.
That meant Mason knew I would find the evidence.
He knew someone would come for Mia.
And he knew Luca would protect her.
I looked at Luca.
“You were part of his plan.”
“Apparently.”
“And you didn't know.”
“No.”
“Do you feel betrayed?”
He looked at me.
“I feel grateful.”
“Why?”
“Because your husband trusted me with what mattered most.”
Mia walked into the office.
“Mister Victor?”
He turned.
“Yes?”
“You know my daddy?”
Victor smiled.
“Yes.”
Mia held Teddy.
“Where is he?”
Victor's eyes softened.
“Looking for a way home.”
Mia nodded.
“Okay.”
She returned to her room.
Luca watched her go.
Then looked at Victor.
“Where is Gabriel?”
Victor gave him an address.
A theater.
Old.
Abandoned.
They went that night.
Mia stayed with security.
I remained with Luca.
Julian insisted on coming.
We entered the theater.
The stage lights were on.
Gabriel sat in the front row.
He looked ordinary.
That was the terrifying part.
No scars.
No dramatic appearance.
Just an older man in a dark suit.
He stood.
“Luca.”
Luca raised his gun.
“You're done.”
Gabriel smiled.
“Not yet.”
I stepped forward.
“You killed my mother?”
“No.”
“Mason?”
“No.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I gave them reasons to betray each other.”
He turned toward Luca.
“Your father hated Mason.”
“Why?”
“Because Mason loved your wife.”
Luca went still.
I did too.
“What?”
Gabriel smiled.
“Mason didn't work for your father.”
“He worked for your family.”
“He married into the enemy.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“My wife wasn't involved.”
“Not then.”
Gabriel looked at me.
“Your mother knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That your bloodline connects two families.”
I stared.
“Which two?”
“Mela.”
“Valente.”
“Costa.”
“Three families.”
“Three bloodlines.”
“One secret.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“What secret?”
“The original ledger wasn't financial.”
Gabriel smiled.
“It was a list of heirs.”
I didn't understand.
He continued.
“Your daughter is the last person who carries the original line.”
Mia.
The room seemed to tilt.
“Why would a three-year-old matter?”
“Because her blood proves who owns the first trust.”
Luca stepped forward.
“What trust?”
Gabriel laughed.
“The money your fathers stole.”
“Billions.”
“Hidden generations ago.”
Luca's face became cold.
“You're lying.”
“Then look.”
He threw a file.
Inside were birth records.
My mother.
Mason.
Luca's father.
And one name.
Mia Ward.
The document identified her as the legal heir to a foundation worth hundreds of millions.
The money had been hidden from criminals.
Protected by layers of trusts.
Mia was the final beneficiary.
Gabriel wanted her.
Not dead.
Alive.
Because a living heir could sign.
I looked at Luca.
“We have to leave.”
“Yes.”
Gunfire erupted.
Gabriel disappeared through the stage.
Luca grabbed me.
We ran.
Outside, snow covered the streets.
A car waited.
Victor was driving.
Mia was inside.
She had somehow escaped security.
“MOMMY!”
I pulled the door open.
She jumped into my arms.
Luca got inside.
Victor slammed the door.
The car raced away.
I looked at Mia.
She was holding Teddy.
The bear had been torn open again.
Inside was another note.
I unfolded it.
Mason's handwriting.
Bring Mia to the lighthouse.
Come alone.
Trust no one.
Not even Luca.
My heart sank.
I looked at Luca.
He saw the note.
He didn't react.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he said,
“If Mason wants you there…”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I'll go.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“Because if I'm the danger, you deserve to know.”
He took the note.
“I won't ask you to trust me.”
He looked at Mia.
“But I will still protect her.”
The lighthouse was forty miles away.
And someone was waiting there.
May you like
Someone we had believed was dead.
Mason Ward.
