Chapter 4 - The Man I Trusted
Daniel had been with me for eighteen years.
He had saved my life twice.
I had trusted him with everything.
Money.
Business.
Secrets.
Family.
Apparently, that had been my mistake.
I summoned him to my office.
He arrived smiling.
“Boss.”
I poured two glasses of whiskey.
He sat.
“You've been busy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sarah.”
His smile disappeared.
“You found her.”
“Yes.”
“And Lily?”
“My daughter.”
Daniel stared at me.
Then he sighed.
“You should have let them disappear.”
I stood.
“Why?”
“Because some things are better left buried.”
I slammed my glass onto the table.
“Thirty years.”
He looked at me.
“Your father ordered her disappearance.”
“I know.”
“Victor helped.”
“I know.”
“And you?”
Daniel looked away.
“I helped them.”
Silence.
“Why?”
“Because your father promised me control.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
I laughed.
“You betrayed me for money.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“For power.”
Then he revealed the truth.
Victor Bellini had survived prison.
He had rebuilt his organization.
And Daniel had been working for him.
The ledger my father had hidden could destroy them both.
But there was one problem.
The ledger was tied to Lily.
Only Lily could legally access the trust containing it.
Daniel wanted her dead.
I wanted him dead.
But I couldn't act recklessly.
Not anymore.
Because Lily was watching me.
She was standing in the doorway.
She had heard everything.
“Daddy?”
I turned.
“Yes?”
“Is that man bad?”
Daniel smiled.
“No, sweetheart.”
I stepped between them.
“Yes.”
Lily grabbed my hand.
Daniel stood.
“You can't protect her forever.”
I looked at him.
“I'm going to try.”
He walked away.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
Bring Lily to the old Moretti warehouse at midnight.
Come alone.
I deleted it.
Then smiled.
May you like
Daniel thought he was setting a trap.
He had no idea I had spent thirty years building traps of my own.
