Chapter 8 - The Man Who Helped My Father Fake His Death Finally Confessed, but His Next Words Exposed the Real Monster Behind the War
Harper pressed her hand against her mouth.
Michael's confession echoed through the speakers.
Gabriel didn't respond immediately.
When he finally spoke, his voice was cold.
“Explain.”
Michael sighed.
“Daniel discovered that Vincent Moretti was stealing from both families. He had enough evidence to destroy the entire operation, but he didn't trust the local authorities. He believed Vincent had informants inside the police and the federal task force.”
“So you helped him disappear.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I believed him.”
Gabriel's voice sharpened.
“Then why did you spend the last eighteen months investigating the same organization without telling anyone Daniel was alive?”
“Because the investigation was compromised. Every time we moved toward Vincent, someone warned him. I needed to know who was leaking information.”
“And you used Harper.”
“I didn't know she would be working at your restaurant.”
“You knew who she was.”
“I learned after the restaurant attack.”
Gabriel laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No. I expect you to understand that the situation is more complicated than you think.”
Harper turned toward Leo.
“We need to record this.”
He nodded and started the backup system.
Michael continued speaking.
“Daniel left the original ledger in a secure location. The box you found contains copies, but Vincent knows they exist. He has been searching for the originals for eleven years.”
“Where are they?” Gabriel asked.
“I don't know.”
“Liar.”
“Believe whatever you want. But Vincent has the original documents, and he's planning to destroy them before the task force can obtain a warrant.”
Harper felt her stomach tighten.
“Then why would he need us?”
Gabriel's voice came through the speakers.
“Because he doesn't know whether the copies are complete.”
Michael answered, “Exactly.”
Harper looked at Leo.
“He's telling the truth about one thing.”
Leo nodded.
“Vincent is afraid.”
A sudden crash sounded downstairs.
Harper jumped.
Gabriel shouted something, followed by the sound of furniture scraping across the floor.
Leo grabbed the box.
“Harper, we need to move.”
She hesitated.
“Gabriel—”
“Now!”
The office door burst open.
Two men entered.
One wore a dark suit. The other held a weapon.
Harper recognized the snake emblem on his cuff.
The man smiled.
“Give us the box.”
Leo stepped in front of her.
“Get away from my sister.”
The man laughed.
“You're both very brave. Your father must be proud.”
Harper gripped the box.
“Where is he?”
The man's smile widened.
“Ask Vincent.”
He advanced.
Leo swung the metal box into his face.
The man staggered, and Harper grabbed her brother's hand.
They ran through the rear door into a narrow staircase.
Behind them, someone shouted.
A gunshot struck the wall.
Harper screamed but kept running.
They reached the alley and emerged into a crowded street. Cars honked, pedestrians shouted, and rain began falling again.
Leo pulled her toward a subway entrance.
They descended the stairs and disappeared into the station.
Harper's phone vibrated.
A message from Gabriel.
GET TO THE SAFE HOUSE. TRUST NO ONE EXCEPT ME.
She typed back.
WHERE ARE YOU?
No response.
She called him.
The line rang once, then disconnected.
Harper looked at Leo.
“We need to go back.”
“No.”
“Gabriel is still upstairs.”
“And those men were trying to kill us.”
“He helped us.”
Leo's expression hardened.
“You barely know him.”
“I know enough.”
“Harper, you always do this.”
She stared at him.
“Do what?”
“Risk everything to save people who might not do the same for you.”
The accusation hurt because it was true.
Harper had sacrificed years of her life trying to save Leo from consequences he refused to face. She had abandoned her education, worked double shifts, and borrowed money from friends to keep him safe.
She had told herself that love meant never giving up on someone.
But perhaps love also meant knowing when to stop letting someone else's mistakes destroy your life.
She looked at Leo.
“I won't abandon you. But I'm not going to let you decide that everyone is disposable just because you're afraid.”
His expression softened.
“I'm not trying to hurt you.”
“I know.”
She took his hand.
“Then trust me.”
They reached the safe house twenty minutes later.
It was a small apartment above a closed pharmacy, guarded by two of Gabriel's men. They let Harper and Leo inside and immediately secured the doors.
Gabriel arrived shortly afterward.
He had a split lip and a fresh cut above his eyebrow, but he was standing.
Harper rushed toward him.
“Are you hurt?”
“Nothing serious.”
She stared at his face.
“You keep saying that.”
“And you keep worrying.”
“Someone has to.”
For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something.
Instead, he turned toward Leo.
“Did you bring the box?”
Leo held it up.
“Every page.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Good.”
He placed his phone on the table.
“Michael escaped through the basement. But we have the recording.”
Harper looked at him.
“Do you believe him?”
“I believe he helped your father disappear. I don't yet know why he kept the truth from us.”
“Maybe he was protecting him.”
“Maybe.”
Gabriel sat down and rubbed his forehead.
“There's something else. Michael said Vincent has the original ledger.”
“Where?”
“He wouldn't say.”
Harper opened the box.
“Then we find it ourselves.”
She removed the photographs, letters, and financial records, arranging them across the table.
One document contained a list of shell companies connected to a private art foundation.
Harper recognized the name.
The Hayes Foundation.
Victoria's family.
She looked at Gabriel.
“Your girlfriend's family was involved.”
Gabriel studied the page.
“Apparently.”
“Do you think she knew?”
“I don't know.”
Harper found another document.
It was a shipping manifest dated eleven years earlier. A container had been moved from Newark to a private warehouse in Connecticut. The listed cargo was ordinary office equipment, but the declared weight was far too high.
She checked the attached invoice.
A company name appeared at the bottom.
Moretti Holdings.
“Gabriel.”
He leaned closer.
“What?”
“This container was owned by Vincent.”
He examined the manifest.
“Where was it delivered?”
Harper pointed to the address.
A private estate in Westchester County.
Gabriel's expression darkened.
“That's where Vincent lives.”
“Then the original ledger might be there.”
“Or he wants us to think it is.”
Harper searched the remaining documents.
Beneath the manifest was a photograph of a large house surrounded by trees. Her father stood near the entrance, holding a briefcase.
Beside him was a woman.
Harper's breath caught.
Her mother.
Eleanor Bennett looked younger, her hair dark and her expression serious.
On the back of the photograph, Daniel had written:
“Eleanor knows where the truth is buried.”
Harper looked at Leo.
“Mom knew.”
He nodded slowly.
“She must have.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Everyone froze.
One of Gabriel's men checked the security camera.
A woman stood outside.
Her clothes were soaked, and her hair clung to her face.
Victoria Hayes.
Gabriel's expression hardened.
“Don't let her in.”
Harper stared at him.
“Wait.”
“Harper—”
“She might know where Vincent is keeping my mother.”
Gabriel hesitated.
Then he nodded to the guard.
The door opened.
Victoria stepped inside, trembling.
“I know where Eleanor is.”
Harper rushed toward her.
“Where?”
Victoria looked at Gabriel.
“I'll tell you everything, but you have to promise that nobody will hurt me.”
Gabriel's expression remained cold.
“You lost the right to make demands when you gave Roman my location.”
Victoria flinched.
“I know.”
Harper took her hand.
“Please. Where is my mother?”
Victoria swallowed.
“She's at Vincent's estate.”
Harper felt her knees weaken.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I was there.”
Gabriel stood.
“You've been working with Vincent.”
Victoria shook her head.
“Not willingly.”
“That's becoming a very convenient excuse.”
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“My father was a business partner of Vincent's. After he died, Vincent took control of everything. He told me that if I didn't cooperate, he'd make sure I lost my company and my freedom.”
“You still betrayed me.”
“Yes.”
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
Victoria reached into her bag and removed a small memory card.
“Because I recorded him.”
She placed it on the table.
“Vincent told Roman that the original ledger is hidden beneath the foundation of his estate. He also said Daniel Bennett is still alive.”
Harper grabbed the edge of the table.
“Where is my father?”
Victoria looked at her.
“Underground.”
The room fell silent.
“There's a secure room beneath the estate,” she continued. “Vincent has been keeping Daniel there for years. He believes your father knows the location of a second set of records.”
Harper could barely breathe.
Her father had been alive all this time.
And someone had kept him imprisoned beneath a mansion while she mourned him.
Gabriel's expression became terrifyingly calm.
“We're going there.”
Rachel's voice sounded from the doorway.
“No, you're not.”
Everyone turned.
The FBI director stood with two agents behind her.
“We're going to obtain a warrant and coordinate an extraction. Nobody is entering that property without federal authorization.”
Harper looked at her.
“How long will that take?”
“As long as it takes to do this safely.”
“My father has been imprisoned for eleven years.”
Rachel's expression softened.
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
Harper picked up the memory card.
“We're going to get him.”
Gabriel stepped beside her.
“Together.”
May you like
For the first time, Harper didn't argue with him.
Because whatever happened next, she knew she could no longer afford to fight alone.
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