Chapter 3 - The File Hidden Behind The Wall
The first threat arrived on a Tuesday.
There was no note.
No phone call.
Just a red envelope placed on Serena's desk.
Inside was a photograph.
Her.
Leaving the foundation.
And beneath it, handwritten:
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT HIM YEARS AGO.
Serena's hands went cold.
She called security.
Roman arrived twelve minutes later.
He took one look at the photograph and his face changed.
"Who saw this?"
"Only me."
"You're lying."
She frowned.
"Excuse me?"
"You're not shaking."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"When you're frightened, your hands shake."
She looked down.
He was right.
Her fingers were still.
"Maybe I'm getting better."
"Or you've known for a while."
Her heart stopped.
"What are you talking about?"
Roman looked at her.
"Someone has been watching you."
"I know."
"What?"
She went to the filing cabinet.
Opened the bottom drawer.
Pulled out six photographs.
Roman stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because every time I tell you something, you make it disappear."
"That's my job."
"No."
Her voice was quiet.
"That's your excuse."
The room went silent.
She spread the photographs across the desk.
"They started three months ago."
Roman's eyes hardened.
"Three months?"
"Yes."
"You've been receiving threats for three months?"
"Not threats."
She tapped one photo.
"Warnings."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because I think someone wants me to find something."
"Something?"
"I don't know."
She took a breath.
"After the balcony that night, I went through old files."
Roman's expression shifted.
"What files?"
"Marriage records."
He stared.
"Why?"
"Because I started wondering why you married me."
Roman sat down.
"Serena."
"Don't."
She looked at him.
"I don't want another lie."
He was silent.
Then he said:
"I married you because my father wanted leverage."
She stopped breathing.
"What?"
"He knew I loved you."
She stared.
"You loved me?"
"Before we were married."
Her eyes filled.
"Then why did you treat me like a stranger?"
"Because the day I proposed, I received a call saying you would die if I didn't take control of the family."
She stepped back.
"You could have told me."
"I thought distance would protect you."
"You humiliated me."
"I know."
"You made me think you regretted marrying me."
"I know."
"You told me never to touch you."
His face broke.
"I know."
She wiped her tears.
"And you thought that was protection?"
"No."
He looked at her.
"I thought it was the only thing I could do."
She turned away.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Roman noticed something.
The final photograph.
A wall.
An old house.
"The Easton property."
Serena nodded.
"My parents lived there before they sold it."
Roman looked at her.
"I've seen this."
"When?"
"Your father sent me a file the year before he died."
She turned.
"My father knew you?"
Roman nodded.
"He warned me about Vescari."
Her heart raced.
"Where's the file?"
"I don't know."
"Find it."
"I will."
They returned to the Easton property that evening.
The house had been empty for years.
Dust covered the floors.
Old wallpaper peeled from the walls.
Serena walked through the hallway where she had spent summers as a child.
Roman followed.
"Here."
She stopped at a portrait.
Her father.
Her mother.
Herself at eighteen.
She reached behind the frame.
A small key fell.
Roman caught it.
"What does it open?"
"No idea."
They searched.
Bedroom.
Study.
Kitchen.
Nothing.
Then Serena noticed something.
A section of molding near the staircase had been replaced.
She pressed it.
It moved.
A hidden panel opened.
Behind it was a narrow wall safe.
The key fit.
Inside were documents.
Bank statements.
Photographs.
A small black notebook.
Roman opened it.
The first page contained a single name.
VESCARI.
The second.
GRAVES.
The third.
HARMON CRUZ.
Serena stared.
"Those are people at the gala."
Roman flipped pages.
"These are financial records."
"And this?"
At the bottom of the safe was an old photograph.
Roman and Serena.
Not at their wedding.
Seven years earlier.
She was standing outside a hospital.
Roman was talking to her father.
Serena frowned.
"I don't remember this."
Roman did.
His face went pale.
"Neither do I."
A voice came from behind them.
"You weren't supposed to."
They turned.
An elderly man stood in the doorway.
Serena recognized him.
"Mr. Hale."
Her father's old business partner.
The man smiled.
"Your father knew the marriage wasn't accidental."
Roman raised a hand.
"Who are you really?"
The old man answered.
"Someone who spent twenty years making sure your father wasn't killed for nothing."
He pointed at the notebook.
"That is the reason they want you dead."
Serena opened the notebook.
On the final page was a sentence.
THE DUCA FAMILY WAS BUILT ON THE HARRINGTON TRUST.
Roman's expression changed.
"The trust."
"What is it?" Serena asked.
"A dormant account."
"How much?"
Roman looked at the number.
Billions.
Serena stared.
"Why would my father know about your family money?"
"He was investigating money laundering."
"Then why did he never tell me?"
"Because you were already in danger."
The old man stepped closer.
"Your father believed Roman would eventually be forced to choose between the family and you."
Serena looked at Roman.
"He was right."
Roman shook his head.
"No."
He took her hand.
"I choose you."
The words were simple.
But for the first time in six years, he meant them without reservation.
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire shattered the windows.
Roman pulled Serena to the floor.
The old man disappeared behind the table.
Someone outside shouted.
"Give us the notebook!"
Roman grabbed Serena.
"We're leaving."
"But—"
"No."
They ran through the rear corridor.
Roman pushed open the cellar door.
A tunnel led beneath the property.
They crawled through darkness while footsteps thundered above.
At the far end was an old garage.
They emerged into the rain.
Roman looked at Serena.
She was breathing hard.
He reached toward her face.
Then stopped.
He remembered his own words.
Never touch me in public.
This wasn't public.
But he hesitated anyway.
Serena saw it.
"You're allowed."
He gently brushed a strand of wet hair from her cheek.
She closed her eyes.
For one fragile second, the world was quiet.
Then Roman's phone rang.
Luca.
"Boss."
"What?"
"We have confirmation."
"Of what?"
"Someone inside your organization has been feeding Vescari information."
Roman's hand tightened around the phone.
"Who?"
A pause.
Then:
"Your second-in-command."
Roman's eyes met Serena's.
May you like
The betrayal wasn't outside the family.
It was already inside.
