Chapter 5 - THE HOUSE OF GHOSTS
The Ferrante family estate had stood empty for seven years.
No one entered.
The windows were boarded.
The gardens had become wild.
The mansion carried the silence of a place where too many secrets had been buried.
Riona walked beside Aldrich.
Anel stayed between them.
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She almost smiled.
Aldrich opened the front door.
Dust.
Broken furniture.
Old photographs.
Anel looked around.
“This place is creepy.”
Aldrich laughed.
“Yes.”
“Why did you bring us here?”
“Because something important is hidden here.”
Anel looked at Riona.
“Do adults always hide things?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because they're afraid.”
Aldrich glanced at Riona.
“Sometimes.”
They searched the house.
Nothing.
Then Anel noticed an old piano.
“Mama.”
“What?”
“That picture.”
He pointed.
Behind the piano was a portrait of Cosmo.
Riona approached.
On the frame, beneath dust, were tiny scratches.
A code.
Aldrich recognized it.
Numbers.
Coordinates.
They moved to the basement.
Behind a brick wall was a metal safe.
Aldrich opened it.
Inside.
The original ledger.
Letters.
Photographs.
A recording.
And one envelope labeled:
For Aldrich, when Riona returns.
He opened it.
His grandfather's handwriting.
Aldrich,
If you're reading this, then you have finally met the son you never knew you had.
Forgive me.
I kept him from you because I believed you were too angry to protect him.
Your father was part of the conspiracy.
Roland worked for Voss.
The accusation against Riona was manufactured.
I knew.
But by the time I could prove it, Riona had already disappeared.
She trusted me because I protected her.
Do not punish her for surviving.
Do not take Anel because you believe blood gives you ownership.
Earn his trust.
Earn hers.
That is how you repair what was broken.
Aldrich's eyes burned.
Riona read over his shoulder.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“He knew everything.”
“Yes.”
She began crying.
Aldrich looked at her.
“Come here.”
She shook her head.
“I don't deserve—”
“Stop.”
He took her hand.
“You don't have to deserve comfort.”
For several seconds, they stood there.
Then Anel asked,
“Why are you crying?”
Riona wiped her eyes.
“Because your grandfather was a good man.”
Anel looked at Aldrich.
“Was he nice?”
“Sometimes.”
Anel smiled.
“Then I liked him.”
Aldrich laughed softly.
Then the recording began.
Cosmo's voice filled the basement.
“Aldrich, if you're hearing this, listen carefully.”
He explained the entire conspiracy.
Voss.
Roland.
Aldrich's father.
The forged evidence.
Riona's escape.
The hidden child.
And one final revelation.
“Riona was not the target.”
Aldrich frowned.
“She was leverage.”
“Against you.”
Cosmo continued.
“They wanted Aldrich broken.”
“Because a broken heir is easier to control than a strong one.”
Aldrich's fists tightened.
Then Cosmo said something that changed everything.
“The real betrayal came from inside your own bloodline.”
Aldrich looked at Riona.
“My father.”
“No.”
She pointed to the name in the ledger.
“Your father's brother.”
Aldrich froze.
Uncle Matteo.
The man who had raised him after his father's death.
The man Aldrich trusted most.
The man who had always told him Riona had betrayed him.
Aldrich's face went cold.
Then the lights went out.
Gunfire exploded through the basement windows.
Riona grabbed Anel.
Aldrich returned fire.
“Upstairs!”
They moved.
Men entered the house.
Aldrich and Riona fought side by side.
For the first time in eight years, their movements fit together again.
As though no time had passed.
Aldrich looked at her.
“You still remember.”
“So do you.”
They escaped through the rear passage.
Outside, they saw a line of black vehicles.
Matteo stood beneath the trees.
Aldrich's uncle.
He applauded slowly.
“Beautiful.”
Aldrich raised his weapon.
“You're done.”
Matteo smiled.
“No.”
He pointed toward the road.
A van door opened.
Inside sat Greg Mallister.
Riona's mother's brother.
Alive.
And beside him stood Matteo.
“Not until you understand who your real enemy is.”
Riona stopped breathing.
“Uncle Greg?”
Greg looked at her.
“I thought you were dead.”
She whispered.
“I thought you were.”
Matteo smiled.
May you like
“That's the thing about ghosts.”
Then he fired.
