Chapter 7 - The Chapel Where the Truth Was Buried
The old Moretti chapel had been abandoned for nearly twenty years.
My father had been buried there.
His name was carved into the stone.
Antonio Moretti.
I arrived with Rafael.
Isabella wanted to come.
I refused.
Then she looked at me.
“You once trusted me to keep you alive.”
I sighed.
“You're impossible.”
“So are you.”
She came.
Lily stayed with Sofia, under heavy guard.
I trusted neither the situation nor Sofia.
But I had no choice.
The chapel doors were open.
Inside were candles.
An empty coffin.
And Matteo.
He looked exactly like the photographs.
Older.
Calm.
Almost gentle.
“Alessandro.”
I raised my weapon.
“You're finished.”
He smiled.
“No.”
“You tried to take my daughter.”
“I tried to reclaim my family.”
“She is not yours.”
“She is a Moretti.”
“She is my daughter.”
Matteo looked at Isabella.
“And your mother’s daughter.”
Isabella stepped forward.
“What?”
Matteo laughed.
“Your mother knew everything.”
Isabella froze.
“You knew my mother?”
“I paid her.”
“For what?”
“To watch Alessandro.”
Isabella's face went white.
“No.”
“She was meant to report every movement.”
I turned toward Isabella.
“Is this true?”
Her eyes filled.
“My mother worked for him.”
“For how long?”
“I didn't know.”
Matteo smiled.
“Your mother tried to quit.”
He looked at me.
“So I killed her.”
Isabella collapsed to her knees.
I moved toward her.
Matteo's men raised weapons.
“Don't.”
I stopped.
Matteo stepped forward.
“Your father hid the final ledger.”
“Where?”
“In your daughter's bloodline.”
I said nothing.
“The trust is only half the plan.”
“What else?”
“Your father left one final account.”
He pointed toward the altar.
A stone panel opened.
Inside was an old book.
I picked it up.
It contained names.
Not criminals.
Children.
Heirs.
Families.
People whose futures had been traded through political marriages.
My father had been trying to dismantle a system that had existed before him.
Matteo wanted to continue it.
Then he showed me a video.
Lily.
Alive.
Sitting in a room.
Sofia beside her.
My heart stopped.
“Where is she?”
“At home.”
“What?”
Matteo smiled.
“She is.”
I called Rafael.
He answered immediately.
“Boss?”
“Where's Lily?”
Silence.
Then:
“She's gone.”
My world froze.
Matteo laughed.
“Now you understand.”
I looked at Isabella.
Her face was shattered.
“Get her back.”
Matteo nodded.
“Give me the trust.”
“No.”
“Then your daughter dies.”
I stepped toward him.
“You want the trust?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
Isabella grabbed my arm.
“No.”
I looked at her.
“Trust me.”
Those words brought me back.
I realized Matteo wanted me emotional.
He wanted me alone.
He wanted me to sign something.
I smiled.
“You made one mistake.”
Matteo frowned.
“You assumed I'd negotiate.”
I fired.
The room exploded into chaos.
Rafael's men stormed through the side entrance.
Matteo escaped.
We found his phone.
The last location was a warehouse near the river.
I drove.
Every second mattered.
We arrived to find Sofia standing outside.
She was crying.
“Lily is inside.”
“Where's Matteo?”
“I don't know.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“Please.”
I grabbed her shoulders.
“Where?”
Sofia pointed.
“Basement.”
We rushed inside.
A man attacked Rafael.
Gunfire erupted.
I found Lily tied to a chair.
I tore the restraints apart.
“Daddy.”
I held her.
She cried.
“I knew you would come.”
I kissed her hair.
“I always will.”
Isabella arrived moments later.
She collapsed beside us.
Then Lily looked behind me.
“Mom.”
Isabella froze.
Lily pointed.
“Uncle Samuel.”
I turned.
Samuel stood at the end of the corridor.
Gun in hand.
He smiled.
“Hello, Alessandro.”
He raised the weapon.
I moved in front of Lily and Isabella.
A shot fired.
Samuel dropped.
Not dead.
Rafael had fired first.
We were finally safe.
But Matteo was still free.
May you like
And Samuel had one final message.
“He's going after Sofia's brother.”
