Chapter 8 - The Betrayal Came From the Man Matteo Trusted With His Life
Matteo's best friend was Gabriel.
Gabriel had been with him since childhood.
He had protected him during wars, business conflicts, betrayals, and family disputes.
He had carried Matteo's secrets longer than anyone.
And apparently, he had been selling them.
Matteo refused to believe it.
Sofia knew that.
"Gabriel isn't the traitor," he said.
Sofia looked at him.
"You don't want him to be."
"There's a difference."
"He knows every safe house."
"So do you."
"He has access to your accounts."
"So do you."
"He knew Leo's location."
"Many people knew."
Sofia shook her head.
"I don't have proof."
"Then you have suspicion."
"Yes."
Matteo turned away.
"We need evidence."
Alina stood between them.
"Then we get it."
They created a trap.
A false location.
A fake shipment.
A forged ledger.
The information was given to only five people.
If the enemy responded, they'd know the leak.
Two days later, the enemy attacked.
The trap worked.
Gabriel was not the one who responded.
It was Maria.
The woman who had cared for Leo since birth.
Alina felt betrayed.
Maria cried when they confronted her.
"I didn't know."
"Who forced you?"
She looked at Isabella.
"My son."
Her son had been taken years earlier.
Anton threatened to kill him.
Maria had been feeding Anton information.
But she did not know where Leo was being held.
She had only been passing messages.
Then another truth emerged.
The real traitor was Gabriel.
Maria had been unknowingly sending messages through him.
Gabriel confronted them before they could arrest him.
He arrived at the chapel with a gun.
"Step away from them."
Matteo stared.
"Gabriel."
"You're finished."
"Why?"
Gabriel laughed.
"Because your father offered me something you never could."
"What?"
"Freedom."
"By betraying me?"
"You think I betrayed you?"
Gabriel's voice cracked.
"Your father killed my family."
Everyone froze.
"Anton ordered the bombing that killed them."
Matteo lowered his gun.
"Then why work for him?"
"Because I wanted revenge."
"You killed innocent people."
"I know."
Gabriel looked at Alina.
"And Sofia knows the truth."
Sofia stepped forward.
"You knew about the ledger."
"Yes."
"You knew Clara was alive before she died."
"Yes."
"You knew Alina and I were twins."
Gabriel hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Matteo understood.
Gabriel had been keeping the secret from Anton.
He wasn't working for him anymore.
He had been playing both sides.
"Where is Anton?"
Gabriel looked at Leo.
"He's going to the old DeLuca shipping yard."
"Why?"
"Because he knows where the final evidence is."
Sofia's face changed.
"No."
Matteo looked at her.
"What?"
"The final evidence isn't in the ledger."
"Where?"
Sofia looked at Alina.
"You."
Alina frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"Mother tattooed the location onto you."
Alina stared.
"I don't have a tattoo."
"Not visible."
Sofia touched the back of Alina's neck.
"A tiny scar."
Alina remembered.
It had been there since childhood.
She had always thought it was from an accident.
Sofia revealed the code hidden in the scar.
A series of marks.
Coordinates.
A vault.
The final records were stored beneath the DeLuca shipping yard.
Anton had spent years searching.
He had believed the evidence was somewhere in a bank.
He had never suspected the code was carried by Alina.
The sisters embraced.
Then a loud explosion shook the chapel.
Matteo grabbed Leo.
"He's here."
Gunfire erupted outside.
The walls shook.
Sofia grabbed Alina.
"Stay behind me."
Matteo looked at them.
"For the first time, I finally understand why Leo chose you."
Alina looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because you're family."
He paused.
"And because you're the first person he trusts who isn't afraid of loving him."
Alina felt her heart break open.
Then Matteo took her face in his hands.
"I am."
She stared.
"Afraid?"
"Of loving you."
The gunfire grew louder.
He kissed her once.
Quick.
Desperate.
Real.
May you like
Then he turned toward the door.
"Let's finish this."
