Chapter 5 - The Name My Father BuriedMy mother told us everything.
My father had been part of Lorenzo's father's inner circle.
He had been trusted.
Loved.
Considered family.
Then he betrayed them.
But there was a reason.
He had discovered that Lorenzo's father intended to eliminate several innocent families connected to the organization.
My father refused.
He stole the ledger to expose the plan.
Matteo hunted him.
Lorenzo's father believed he had betrayed them for money.
My father disappeared.
Years later, he died under an assumed name.
I had grown up believing he abandoned us.
The truth was worse.
He had sacrificed himself to keep me alive.
Lorenzo listened without interrupting.
When my mother finished, he looked at me.
"I owe you an apology."
"For what?"
"My father spent twenty years believing your father was a traitor."
"He wasn't."
"I know."
"And you?"
"I believed him too."
I swallowed.
"What changed?"
He looked at my mother.
"She did."
My mother smiled sadly.
"Your father loved you."
"I know."
"He loved me too."
Lorenzo's expression softened.
Then he said something unexpected.
"My father was wrong."
The room went silent.
It was a sentence that could have destroyed the foundation of the Greco organization.
But Lorenzo didn't hesitate.
"My father built an empire on fear," he continued. "I inherited it."
He looked at me.
"But I'm not going to let it destroy you."
I felt tears burn my eyes.
"Why do you care so much?"
His answer came quietly.
"Because somewhere along the way, you became the only person in my life I couldn't imagine losing."
My heart stopped.
Neither of us moved.
Then my mother quietly left the room.
The door closed.
Lorenzo and I stood alone.
"You shouldn't say things like that."
"Why?"
"Because you're my boss."
"I can change that."
I stared.
"What?"
He stepped closer.
"I can stop being your boss."
"Lorenzo..."
"I've been trying not to say this for years."
My heart raced.
"Then don't."
He stopped.
"Why?"
"Because if you say it, everything changes."
He looked into my eyes.
"Everything already changed."
Then he kissed me.
It was gentle.
Brief.
But it was enough.
When he pulled away, neither of us spoke.
Then his phone rang.
His expression changed.
"What?"
He listened.
"Where?"
Silence.
"Send everyone."
He ended the call.
"What happened?"
"Matteo found the ledger."
My stomach dropped.
"Where?"
May you like
He looked at me.
"In your apartment."
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