Chapter 9 - The Man Behind the MaskVictor entered the mansion through the east gate.
His men overwhelmed the first security perimeter.
Lorenzo ordered everyone into the underground shelter.
I refused.
"My mother is upstairs."
"So is mine."
"We can't leave them."
"We won't."
We moved through the mansion while gunfire echoed outside.
Then Victor appeared.
He looked older than Lorenzo.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
A scar across his cheek.
He looked at me.
For the first time, his expression softened.
"Julia."
I froze.
"You know my name."
"I've watched you your entire life."
"Why?"
"Because you're the only thing I ever loved."
I stared.
"You abandoned me."
"I thought I was protecting you."
"You murdered people."
His expression hardened.
"I made mistakes."
"You destroyed families."
"I was trying to build something better."
"You call this better?"
He looked at Lorenzo.
"I wanted my son to inherit everything."
Lorenzo raised his weapon.
Victor laughed.
"Still protecting her."
Lorenzo's voice was cold.
"Always."
Victor revealed his final weapon.
The ledger wasn't merely financial.
It contained evidence of a secret government operation that had protected the Greco organization for decades.
If released, it would destroy politicians, judges, law enforcement officials, and criminal leaders.
Victor planned to sell it.
Lorenzo planned to destroy it.
I realized something.
Neither option would save innocent people.
May you like
Unless we exposed the truth carefully.
I had an idea.
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