Chapter 13 - The Rossi Empire Fell Apart, but Massimo Was Still Hunting the Two People He Couldn't ControlMonths passed.
The mansion was sold.
The companies were dismantled.
The criminal network collapsed.
Lorenzo testified.
My father entered witness protection.
My mother returned home.
Lily recovered enough to return to school.
And I?
I opened a small bookstore.
Lorenzo helped.
He said he wanted something honest.
We were almost happy.
Almost.
Then one morning, I found a letter beneath the door.
No stamp.
No address.
Just my name.
Inside:
You escaped the mansion. You escaped the empire. You did not escape me.
The next line made my blood run cold.
Lily knows where the money is.
I called Lorenzo.
He arrived in twelve minutes.
Lily was missing.
We searched the bookstore.
Hospital.
Apartment.
Nothing.
Then my phone rang.
Massimo.
“Come to the old Rossi mansion.”
Lorenzo grabbed the phone.
“Touch her and I'll kill you.”
Massimo laughed.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“This isn't about money.”
“What do you want?”
“Norah.”
I felt cold.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That Project Rosa wasn't created to destroy the Rossi family.”
I whispered:
“What was it created for?”
Massimo smiled through the phone.
“To create it.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Your father and Matteo weren't fighting corruption.”
“They were building a new empire.”
“And your mother tried to stop them.”
I looked at Lorenzo.
His face had gone white.
Massimo continued.
“Your entire life was designed.”
“Why?”
“Because you were the last person who could legally control the Rossi assets.”
My heart stopped.
He wanted me.
Not as a hostage.
As the missing heir.
Lorenzo took the phone.
“You're lying.”
“Ask her.”
He hung up.
Lorenzo looked at me.
“You're the heir.”
“No.”
“The documents.”
“They were fake.”
“Were they?”
I remembered the succession file.
My name.
My father's warnings.
The archive.
Everything.
Lily was still missing.
We returned to the mansion.
It looked abandoned.
Windows broken.
Rooms empty.
But the security system activated when we entered.
The old intercom crackled.
Massimo spoke.
“Welcome home, Norah.”
Lorenzo raised his gun.
Then the doors locked.
A countdown began.
10
9
8
Massimo laughed.
“The final inheritance.”
7
6
Lorenzo grabbed my hand.
“Stay with me.”
5
4
“Whatever happens.”
3
“I love you.”
2
My heart shattered.
1
The room exploded in darkness.
Then Lily's voice came through the speakers.
“Norah…”
May you like
A pause.
“Help me.”
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