Chapter 7 - Lorenzo’s Father Was Alive—and the Truth About Norah’s Family Changed EverythingWe escaped the warehouse with Lily.
But Lorenzo barely spoke.
He sat inside the SUV staring at nothing.
I understood.
His entire life had been built around a dead father.
Now he had proof.
Alive.
Prisoner.
And connected to mine.
Lily leaned against my shoulder.
“Where are we going?”
“Safe house.”
She nodded.
Then whispered:
“Norah.”
“Yes?”
“There's something else.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“When they took me, I heard them talking.”
“About what?”
“You.”
I looked at her.
“What did they say?”
“They said you're not really a servant.”
Silence.
Lorenzo turned toward us.
“Explain.”
Lily shook her head.
“I don't know.”
I closed my eyes.
The secret I had buried for years felt heavier.
“My father taught me how to investigate.”
Lorenzo watched me.
“But why?”
“Because he knew they would come for me someday.”
“Who?”
“The people he was investigating.”
Lorenzo asked quietly.
“What were you told about your mother?”
I froze.
“She died when I was ten.”
“That's what your father told you?”
“Yes.”
“What if that isn't true?”
My heart stopped.
Lorenzo pulled a document from his coat.
“My father's records.”
He opened it.
My mother's name appeared.
Evelyn Sullivan.
Beside it:
Asset: ROSA
I stared.
“That can't be.”
“She was part of the operation.”
“No.”
“Norah.”
“No!”
Lorenzo placed another photograph on the table.
My mother.
Standing beside Matteo Rossi.
And beside Massimo.
My entire life shifted.
“My mother knew your family.”
“Yes.”
“My father knew yours.”
“Yes.”
“And they were involved in Project Rosa.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“Then why did they abandon us?”
“I don't know.”
A voice came from the front seat.
Marcus.
“Sir.”
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
The vehicle slowed.
“The road ahead is blocked.”
Lorenzo looked outside.
An overturned truck.
“Everyone stay inside.”
He stepped out.
Gunfire erupted immediately.
The windshield shattered.
I pulled Lily down.
Lorenzo returned fire.
Then a second wave attacked from the opposite side.
“Move!” Lorenzo shouted.
Marcus slammed the accelerator.
The SUV crashed through the barricade.
We escaped.
But when we reached the safe house, Lorenzo received a call.
He answered.
A familiar voice said:
“Your father wants to speak with you.”
Lorenzo froze.
Then—
“Put him on.”
Static.
Then an older voice.
“Lorenzo.”
His hand tightened around the phone.
“Dad.”
“I am sorry.”
“For what?”
“For trusting the wrong man.”
Lorenzo's eyes moved to me.
“Who?”
A pause.
“Massimo.”
Then another pause.
“And your father, Norah.”
My blood turned cold.
“What about my father?”
“He died protecting you.”
I swallowed.
“From whom?”
The voice whispered—
“From me.”
The call ended.
Lorenzo stared at the phone.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, he said:
“Your father wasn't trying to destroy my family.”
“What was he doing?”
“Protecting it.”
“And my mother?”
He looked at me.
“She disappeared because she was protecting you.”
I closed my eyes.
Then Lily screamed.
We turned.
The safe house window exploded.
A sniper shot struck the wall.
Another bullet.
Then another.
May you like
Lorenzo pulled me down.
But the fourth bullet struck Lily.
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