Chapter 6: The Man Who Wanted Her Gone
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of shouting.
Not loud.
Controlled.
Which somehow felt worse.
I opened my bedroom door and stepped into the hallway.
Two guards stood near the stairs.
Dante was speaking with Rico.
“He knows too much.””
Rico’s voice was cold.
“Who helped him?””
“We’re investigating.””
“Investigate faster.””
I had never heard him sound like that.
Not angry.
Not emotional.
Just final.
Dante noticed me first.
“Clara.””
Both men turned.
Rico’s expression changed immediately.
The dangerous mask disappeared.
“Did we wake you?””
I almost smiled.
“Your house is not exactly quiet.””
He looked uncomfortable.
Like he wasn’t used to someone speaking to him normally.
“You should rest.””
“I should get answers.””
That stopped him.
Good.
I was tired of people protecting me by lying.
“What happened last night?””
Rico exchanged a look with Dante.
I crossed my arms.
“No.””
“No?””
“No more secrets.””
The words surprised even me.
But they were true.
I had spent my entire life being the last person to know.
Never again.
Rico studied me.
Then slowly nodded.
“You’re right.””
Dante looked surprised.
Rico continued.
“Matteo knows you exist.””
“And?””
“He wants you gone.””
“Why?””
“Because Isabella left evidence.””
“What evidence?””
“A record.””
I frowned.
“What kind of record?””
“Everything.””
He walked toward the table and placed a folder down.
“Financial crimes. Illegal deals. Names.””
I opened it.
Inside were documents.
Photos.
Dates.
Transactions.
And there was Isabella’s handwriting everywhere.
My mother had always told me Isabella was brave.
Now I understood.
She wasn’t just trying to escape.
She was fighting.
“She knew this could get her killed.””
Rico nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t she run?””
His eyes met mine.
“Because of me.””
I waited.
“She believed if she ran, Matteo would come after Leo.””
My fingers tightened around the papers.
“She stayed to protect him.””
“Yes.””
A strange sadness filled me.
I had lost a mother I never knew.
But Leo had lost the mother he remembered.
And Rico had lost both.
I closed the folder.
“Where is Matteo now?””
Dante answered.
“Unknown.””
“That means you have no idea.””
Nobody corrected me.
I looked at Rico.
“You’re scared.””
He didn’t deny it.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
“Of him?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
His eyes moved toward the stairs.
Where Leo was sleeping.
“Of losing another person I love.””
The words stayed with me.
That afternoon, Rico took me to Isabella’s old room.
I almost refused.
It felt too personal.
But something pulled me forward.
The room was untouched.
Her books were still on the shelf.
Her perfume bottle still sat on the dresser.
A white scarf rested on the chair.
Like she might walk in any second.
“She loved this room,” Rico said.
I looked around.
“Did she talk about me?””
He went quiet.
Then nodded.
“All the time.””
I swallowed.
“What did she say?””
Rico smiled sadly.
“She said you had your father’s stubbornness.””
I looked at him.
“I’ve never met him.””
“You have.””
I froze.
“What?””
He looked away.
“When you were a baby, Isabella brought you to me.””
My breath caught.
“Then why don’t I remember?””
“Because you were six months old.””
I stared.
“What happened?””
Rico sat down.
“She wanted me to see you.””
His voice became softer.
“She wanted me to hold you.””
“And?””
“And I did.””
A tear formed in his eye.
Just one.
“I held my daughter for three hours.””
I couldn’t speak.
“Then Isabella took you away.””
“Why?””
“Because Matteo threatened her.””
The room felt smaller.
“She thought if Matteo knew about you, you would become a target.””
I looked at the walls.
At the room where my mother had once stood.
“She gave me away to save me.””
“Yes.””
A knock interrupted us.
Dante entered.
“Boss.””
Rico immediately stood.
“What?””
Dante looked at me.
Then back at Rico.
“We found Matteo.””
The air changed.
“Where?””
Dante hesitated.
“He’s coming here.””
Rico’s expression hardened.
“When?””
“Tonight.””
I looked at him.
“He knows I’m here.””
“Yes.””
“And he’s coming anyway?””
Dante nodded.
Rico walked to the door.
“Then tonight ends this.””
But before he left, his phone buzzed.
He looked at the message.
And all color disappeared from his face.
I stepped closer.
“What is it?””
He didn’t answer.
He handed me the phone.
The message contained a picture.
Leo.
Sleeping in his bed.
Taken minutes ago.
Below it were the words:
May you like
*You protected Isabella’s daughter.*
*Now watch me take your son.*
