Chapter 4 - The Recording Elena Never Wanted Gabriel to Hear
The second recorder contained only one file.
Eight minutes and forty-two seconds.
Gabriel wanted to hear it immediately.
Sophie refused.
"Your mother said it was for me."
Gabriel stared at her.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Then play it."
Sophie shook her head.
"Not until I understand why she trusted me."
Gabriel was silent.
Then Elena spoke from the hospital bed.
"Sophie."
Sophie turned.
Elena's eyes remained covered.
But her face was peaceful.
"I knew you would ask."
Sophie approached.
"Why me?"
"Because you had nothing to gain."
Gabriel frowned.
Elena continued.
"Everyone in this family wanted something."
"Money," Isabella whispered.
"Power," Elena said.
"Control."
Her fingers found Sophie's.
"You wanted your sister to finish school."
Sophie swallowed.
"That's all?"
"That is more than enough."
Elena explained that Carlo had created a hidden plan before his death.
He suspected the family would turn against itself.
So he divided the evidence.
One portion went to Elena.
One to Isabella.
And one was hidden where nobody in the family would search.
But Carlo had made one final mistake.
He trusted Thomas Reed.
Thomas betrayed him.
Carlo had discovered it too late.
"He wasn't killed because of the money," Elena whispered.
Gabriel's expression tightened.
"Then why?"
"Because your father was going to expose everyone."
Elena paused.
"Not just criminals."
Gabriel looked confused.
"Who else?"
"Politicians. Judges. Businessmen."
The scale of it became clear.
Carlo had been building a case against a network far larger than the DeLuca family.
Then he had died.
Gabriel whispered, "And Vincent?"
"He wanted the empire."
"And Margaret?"
"She wanted protection."
"Thomas?"
"He wanted everything."
Gabriel looked toward Sophie.
"And the third name?"
Elena fell silent.
Sophie realized Gabriel was talking about the name from the recording.
Elena finally said:
"Adrian."
Gabriel's face drained of color.
"Adrian?"
His younger cousin.
The man Gabriel had raised like a brother.
The man who had stood beside him at his father's funeral.
The man who had helped Gabriel rebuild the family business.
"No."
Elena's voice was gentle.
"Yes."
Gabriel stood.
"That's impossible."
"He was there that night."
"Mom."
"He heard your father argue with Thomas."
Gabriel paced.
"He was nineteen."
"Old enough to understand."
"He wouldn't."
Elena touched his hand.
"Love does not make people innocent."
Gabriel left the room.
Sophie followed.
He stopped in the hallway.
"I don't believe her."
"You believe your mother."
"I believe she's frightened."
"That's different."
Gabriel looked at her.
"You think Adrian did it?"
"I think you need proof."
That answer calmed him.
For the first time, he looked at Sophie not as an employee.
As an equal.
"You're right."
He stepped closer.
"You've been doing that a lot."
"Doing what?"
"Being right when I don't want you to be."
Sophie almost smiled.
"Someone has to."
His eyes remained on hers a second too long.
Then his phone rang.
Adrian.
Gabriel answered.
"Where are you?"
"At the estate."
"Stay there."
"I thought you might want to talk."
Gabriel's voice became cold.
"I do."
The call ended.
At the estate, Adrian waited in the library.
He was thirty-five, handsome, composed, and dressed in a gray suit.
When Gabriel entered, Adrian smiled.
"You're back."
Gabriel closed the door.
"Why were you at the estate?"
"I came to see Vincent."
"Vincent isn't here."
"I know."
Gabriel sat opposite him.
"Do you know where he is?"
"No."
"Do you know where Margaret is?"
"No."
Gabriel stared.
Adrian sighed.
"You think I'm involved."
"I think everyone is involved until proven otherwise."
Adrian smiled sadly.
"That's not the Gabriel I knew."
"You don't know me anymore."
Silence.
Then Adrian leaned forward.
"Your father was murdered."
Gabriel froze.
"How do you know?"
"I saw it."
The room went still.
Gabriel's hand moved beneath the table.
"You were there."
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Adrian looked away.
"Thomas argued with your father."
"And?"
"Vincent came in."
"And?"
"Your father told them he was going to expose them."
Gabriel's voice lowered.
"Who killed him?"
Adrian looked at him.
"I didn't see."
"You're lying."
Adrian stood.
"I was nineteen."
"So?"
"I was terrified."
Gabriel stood too.
"You watched my father die."
"I watched him collapse."
"That's not what you said."
Adrian's face hardened.
"I didn't kill him."
"Then tell me who did."
"I can't."
Gabriel grabbed his collar.
"Why?"
Adrian whispered:
"Because she's still alive."
Gabriel released him.
"Who?"
Adrian looked toward the door.
"Your father's killer."
A gunshot shattered the window.
Adrian fell.
Sophie screamed.
Gabriel pulled her down.
Security rushed in.
Adrian was bleeding from the shoulder.
The shooter was gone.
Gabriel pressed a hand against the wound.
"Stay with me."
Adrian coughed.
"I told you."
"What?"
"The killer."
Gabriel leaned closer.
Adrian whispered one word.
"Elena."
Gabriel froze.
Sophie stared.
May you like
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Your mother knows who did it."
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