Chapter 7 - THE BETRAYAL INSIDE THE COSTA FAMILY
Roman returned to Manhattan with one goal.
Find Elena.
But someone inside his organization was leaking information.
Every safe location was compromised.
Every move was anticipated.
Roman suspected his security chief.
Chloe suspected someone else.
“Your family,” she said.
Roman looked at her.
“My family?”
“Not Elena.”
“Who?”
“Someone who knew about her disappearance.”
Roman considered it.
“My uncle.”
“Does he have access?”
“Yes.”
“What is his name?”
“Victor.”
Chloe remembered the name.
“Victor Costa.”
Roman nodded.
“Why?”
“He was the only person who told everyone Elena was dead.”
Roman went silent.
They investigated.
The evidence appeared slowly.
Payments.
Phone calls.
Secret meetings.
Victor had been working with Victoria Voss for years.
But the biggest shock came from an old hospital record.
Elena hadn't disappeared.
She had been hidden.
By Victor.
Why?
Because Elena had discovered the truth about the Costa organization.
And the baby?
The child belonged to Roman.
Elena had been pregnant when she disappeared.
Victor had taken the baby.
Then he had used the child as leverage to control Elena.
Roman stared at the records.
His hands shook.
“My nephew.”
Chloe placed a hand on his arm.
“We'll find him.”
Roman looked at her.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
He looked down at her hand.
Then back into her eyes.
“You're not afraid of me anymore.”
“I was.”
“And now?”
“Now I'm afraid of what happens if I lose you.”
Roman said nothing.
The words affected him more than she expected.
Then the door opened.
A guard rushed in.
“Boss, we found Victoria.”
Roman stood.
“Where?”
“She contacted us.”
“Location?”
“An abandoned church in Queens.”
Roman took his coat.
Chloe followed.
“No.”
“I'm coming.”
“You're pregnant.”
“And I'm the reason Harrison thinks you will come.”
Roman looked at her.
She was right.
They went.
Victoria stood inside the empty church.
No guards.
No weapons visible.
She looked exhausted.
Roman raised his gun.
“Where is my sister?”
Victoria smiled sadly.
“Still alive.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
“Where is my son?”
Victoria's eyes moved to Chloe.
“That's why she is here.”
Chloe frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Victoria sighed.
“Harrison wasn't supposed to leave you.”
“What?”
“He was supposed to bring you to Roman.”
Chloe felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because your pregnancy changed the plan.”
Roman stepped forward.
“Explain.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Harrison's company wasn't built only on logistics.”
She pointed toward Chloe.
“Her father owned a financial network.”
Chloe froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“My father died when I was twelve.”
“Officially.”
Chloe's face went pale.
Victoria continued.
“Your father disappeared because he discovered the same network Victor was using.”
Roman understood.
“Harrison married Chloe because of her family.”
Chloe staggered backward.
“No.”
Victoria nodded.
“He needed access to her inheritance.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“And the baby?”
Victoria looked at Chloe's stomach.
“Your child is the legal heir to a trust worth hundreds of millions.”
Silence.
Chloe suddenly understood.
Harrison hadn't abandoned her because he stopped loving her.
He had abandoned her because he thought she was worth more dead than alive.
Roman lowered his weapon.
“Where is Elena?”
Victoria smiled.
“Ask Victor.”
A gunshot exploded.
Victoria fell.
Roman immediately pulled Chloe behind him.
The church erupted in chaos.
Victor appeared at the doorway.
He looked at Roman.
“Hello, nephew.”
Roman's face became stone.
Victor smiled.
“You should have stayed away from my business.”
Roman raised his weapon.
“You stole my sister.”
“I protected the family.”
“You stole my son.”
“I protected the empire.”
Roman's voice became deadly.
“You're not family.”
Victor laughed.
“Neither is she.”
He pointed toward Chloe.
“She is the reason everything falls apart.”
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
Roman turned toward Chloe.
She was pale.
But standing.
“Roman?”
He took her hand.
“We're ending this.”
May you like
She nodded.
“Together.”
