Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO OWNED THE HOUSE
Victor returned to the estate to find the gates open.
Security cameras were disabled.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
Paulie whispered, “Trap.”
Victor nodded.
They entered.
Nothing appeared disturbed.
That made it worse.
Richard Vale was waiting in the dining room.
He was holding a cup of coffee.
“Good evening.”
Victor raised his gun.
Richard smiled.
“If you kill me, the ledger disappears.”
Victor stopped.
Richard looked at Tessa.
“You've been searching for your father's killer.”
Tessa stepped forward.
“You killed my mother.”
Richard shrugged.
“She knew too much.”
Tessa's face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because your father hid the evidence.”
“And you needed the ledger.”
“Exactly.”
Richard stood.
“But there's something you still don't understand.”
He looked at Victor.
“Your father wasn't trying to destroy the organization.”
Victor's expression tightened.
“He was trying to control it.”
Richard continued.
“He built the network. He created the accounts. He created the judges. The ledger isn't evidence of a crime.”
He smiled.
“It is a map of power.”
Victor's silence told Tessa everything.
His father had not been the innocent man Victor believed him to be.
Richard turned toward Tessa.
“And your father helped him.”
Tessa shook her head.
“No.”
“He tried to expose them afterward.”
Richard nodded.
“That is why he died.”
Victor stepped forward.
“Where is my mother?”
Richard smiled.
“Safe.”
Then the lights went out.
Victor's men moved.
But Richard had already disappeared.
They found Evelyn Romano inside her bedroom.
Alive.
Shaken.
And holding a letter.
“Victor.”
He approached.
She looked at Tessa.
“I am sorry.”
Tessa's eyes filled with tears.
“You knew.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I knew your father.”
“You knew he was murdered.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.”
Tessa's voice broke.
“You let me believe my mother died naturally.”
“I was wrong.”
Victor looked at his mother.
“You lied to me for twelve years.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You taught me that secrets keep families alive.”
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“And now you know the cost.”
Victor looked away.
Tessa reached for his hand.
He looked at her.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't need to.
For the first time, Victor allowed himself to lean into someone else's strength.
Then Paulie entered.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Richard's car.”
“And?”
“He left something.”
A folder.
Inside was a photograph.
Victor and Tessa.
Taken that morning.
The photograph had been taken from inside the house.
May you like
On the back were six words:
You should have left her alone.
