Chapter 6 - The Father's Betrayal
Sophia laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because the alternative was screaming.
“My father is tied to a chair.”
“Was tied,” Daniel said.
“You saw the video.”
“I helped trace it.”
Antonio kept the gun against him.
“Explain quickly.”
Daniel drove toward an abandoned warehouse controlled by the Russos.
“The footage was prerecorded. Carlo and Peter Moretti—Sophia's father—have been communicating for months.”
Sophia went pale.
“No.”
Daniel handed Antonio a phone.
Messages filled the screen.
Her father's name.
Carlo's encrypted number.
Meetings.
Transfers.
Plans.
Sophia shook her head.
“He wouldn't.”
Antonio read silently.
His expression revealed nothing.
Sophia hated him for that composure.
“Say something.”
“These can be fabricated.”
Daniel nodded.
“They can.”
“Then why show us?”
“Because I know where Peter is.”
The warehouse was empty except for one illuminated office.
Inside sat Sophia's father.
Untied.
Alone.
Sophia stopped in the doorway.
“Dad?”
Peter Moretti stood.
He looked older than she remembered.
“Sophia.”
She didn't move toward him.
“Where's Mia?”
“Safe.”
“With Carlo?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
Peter looked at Antonio.
“I need to speak to my daughter alone.”
Antonio almost smiled.
“No.”
“Antonio.”
Sophia touched his arm.
“I need this.”
He studied her face.
Then nodded.
“I'll be outside.”
Peter waited until the door closed.
Sophia slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
Her father didn't react.
“You let me think you were kidnapped.”
“I needed Antonio to move.”
“You used Mia.”
“Mia was never in danger.”
“You used me.”
Peter's face tightened.
“I tried to protect you.”
“By selling me into a marriage?”
“I never asked Antonio to marry you.”
Sophia stopped.
“What?”
“He came to me.”
Her heart pounded.
“Why?”
“Because Carlo discovered you existed.”
Peter sat heavily.
“Antonio knew what Carlo would do. He offered protection. I told him you'd never accept guards following you for the rest of your life.”
“So he married me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't anyone ask me?”
Peter looked ashamed.
“Because men like us become convinced that protection excuses control.”
That sentence sounded painfully familiar.
“What about the ledger?”
“It exists.”
“And Carlo?”
“Carlo believes I will trade it for immunity.”
“Will you?”
“No.”
“Then why communicate with him?”
“To make him expose every remaining traitor inside Antonio's organization.”
Sophia stared.
“You and Antonio were working together?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Antonio thought I disappeared fifteen years ago because he ordered me away.”
Peter's expression darkened.
“I disappeared because someone else was still hunting his family.”
“Who?”
“Victor Salerno.”
Sophia's blood chilled.
“Antonio said Carlo killed his parents.”
“Carlo arranged the bomb.”
Peter leaned forward.
“But Salerno paid him.”
Sophia understood.
Two enemies had been one conspiracy.
“Does Antonio know?”
“Not yet.”
The office door exploded inward.
Antonio entered.
Blood ran from his temple.
“Down!”
Gunfire followed.
Peter dragged Sophia behind the desk.
Antonio fired through the doorway.
Daniel collapsed outside.
Sophia screamed.
Then Carlo walked into view.
He held Mia by the arm.
Mia was crying.
Peter's entire face changed.
“You said she wouldn't be touched.”
Carlo smiled.
“And you believed me.”
Peter rose.
“Let her go.”
“Ledger.”
Peter looked at Sophia.
Antonio moved slowly to her side.
Carlo pointed his weapon at Mia.
“Ten seconds.”
Peter reached inside his jacket.
Antonio raised his gun.
“Don't.”
Peter removed a small flash drive.
Carlo smiled.
“There it is.”
He released Mia.
She ran toward Sophia.
At the same instant, Peter threw the drive toward Carlo.
Antonio fired.
Carlo ducked.
The lights went out.
Sophia heard shouting.
A gunshot.
Then another.
When emergency lighting flickered on, Carlo was gone.
Peter lay on the floor.
Blood spread beneath him.
“Dad!”
Sophia dropped beside him.
Peter's eyes found hers.
“Listen.”
“No. Don't talk.”
“The drive is fake.”
Antonio knelt beside them.
Peter gripped Antonio's wrist.
“The real ledger…”
His breathing broke.
“…was never financial.”
Antonio leaned closer.
Peter whispered something.
Antonio's face changed completely.
Then Peter lost consciousness.
Sophia grabbed Antonio.
“What did he say?”
Antonio looked toward Mia.
Then back at Sophia.
“He said the ledger isn't a document.”
“What is it?”
May you like
Antonio's voice was barely audible.
“It's a person.”
