Chapter 5 - THE SECRET ELENA LEFT BEHIND
I didn't let my father leave the room.
Victor and two guards positioned themselves near the doors.
My mother sat down, clutching the envelope.
Sophie was still in my arms.
“Tell me what happened to Elena,” I demanded.
My father adjusted his cufflinks.
“Your wife was sick.”
“That's what you told me.”
“She had complications.”
“You said she died in the hospital.”
“She did.”
“Then why did Sophie say you told Vanessa that you knew what happened?”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Children misunderstand things.”
“Not this time.”
My mother stood.
“Lorenzo, please listen to me.”
She handed me the envelope.
The handwriting on the front was unmistakable.
For my daughter, Sophie. To be opened by her father when the time is right.
I recognized Elena's handwriting immediately.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a letter and a small photograph.
The photograph showed Elena holding newborn Sophie in a hospital bed.
But there was another person in the picture.
My father.
He stood beside the bed, holding a folder.
On the back, Elena had written:
The man who promised to protect us is the reason I am afraid.
I looked at my mother.
“What does this mean?”
She began crying.
“Your father wanted control of the family trust. Elena discovered that he'd been moving money through companies owned by people outside our organization.”
Dominic interrupted.
“Enough.”
My mother continued.
“She found documents proving that he had been using your name to hide illegal transactions. She wanted to take Sophie away and give you everything she had discovered.”
I stared at the letter.
Elena's words were simple.
Lorenzo, if you're reading this, something has gone wrong. I wanted to tell you everything, but your father warned me that if I spoke, Sophie would never be safe.
My throat tightened.
He says our daughter is an inconvenience. He says she will never inherit anything because she is too young to understand the family business.
I looked at Dominic.
“You threatened my wife?”
He remained silent.
My mother continued.
“Elena died after a car accident. The hospital report said it was caused by a mechanical failure.”
I felt my chest tighten.
“Was it?”
My mother lowered her eyes.
“I don't know.”
My father laughed coldly.
“This is ridiculous. You are letting a dead woman's paranoia destroy your family.”
I stepped toward him.
“You buried me alive emotionally for five years. You don't get to tell me what family means.”
He looked at Sophie.
“She has no idea what you're protecting her from.”
I turned.
“I'm protecting her from you.”
Dominic's expression became cruel.
“You think your empire makes you untouchable? You inherited a kingdom I built. Every man who follows you owes his loyalty to me.”
“Not anymore.”
He smiled.
“Then ask your underboss.”
My phone vibrated.
Victor checked his device.
His face changed.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We have a problem at headquarters.”
He turned the tablet toward me.
The building's security system had been disabled.
Three senior captains were waiting in the main conference room.
And Anthony was standing at the head of the table.
A message appeared beneath the image.
DOMINIC MORETTI HAS RETURNED. THE OLD KINGDOM IS RESTORED.
I looked at my father.
He smiled.
“You see? People remember who built this family.”
I handed Sophie to my mother.
“Stay with her.”
My mother looked terrified.
“Where are you going?”
“To remind them who runs it now.”
I turned to Victor.
“Call every captain who has ever sworn loyalty to me. I want them at headquarters.”
Then Sophie reached for my hand.
“Daddy?”
I knelt.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?”
She whispered something that made me forget the meeting entirely.
“Grandma said Mommy wasn't in the car when it crashed.”
I looked at my mother.
She closed her eyes.
May you like
And I realized the truth was worse than anything I'd imagined.
My daughter had just revealed that Elena might never have been in the accident at all.
