Chapter 5 - THE SECRET BETWEEN THEIR PARENTS
Carmine didn't speak during the drive home.
Neither did Ivy.
Rain streaked the windows.
The photograph lay inside an evidence envelope between them.
Finally Ivy whispered:
“My mother never talked about him.”
Carmine stared forward.
“My father never talked about her.”
“Maybe the photograph is fake.”
“It could be.”
She looked at him.
“You don't believe that.”
“No.”
Carmine's honesty hurt more than anger.
At the estate, he took Ivy to his private library.
He locked the door.
Not to imprison her.
To protect her.
“I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Did your mother ever give you anything?”
Ivy thought.
“Her pendant.”
“Anything else?”
“A box.”
Carmine turned.
“What box?”
“I thought it was empty.”
“Where is it?”
“My apartment.”
They left immediately.
Ivy's apartment had been searched.
Drawers overturned.
Mattress cut open.
Photographs scattered.
Carmine's men searched every room.
Then Ivy noticed something.
The old kitchen clock was running backward.
She touched it.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a small flash drive.
Carmine stared at it.
“What is that?”
“I don't know.”
He connected it to a secure computer.
A single video appeared.
Ivy's mother sat in front of the camera.
She looked exhausted.
“If you're watching this, I'm probably dead.”
Ivy covered her mouth.
Her mother's voice continued.
“Ivy, I lied to you because I wanted you to survive.”
Carmine stood beside her.
“The man who killed your father—”
Her mother stopped.
She corrected herself.
“Carmine's father wasn't killed by a rival.”
Carmine's face became rigid.
“He was killed by someone inside his own family.”
A file appeared.
Bank transfers.
Payments.
Judges.
Politicians.
Police officers.
Then one name appeared repeatedly.
ANTON ROSSI.
Carmine's uncle.
His father's younger brother.
Ivy whispered:
“Mrs. Rossi.”
Carmine looked at her.
“What?”
“The woman who kidnapped me.”
He understood.
His aunt.
Anton Rossi's wife.
The betrayal was enormous.
But then the video continued.
“There is one more thing.”
Ivy's mother looked directly into the camera.
“Carmine's father knew he was going to die.”
She held up another photograph.
“Before he died, he gave me the evidence.”
The screen went black.
A final sentence appeared.
THE EVIDENCE IS ALREADY INSIDE THE ROSSI HOUSE.
Carmine slowly turned toward Ivy.
“Inside my house.”
Ivy nodded.
“And someone knows we're looking.”
The lights suddenly went out.
A gunshot exploded upstairs.
Carmine grabbed Ivy and pulled her behind the desk.
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Then footsteps.
Someone was inside.
Carmine reached for his weapon.
Ivy whispered:
“Carmine.”
“What?”
“I know where it is.”
“Where?”
She stared toward the dark hallway.
“My mother used to say the safest place in a house was the place everyone was afraid to enter.”
Carmine's eyes narrowed.
“Your mother's room?”
“No.”
May you like
Ivy swallowed.
“The old chapel.”
