Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Dante had spent years believing he understood every secret in his family.
He knew which uncles had betrayed his grandfather.
He knew which business partners had stolen money.
He knew which politicians owed the Russo family favors.
But he had never heard about a child.
Not until Isabella's disappearance forced him to examine the past.
He arrived at his father's house shortly after midnight.
Vittorio Russo was seventy-two, retired from the family's daily operations, and still capable of making grown men nervous with a single glance.
He was sitting in his library when Dante entered.
"You're late."
"I need answers."
"About your wife?"
"About a child."
Vittorio slowly put down his newspaper.
"Who told you?"
Dante placed the photograph on the desk.
His father's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But it changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Someone gave it to Isabella."
Vittorio picked up the photograph.
For a long moment, he stared at the little boy.
Then he returned it to the desk.
"Your mother had a habit of keeping things that should have been destroyed."
"Who is he?"
"No one you need to concern yourself with."
Dante leaned forward.
"That's not an answer."
"Then perhaps you should ask your father-in-law."
Dante froze.
"Antonio knows?"
Vittorio stood.
"Some things were arranged before you were born. Your marriage was one of them."
"My marriage to Isabella?"
"Your grandfather believed the Russo and Moretti families needed to remain connected. Your mother disagreed. She believed there were too many secrets between the families."
Dante looked at the photograph again.
"Who is the boy?"
Vittorio's voice dropped.
"Your brother."
The word struck harder than Dante expected.
"My brother is dead."
"That is what you were told."
"You're saying he survived?"
"I'm saying that child disappeared. And people who ask too many questions about him tend to regret it."
Dante stepped back.
"What's his name?"
Vittorio didn't answer.
Dante turned toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To find the person who knows."
Valentina Greco had never liked being ignored.
When Dante stopped answering her calls, she became increasingly desperate.
She had expected him to be angry with Isabella.
She had expected him to blame the pregnancy announcement for the humiliation of their wedding night.
She had expected him to return to her apartment.
Instead, he had removed her access to his accounts, canceled her security privileges, and instructed his staff never to admit her into the Russo estate.
It was an insult she couldn't tolerate.
So she went to see Richard Hale.
His office was located inside a modest commercial building near the Chicago River.
He was waiting when she arrived.
"You said everything was under control," she snapped.
Richard closed the door.
"It was."
"Then why is Dante investigating me?"
"Because you made a mistake."
Valentina laughed.
"I made a mistake? You're the one who couldn't keep a simple arrangement quiet."
Richard placed a folder on the desk.
"Your problem is that you think Dante still loves you."
She glared at him.
"Don't speak to me that way."
"He never loved you. You were convenient."
Valentina slapped the folder off the desk.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Yes. And so does the man who is looking for you."
Richard leaned closer.
"If you want to survive this, you need to stop contacting Dante."
She stepped back.
"You're afraid of him."
"I'm afraid of the people who will come after both of us if the old story gets exposed."
"What old story?"
Richard said nothing.
Valentina stared at him.
Then she noticed the photograph on his desk.
A little boy standing between Antonio and Dante's mother.
Her expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
Richard quickly covered it.
"Leave."
But Valentina had already seen the date.
And she knew exactly why that photograph mattered.
That night, Isabella finally called her father.
"Dad, I found the photograph."
Antonio went quiet.
"Where?"
"Someone left it at the cottage. Who was that little boy?"
"Isabella, listen to me carefully. I want you to come home."
"No. Not until you tell me the truth."
"Your mother was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
Antonio sighed.
"From the Russo family."
Isabella looked toward the window.
"Then why did you agree to my marriage?"
"Because I believed Dante was different."
"And now?"
"I don't know anymore."
Isabella swallowed.
"Did my mother know about Dante's brother?"
"Yes."
"Was that why she kept those papers?"
"Yes."
A sudden sound came from outside.
Gravel shifted beneath tires.
Isabella looked toward the driveway.
A black SUV had stopped near the cottage.
Two men stepped out.
Neither wore a uniform.
Neither appeared to be carrying anything.
But one of them was holding a photograph of her.
"Dad," Isabella whispered.
"What is it?"
"Someone's outside."
"Get away from the windows."
The line crackled.
Then a man's voice came through the phone.
"Mrs. Russo?"
Isabella turned.
A stranger stood in the doorway.
He wasn't looking at her stomach.
He was looking at the photograph on the table.
May you like
And he said something that made her forget how to breathe.
"Your mother didn't leave you that envelope. She left it for your brother."
