The Other Half of The Key
1069 Words
"If they want me…”
Elena tightened her grip around the black rose pendant.
“Let them come.”
Dante looked at her in disbelief.
“You have no idea what you’re saying.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying.”
Another gunshot shattered the silence.
The window behind them exploded into pieces.
Dante immediately pulled Elena down.
“Stay behind me!”
Maria crawled toward the desk, clutching the letter.
“We need to leave through the tunnel.”
Dante nodded.
“Elena, come with me.”
But Elena didn't move.
Her eyes remained fixed on the pendant.
“There has to be something else.”
“What?”
“My father left this for a reason.”
She turned the pendant over.
The tiny symbol engraved on the back suddenly began to glow under the light.
Dante stared.
“That wasn't there before.”
Elena touched it.
A small click sounded.
The pendant opened.
Inside was a tiny piece of folded paper.
Maria gasped.
“Elena…”
She carefully removed it.
The paper contained only three words.
TRUST THE HEIR.
Elena frowned.
“Which heir?”
Maria's face went pale.
Dante looked at her.
“Maria?”
She didn't answer.
Instead, she stared at Dante.
Elena followed her gaze.
“Dante?”
Dante's expression became unreadable.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Maria whispered,
“Your father had one final agreement with Dante's family.”
Elena froze.
“What agreement?”
Before Maria could answer, the door suddenly burst open.
A guard rushed inside.
“Find them!”
Dante grabbed Elena.
“Run!”
They escaped through the hidden passage.
Maria followed closely behind.
The underground tunnel was dark and narrow.
They ran until they reached a large iron door.
Dante stopped.
“This should lead outside.”
He pushed it open.
Cold night air rushed toward them.
They stepped outside just as several cars screeched to a stop.
Dante raised his gun.
But the men who stepped out weren't Victor's men.
They wore black suits with a silver rose emblem.
Dante immediately lowered his weapon.
“They're with me.”
Elena stared at him.
“You have people here?”
“Yes.”
“Who are they?”
“My father's men.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“Your father?”
Dante nodded.
“He never stopped protecting your family.”
Maria looked at him.
“Then you finally understand why your father chose you.”
Dante didn't answer.
He turned to Elena.
“We need to go.”
They climbed into one of the cars.
As they drove away from the estate, Elena looked back at the burning building.
Everything she thought she knew about her family had changed in a single night.
She looked at Dante.
“Where are we going?”
“To a safe house.”
“I don't want a safe house.”
“Elena”
“I want answers.”
Dante sighed.
“You'll get them.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
The car stopped in front of an old mansion hidden behind tall iron gates.
Inside, Dante led Elena to a private room.
He placed the golden key on the table.
Then he looked at the pendant.
“Put it beside the key.”
Elena did.
The moment the two pieces touched, a faint metallic sound echoed through the room.
A hidden compartment opened beneath the table.
Inside was a small black envelope.
Elena reached for it.
Dante stopped her.
“Wait.”
He carefully checked the envelope before handing it to her.
Elena opened it.
Inside was another letter.
This time, it was addressed directly to her.
My daughter,
If you have found this letter, then the black rose has brought you to the truth.
Elena swallowed.
You must not trust everyone who claims to be your ally. One person close to you has already betrayed us.
Her eyes widened.
“Someone close to me?”
Dante looked over her shoulder.
The letter continued.
The enemy is not always outside the family. Sometimes, the greatest danger sleeps beside you.
Elena slowly lowered the letter.
“Who is it?”
Dante shook his head.
“We don't know.”
“But my father did.”
“Yes.”
“Then there must be another clue.”
Elena searched the envelope.
A small photograph fell onto the floor.
She picked it up.
Her breath caught.
It showed three people standing outside the Valdez estate.
Her father.
Maria.
And—
Dante's father.
But behind them stood another person.
Someone Elena recognized.
Her eyes widened.
“No…”
Dante looked at the photograph.
“Who is that?”
Elena pointed at the figure.
“That’s impossible.”
“Who?”
“My uncle.”
Dante stared at her.
“Your uncle died years ago.”
“That’s what everyone told me.”
Silence filled the room.
Maria suddenly entered.
When she saw the photograph, she stopped.
Elena turned toward her.
“Mom.”
Maria's eyes filled with tears.
“Where did you get that?”
“It was inside Dad's letter.”
Maria slowly sat down.
“There is something else you need to know.”
Elena waited.
“Your uncle didn't die.”
Elena's heart stopped.
“He disappeared.”
“Why?”
“Because he discovered who was betraying your father.”
Dante's expression hardened.
“And who was it?”
Maria looked directly at him.
“Someone from the Romano family.”
Dante went silent.
Elena looked at him.
“Who?”
Maria shook her head.
“I never learned the name.”
Suddenly, Dante's phone rang.
He answered.
“What?”
His face changed.
Elena immediately knew something was wrong.
“Who was that?”
Dante slowly lowered the phone.
“They found us.”
“Victor?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Dante looked at Elena.
“The person who betrayed your father.”
Elena's heart pounded.
“Who is it?”
Dante's eyes darkened.
“He sent one message.”
“What message?”
Dante showed her the screen.
There were only six words:
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOU, ELENA.
Beneath the message was a photograph.
A recent photograph.
Of Elena and Dante.
Taken only minutes earlier.
Elena's blood ran cold.
Someone had been watching them.
Someone was already inside the safe house.
And they were closer than either of them realized.
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