Chapter 18 - The Last Person He Trusted
1276 Words
Sofia read the message again.
Don't trust Alessandro.
The words should have frightened her.
Instead, they made her angry.
She slowly lowered the phone.
Alessandro watched her carefully.
"What are you thinking?"
"That whoever sent this doesn't know me very well."
His eyebrows lifted.
"Why?"
"Because if they wanted me to distrust you, they should have given me a reason."
Something softened in his expression.
"You're sure?"
"No."
She stepped closer.
"But I'm not going to let a stranger tell me who I can trust."
Alessandro looked at her for several seconds.
Then he reached for her hand.
"I won't ask you to trust me blindly."
"Good."
"I'll give you reasons."
She nodded.
"That's all I want."
Before either could say anything else, Luca appeared in the doorway.
"We found something."
Alessandro immediately turned.
"What?"
"The last person your father trusted."
Sofia's heart skipped.
"Who?"
Luca looked at her.
"Your father's lawyer."
---
His name was Samuel Hart.
For years, Samuel had handled everything connected to the Moretti family's legitimate businesses.
Property.
Investments.
Contracts.
Inheritance.
Even Sofia's trust fund.
He had disappeared shortly after her father's disappearance.
But unlike Adrian, Samuel hadn't vanished completely.
He had changed his name.
Moved cities.
And continued practising law.
Luca placed the file on the table.
"He's alive."
Sofia stared at the photograph.
An older man with silver hair and glasses looked back at her.
"I've seen him."
Alessandro looked at her.
"When?"
"When I was younger."
"Where?"
"At my father's office."
She frowned.
"He used to bring me sweets."
Alessandro's expression softened.
"You remember him?"
"Yes."
"Did you trust him?"
"I was fourteen."
She smiled faintly.
"I trusted anyone who gave me chocolate."
Luca laughed.
Alessandro gave him a look.
Luca immediately stopped.
"Right."
Sofia looked back at the photograph.
"Why would my father trust him?"
"Because Samuel handled the legal side of the family."
"Then he knows where the money went."
"Probably."
"And the Covenant?"
"Possibly."
Sofia picked up the file.
"Where is he?"
"About two hours from here."
Alessandro stood.
"We leave in ten minutes."
Sofia looked at him.
"You really enjoy telling me when we're leaving."
"I've noticed you have a habit of arguing."
"I've noticed you have a habit of being bossy."
"Then we're both consistent."
She smiled.
"Good."
---
They drove through the afternoon.
The further they travelled from the city, the quieter the roads became.
Sofia sat beside Alessandro.
For the first hour, they barely spoke.
Then she broke the silence.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Why did your father trust mine?"
Alessandro looked through the windshield.
"I don't know."
"You never asked?"
"I did."
"And?"
"He told me some friendships were older than loyalty."
Sofia frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It didn't to me either."
"What happened between them?"
"I think they discovered something together."
"The Covenant?"
"Maybe."
"And then they turned against it."
"That's what we've been told."
Sofia looked at him.
"But you don't believe it."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because my father never ran from danger."
She waited.
"But after your father disappeared, he changed."
"How?"
"He became paranoid."
"About what?"
"Everyone."
Sofia's stomach tightened.
"Even your mother?"
"Especially her."
Silence filled the car.
Sofia looked out the window.
"Then maybe Matteo was telling the truth."
Alessandro glanced at her.
"About your mother?"
"Maybe she wasn't the villain."
"I never thought she was."
"Then why did you say she betrayed my father?"
"Because I was told she did."
Sofia looked at him.
"By whom?"
"My father."
She studied his face.
"And you believed him?"
"I was sixteen."
Her expression softened.
"Right."
He reached across the console.
His fingers brushed hers.
She let them stay.
Neither spoke for a while.
---
Samuel Hart lived in a small country house surrounded by trees.
No guards.
No cameras.
No luxury.
It was the complete opposite of the world Sofia had grown up around.
Alessandro knocked.
An elderly man opened the door.
His eyes immediately widened.
He looked at Sofia.
Then at Alessandro.
And went pale.
"No."
Sofia frowned.
"Mr Hart?"
He tried to close the door.
Alessandro stopped it with one hand.
"We need to talk."
Samuel stared at him.
"You shouldn't have brought her here."
Sofia stepped forward.
"Why?"
The old man looked at her.
"Because if they know you're here..."
"Who?"
He glanced down the road.
Then quickly opened the door.
"Come inside."
They entered.
Samuel locked the door behind them.
Sofia looked around.
The house was modest but filled with old books and photographs.
Samuel walked toward the fireplace.
"You look like your mother."
Sofia's throat tightened.
"You knew her?"
"I knew your entire family."
"Then tell me what happened."
Samuel sighed.
"I was hoping you'd never ask."
"I've been hoping for answers for eleven years."
He looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry."
She stepped closer.
"Tell me the truth."
Samuel looked at Alessandro.
"Your father made me promise something."
"What?"
"That if Sofia ever came looking for me, I would tell her everything."
Sofia's heart raced.
"Everything?"
"Everything I know."
Alessandro stepped closer.
"Then start."
Samuel nodded.
"Your father discovered that the Covenant wasn't what he thought it was."
"What was it?"
"A network built by powerful families to protect their businesses."
Sofia listened carefully.
"Over time, it became something else."
"Criminal?"
"Yes."
"How many families?"
Samuel shook his head.
"That's not important."
Sofia noticed Alessandro glance at him.
"Then what is important?"
Samuel looked directly at her.
"The Covenant wanted your family."
"Why?"
"Because your father possessed something they couldn't obtain."
"What?"
He hesitated.
"Evidence."
Sofia's breath caught.
"Evidence of what?"
"Names. Accounts. Deals. Politicians. Judges. Police officials."
She felt sick.
"Everything."
"Almost everything."
"Where is it?"
Samuel looked at Alessandro.
Then back at Sofia.
"Your father hid it."
"Where?"
Samuel's voice dropped.
"Somewhere only you can find."
Sofia stared at him.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because your father believed you were the one person they would never suspect."
She shook her head.
"But I don't know anything."
Samuel smiled sadly.
"That's exactly why."
A sudden crash came from outside.
Everyone froze.
Alessandro immediately reached for his weapon.
Luca moved toward the window.
"Someone's here."
Samuel's face drained of colour.
"No."
Sofia looked at him.
"What?"
He whispered,
"They found us."
A bullet shattered the window.
Alessandro grabbed Sofia and pulled her to the floor.
Another shot struck the wall.
Luca returned fire.
"Stay down!"
Sofia's heart hammered.
Samuel crawled toward the fireplace.
"There's a passage."
"What?"
He pulled open a hidden panel.
Behind it was a narrow tunnel.
"This leads to the road behind the house."
Alessandro grabbed Sofia's hand.
"Move."
They rushed into the passage.
Sofia looked back.
Samuel remained behind.
"Mr Hart!"
He shook his head.
"Go!"
Alessandro pulled her forward.
"Now!"
They ran.
The passage opened into a forest.
They emerged just as another gunshot echoed behind them.
Luca looked back.
"Where's Samuel?"
Sofia froze.
"He didn't come."
Alessandro's expression darkened.
"We have to go."
"But—"
"He knew what he was doing."
Sofia looked toward the house.
Smoke was beginning to rise from the roof.
Then she saw something in the distance.
A figure standing among the trees.
Watching them.
Sofia couldn't see his face.
But she recognized the silhouette.
Tall.
Dark coat.
Still as stone.
Alessandro followed her gaze.
His expression changed.
"Who is that?"
Sofia whispered,
"I don't know."
The figure turned.
And disappeared into the trees.
Alessandro looked at Sofia.
"Come on."
She squeezed his hand.
But neither of them saw the small object Samuel had slipped into Sofia's coat pocket before they left.
A brass key.
And engraved across it were four words:
YOUR FATHER NEVER DIED.
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