The Witness
955 Words
Aria couldn't stop staring at the photograph.
The little girl in it was unmistakably her.
But the woman standing beside her father wasn't smiling.
Isabella Romano was staring directly at the camera, her expression almost fearful.
As if she knew the photograph would one day become evidence.
Aria looked at Dante.
“What does ‘the key’ mean?”
“I don't know.”
“You're the Mafia King's son. You're supposed to know everything.”
A faint, humorless smile touched his lips.
“That is a dangerous assumption.”
“Then find out.”
Dante studied her for a moment.
“I intend to.”
Before Aria could respond, the doors opened.
One of Dante's men rushed inside.
“Boss.”
Dante turned.
“We found the office.”
“And?”
The man hesitated.
“There was someone inside.”
Dante's expression immediately hardened.
“Who?”
“We don't know. He escaped through the back.”
“Did he leave anything?”
The man nodded.
“A phone.”
He handed it to Dante.
Dante examined the device.
Then the screen lit up.
One new message.
STOP LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH.
Aria's stomach tightened.
Dante showed her.
“Who sent it?”
“I don't know.”
“Can you trace it?”
“My men are working on that.”
Aria folded her arms.
“And what happens now?”
Dante looked at her.
“Now you stay here.”
She almost laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
“You're not safe.”
“I wasn't safe before I met you.”
“That is exactly why you're staying.”
Aria stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide where I go.”
Dante's eyes narrowed.
“You don't understand what's happening.”
“Then explain it.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because half the people I trust are dead.”
The words silenced her.
For the first time, Aria noticed the exhaustion behind his cold expression.
Dante turned away.
“Take her upstairs.”
Aria immediately protested.
“I can walk myself.”
She followed him up the stairs anyway.
But she didn't intend to stay.
Not for long.
---
Two hours later, the mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
Aria sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the photograph.
She had spent years believing her father was a normal businessman.
Now she was discovering that he had secrets, debts, enemies—and possibly connections to one of the most feared families in the city.
She looked toward the door.
Then toward the window.
She made her decision.
Aria slipped out of the room.
The hallway was empty.
She moved quietly until she reached the study.
The door was slightly open.
Voices came from inside.
Dante.
And another man.
“I told you she can't know yet,” the stranger said.
Aria froze.
Dante answered coldly.
“She already knows too much.”
“Then send her away.”
“I won't.”
“Dante—”
“She stays.”
Aria's eyes widened.
Why?
She leaned closer to the door.
The stranger lowered his voice.
“If they find out she's alive, they'll come for her.”
Dante's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Let them.”
Silence.
Then the stranger said something that made Aria's blood run cold.
“She isn't Daniel Bennett's daughter.”
Aria stopped breathing.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
No.
That was impossible.
Her entire life—
Her family—
Everything she knew—
A floorboard creaked beneath her foot.
The voices inside stopped.
Aria backed away.
The study door opened.
Dante stood there.
His eyes immediately found hers.
“Aria.”
She ran.
“Wait!”
She didn't.
She raced down the hallway, tears burning her eyes.
Dante caught her before she reached the stairs.
“Let me go!”
“You weren't supposed to hear that.”
“Then maybe you shouldn't have been talking about me!”
“Aria—”
“Am I not my father's daughter?”
Dante went silent.
That silence was enough.
Aria stared at him.
“You knew.”
He looked away.
“How long?”
“Aria, listen to me.”
“How long?”
“A few days.”
Her voice broke.
“You knew for days?”
“I was trying to confirm it.”
“Who am I?”
Dante stepped closer.
“I don't know yet.”
She shook her head.
“You're lying.”
“I've never lied to you about this.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
Dante's jaw tightened.
“Your father adopted you.”
Aria felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath her.
“Adopted?”
“Yes.”
“Who are my real parents?”
Dante didn't answer.
Aria grabbed his jacket.
“Tell me!”
A gunshot echoed from outside.
Dante immediately pulled her behind him.
More shots followed.
Men shouted downstairs.
Dante's entire demeanor changed.
“Stay behind me.”
He reached beneath his jacket.
Aria's heart raced.
The mansion erupted into chaos.
Dante's men rushed through the halls as footsteps thundered below.
Then a voice shouted from outside.
“ROMANO!”
Dante's face went completely still.
Aria looked at him.
“Who is that?”
Dante's eyes darkened.
“The man who killed my mother.”
Another voice followed.
“You've got something that belongs to us!”
Aria's blood ran cold.
Dante looked at her.
“They're here for you.”
“Why?”
His answer was barely a whisper.
“Because they know who your real father is.”
The lights suddenly went out.
And somewhere in the darkness, someone whispered Aria's name.
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