Vito's possession

The Traitor

The name on the paper stayed in Vito's mind.

BRUNO.

Rain hit the broken windows of the church.

Lina stood beside Vito, still trying to understand what had happened.

Bruno, she asked.

Vito folded the paper and put it inside his jacket.

Yes.

But Bruno is one of the Moretti men.

I know.

Then how did he know we would be here?

Vito didn't answer.

Lina watched his face.

You think someone told him.

Someone did.

Marco walked over.

Boss, the shooter is gone.

Vito looked at him.

And the old man?

Also gone.

Vito's jaw tightened.

Find him.

Marco nodded.

And Bruno?

Find him too.

Marco hesitated.

Boss, there's something else.

What?

We checked the cars around the church.

Vito waited.

One of them belongs to one of our men.

Vito's eyes became cold.

Who?

Marco lowered his voice.

Antonio.

Lina looked between them.

Who is Antonio?

One of Vito's guards, Marco said.

Vito turned toward him.

Where is he?

We can't find him.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Vito walked toward the church entrance.

Get everyone back to the house.

Marco nodded.

And Lina?

Vito looked at her.

She stays with me.

Lina crossed her arms.

I can hear you, you know.

I know.

Then stop talking about me like I'm not here.

Vito looked at her.

Fine.

He stepped closer.

You're staying with me because someone inside my organization is helping the people hunting you.

Lina swallowed.

And you don't know who?

No.

She looked at the empty church.

What if it's someone close to you?

Vito's expression hardened.

Then I'll find out.

---

The drive back was quiet.

Lina sat beside Vito in the back seat.

Marco drove.

Nobody spoke for several minutes.

Finally, Lina broke the silence.

Do you trust Antonio?

Vito looked out the window.

I trusted him.

That's not what I asked.

Vito looked at her.

No.

Lina nodded slowly.

Then you already think he did it.

I think everyone is a suspect until I know the truth.

Even Marco?

Vito looked toward the front.

Marco laughed softly.

Thank you, Lina.

She smiled for the first time that night.

Vito shook his head.

Don't encourage him.

Marco smiled.

You two are becoming a team.

Vito gave him a warning look.

Marco immediately focused on the road.

Lina tried not to smile.

For a few seconds, the fear disappeared.

Then Vito's phone rang. He answered.

Talk.

A man's voice came through. Vito listened.

His expression changed.

Where?

Another pause.

I'm coming.

He ended the call.

Lina looked at him.

What happened?

They found Antonio.

Alive?

Vito shook his head.

No.

Lina's smile disappeared.

What happened to him?

He was found in an empty warehouse.

Marco looked at Vito through the mirror.

Was it Bruno?

We don't know.

Vito looked at Lina.

But whoever killed him wanted us to find him.

Why?

Vito's eyes narrowed.

Because they want us to know they're close.

---

The warehouse was dark.

Only one light worked.

Antonio's body was lying on the floor.

Lina stayed inside the car.

Vito had told her not to come in.

For once, she listened.

She watched through the window as Vito and Marco walked inside.

Two other men stood near the entrance.

Lina hugged herself.

She hated being outside alone.

Every sound made her look up.

Then she saw something.

A man standing across the street.

Black jacket.

Cap pulled low.

He was watching the warehouse.

Lina sat up.

Who is that?

The man turned.

Their eyes met.

Then he ran.

Lina opened the car door.

Wait!

She jumped out. The guards shouted behind her.

Lina!

She ran after him.

She didn't know why.

Maybe she thought he knew something.

Maybe she was tired of being afraid.

The man turned into an alley. Lina followed.

Then suddenly he stopped.

Lina froze.

He slowly turned around.

It wasn't Bruno.

It was someone she knew.

Antonio?

Her heart stopped.

The man standing in front of her looked exactly like him.

But it wasn't Antonio.

It was his brother.

Lina took a step back.

Who are you?

The man looked scared.

My name is Daniel.

Why are you here?

He looked behind her.

Because I need to warn you.

About what?

He stepped closer.

Vito can't trust everyone around him.

Lina swallowed.

Who can't he trust?

Daniel shook his head.

I can't say.

Then why did you come?

Because my brother was trying to help you.

Lina's eyes widened.

Antonio?

Daniel nodded.

He found out who was giving Bruno information.

Who?

Daniel looked toward the street.

Then he whispered,

Someone inside Vito's house.

Lina's blood went cold.

Who?

Daniel opened his mouth.

A car suddenly sped into the alley.

Daniel pushed Lina aside.

The car crashed into him.

Lina screamed.

The car sped away.

Daniel fell to the ground.

Lina rushed to him.

Daniel!

His eyes opened for a second.

He grabbed her wrist.

Don't trust...

Don't trust who?

His voice faded.

He was unconscious.

Footsteps came running behind her.

Vito.

He stopped when he saw Lina kneeling beside Daniel.

His face changed.

What happened?

He pushed me out of the way.

Vito looked at Daniel.

Who is he?

Antonio's brother.

Vito immediately called Marco.

Get an ambulance.

Marco ran to them.

Vito looked at Lina.

Are you hurt?

No.

He checked her arms anyway.

Lina.

I'm fine.

He finally looked into her eyes.

His face was full of anger.

Why did you leave the car?

I saw him.

You could have been killed.

I know.

Then why?

Because I wanted answers!

Vito went quiet.

Lina's eyes filled with tears.

I'm tired, Vito.

His anger disappeared.

I'm tired of people dying because of me.

You didn't cause this.

But they keep coming.

I know.

Then what am I supposed to do?

Vito looked at her.

Stay alive.

Lina shook her head.

I don't want to just survive anymore.

Vito stared at her.

She stepped closer.

I want my life back.

He didn't know what to say.

So he reached for her hand.

This time, Lina didn't pull away.

---

Back at the house, the guards searched every room.

Vito stood in his office.

Lina sat on the sofa.

Marco walked in.

Daniel is alive.

Lina let out a breath.

Thank God.

But he hasn't spoken.

Vito nodded.

Keep someone with him.

Marco hesitated.

There's another problem.

Vito looked up.

What?

We checked the security cameras.

And?

Someone entered the house two nights ago.

Lina stood.

Who?

Marco looked at Vito.

We don't know.

How did they get inside?

They had a security code.

Vito's face went cold.

Whose code?

Marco put a tablet on the desk.

The code belonged to Antonio.

Lina looked at Vito.

But Antonio is dead.

Exactly.

Vito stared at the screen.

Someone had used Antonio's code after he was killed.

That meant one thing.

Someone had stolen it.

Or Antonio had given it to them.

Lina slowly sat down.

Vito...

He looked at her.

What?

What if the person who entered your house was looking for the Project 17 files?

Vito didn't answer.

He walked toward his desk.

Then stopped.

His eyes moved to the locked drawer.

He opened it.

The folder was gone.

Lina stood up.

What happened?

Vito stared at the empty drawer.

The files.

Marco stepped closer.

They're gone.

Vito's face became completely blank.

Someone had broken into his office.

Someone had taken the Project 17 file.

And that meant the traitor was much closer than they thought.

Vito turned toward the door.

Lock the house.

Marco nodded.

No one leaves.

Vito looked at Lina.

She could see something in his eyes she had never seen before.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For her.

Because the person who betrayed him already knew exactly where she was.