Project 17
1392 Words
The car was silent.
Too silent.
Lina sat beside Vito in the back seat, still holding the papers from the old children's home.
Her hands were shaking.
She looked at the photograph again.
Don Rocco.
Salvatore's father.
Her mother.
All standing together.
It didn't make sense.
You know what this means, Lina said quietly.
Vito looked at her.
Yes.
Then tell me.
Vito didn't answer.
Lina's voice became stronger.
Tell me, Vito.
He looked away.
Marco, stop the car.
Marco looked at him through the mirror.
Boss?
Stop.
The car pulled over near an empty street.
Vito got out.
Lina followed.
The night air was cold. Cars passed far away, but the street around them was almost empty.
Vito stood beside the car with his hands in his pockets.
Project 17 wasn't a normal project, he said.
Lina waited.
Years ago, Don Rocco and Salvatore's father worked together.
Lina's eyes widened.
Together?
Yes. They weren't enemies then.
What happened?
Vito looked at the papers.
Money. Power. Betrayal. The usual things.
He paused.
But your mother found something.
What?
I don't know everything.
Lina stared at him.
You said you knew.
I said I knew about Project 17.
He stepped closer.
I don't know the whole truth.
Lina looked angry.
Everyone keeps saying that.
What?
You. Don Rocco. The woman at the home. Everyone knows something about my life except me.
Her eyes filled with tears.
I was eight years old, Vito. Eight. Someone took me away from my mother and put me in a home. I grew up thinking she abandoned me.
Vito said nothing.
Then I find out she was alive.
Her voice cracked.
And now you're telling me she disappeared because of some stupid project?
It's not stupid.
Then what is it?
Vito looked at her.
Something people killed for.
Lina went quiet.
A car passed at the end of the street.
Vito watched it until it disappeared.
Then he turned back to her.
Your mother worked for Don Rocco.
I know.
She handled records.
Lina frowned.
What kind of records?
Money. Names. Payments. Police contacts. Everything.
Lina looked at the papers.
And she found something.
Yes.
What?
Vito took a breath.
Don Rocco was paying people outside the family.
Police?
Some police. Judges. Business owners. People who could protect him.
Lina's stomach turned.
And Salvatore's father?
He was part of it.
So why did they become enemies?
Your mother.
Lina stared at him.
My mother?
She found proof that both men were using the same secret accounts.
Vito lowered his voice.
Then the money disappeared.
How much?
Millions.
Lina looked at the photograph again.
So my mother stole their money?
No.
Vito shook his head.
She hid the records.
Why?
Because she knew what they would do if they found them.
Lina's eyes moved to the old document.
Project 17.
Then why am I part of it?
Vito didn't answer.
Lina stepped closer.
Why is that mark on my wrist?
Vito looked at the mark.
That mark was used to identify people connected to Project 17.
People?
Children too.
Lina's face went pale.
Why children?
Because children were easier to hide.
She stepped back.
What are you saying?
Vito's expression became hard.
Your mother wasn't the only person who disappeared.
Lina couldn't speak.
There were other families, he continued. People who knew too much. Some disappeared. Some ran. Some were killed.
And me?
You were protected.
Protected?
Vito nodded.
Your mother made a deal.
What deal?
She gave them something they wanted.
What?
Vito looked at the document again.
I don't know.
Lina laughed bitterly.
Of course you don't.
She turned away.
Vito caught her wrist gently.
Lina.
She pulled away.
Don't.
He released her.
She looked at him.
I need to know everything.
I know.
No more secrets.
Vito nodded.
I promise.
She looked into his eyes.
Do you really mean that?
Yes.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Marco's voice came from the car.
Boss.
Vito turned.
What?
Marco was holding his phone.
We have a problem.
Vito walked toward him.
What?
Marco showed him the screen.
A message.
DON ROCCO KNOWS.
Vito's face changed.
How?
Someone sent it to one of our men.
Who?
Unknown number.
Vito took the phone.
Another message appeared.
BRING LINA BACK. ALIVE.
Lina saw it.
Back where?
Vito looked at her.
Nowhere.
Vito.
You're coming with me.
Where?
My house.
Lina shook her head.
No.
You're safer there.
I don't want to hide.
This isn't about hiding.
Then what is it about?
Vito stepped closer.
Keeping you alive.
Lina stared at him.
I can protect myself.
Not from this.
You don't know that.
I do.
His voice was firm. But Lina didn't move.
For the first time, Vito saw something different in her face.
She was still scared.
But she wasn't the same girl from the shop.
She was tired of being afraid.
I am going with you, she said.
Vito nodded.
But I'm not going to sit in a room while men watch the doors.
Vito studied her.
Fine.
Really?
Really.
And I want to see everything you find about my mother.
He nodded again.
Fine.
Lina looked at him.
And no more making decisions for me.
Vito was quiet.
Then he said, I'll try.
Lina raised an eyebrow.
Try?
He sighed.
Okay. I won't.
That was the first time Lina almost smiled.
Almost.
---
They reached Vito's house an hour later.
It wasn't really a house.
It was a huge old building behind black gates.
Men stood outside.
Lights covered the walls.
Lina looked around.
How many guards do you have?
Enough.
She sighed.
That doesn't answer my question.
Vito looked at her.
Twenty.
Her mouth opened.
Twenty?
Outside.
How many inside?
Six.
Lina stared at him.
You need help.
Vito almost smiled.
I have help.
No. You need normal friends.
I don't have those.
Lina shook her head.
For some reason, she laughed.
It was small.
But real.
Vito watched her.
He hadn't heard her laugh before.
And he liked it.
Too much.
Inside, Vito took her to his office.
He opened a safe behind a painting.
Lina stared.
You have a safe behind a painting?
Yes.
Of course you do.
He pulled out three old folders.
He placed them on the table.
These are everything I found about Project 17.
Lina sat down. Vito stayed standing.
She opened the first folder.
Names.
Dates.
Addresses.
Pictures.
Some of the people were crossed out.
Lina's fingers stopped.
What does this mean?
Dead.
Her heart sank.
She opened another page. Then another.
She found her mother's name.
ELENA REYES.
Under it:
STATUS: MISSING.
Then another line.
CHILD: FEMALE.
Lina's breathing stopped.
That's me.
Vito nodded.
Yes.
She turned the page.
There was a note.
Child relocated under new identity.
Lina looked at Vito.
New identity?
Yes.
My name isn't Lina Reyes?
Vito shook his head.
We don't know.
She stared at the page.
Her whole life suddenly felt like a lie.
My mother gave me another name?
Maybe.
Why?
To keep you alive.
Lina closed the folder.
Tears rolled down her face.
I don't know who I am.
Vito moved toward her.
He stopped before touching her.
You're Lina.
She looked up.
How do you know?
Because that's who you became.
She wiped her tears.
That's not enough.
It has to be for tonight.
She looked at him.
For once, Vito wasn't giving her an order.
He was just standing there.
Waiting.
Lina slowly nodded.
Then the lights went out.
Both of them froze.
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Vito's hand immediately went to his gun.
Lina, stay behind me.
She stood.
No.
Vito looked at her.
I'm staying with you.
Another crash.
Then a gunshot.
Vito grabbed Lina's hand.
Now.
They moved toward the door.
And outside the room, someone whispered:
Lina.
She froze.
She knew that voice.
She had heard it before.
At the old children's home.
The voice of the woman who knew her mother.
Vito looked at her.
Who is that?
Lina swallowed.
I don't know.
The door slowly opened.
A woman stood in the dark hallway.
Old.
Tired.
And holding a small brown envelope.
She looked at Lina.
Then at Vito.
Your mother is alive, she whispered.
Lina's heart stopped.
The woman held out the envelope.
And she wants you to know the truth.
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