Chapter 6:Echoes Of The Past
506 Words
The rain returned just before dusk.
Alina stood alone in the mansion’s library, turning the faded photograph over in her hands. On the back, the ink had begun to fade, but the message remained chillingly clear:
The past always collects its debt.
She traced her father’s smiling face with her fingertip.
“I don’t know who you really were,” she whispered.
A soft knock broke the silence.
Rosa stepped inside carrying a small wooden box.
“Mr. Romano asked me to give this to you.”
Alina frowned.
“What is it?”
“He said it belonged to your father.”
The words stole the air from her lungs.
“My… father?”
Rosa nodded before quietly leaving the room.
With trembling hands, Alina opened the box.
Inside lay an old silver pocket watch, a worn leather key, and a folded letter.
The envelope bore only two words.
For Alina.
Her heart raced.
She carefully unfolded the brittle paper.
If you’re reading this, then the past has finally found you.
I never wanted you to inherit my mistakes. Everything I did was to keep you and your mother alive.
There is a vault beneath the old Moretti vineyard. Inside is the truth about the Romano family… and about me.
Trust your heart before you trust anyone else.
Even Dante Romano.
Alina lowered the letter, her mind spinning.
A vault?
At the old vineyard?
The door opened again.
This time, Dante entered.
He stopped the moment he saw the letter in her hands.
“Where did you get that?”
“It was in this box.”
His gaze shifted to the silver pocket watch.
His usually composed expression cracked for the first time.
“That watch…” he murmured.
“It belonged to your father, didn’t it?” Alina asked.
Dante nodded slowly.
“My father gave it to only one man.”
Silence stretched between them.
“My father?” Alina whispered.
“Yes.”
Neither of them noticed Enzo rushing down the hallway until he burst into the library.
“Boss!”
Dante turned immediately.
“What happened?”
“We intercepted a message from Lorenzo.”
Enzo handed him a satellite phone.
A distorted voice echoed through the speaker.
“Good evening, Dante.”
“Lorenzo.”
“I hear the girl has found her father’s letter.”
Dante’s grip tightened.
“You’re too late.”
Lorenzo laughed.
“Am I?”
The line crackled.
“Tell her to visit the vineyard. She’ll finally learn why her father betrayed yours.”
The call ended.
The room fell silent.
Alina looked from the letter to Dante.
“You knew about the vineyard?”
“No.”
“Then how did Lorenzo know?”
Dante’s eyes narrowed.
“Because someone inside this house is feeding him information.”
The realization settled over them both.
The enemy wasn’t only outside the Romano estate.
Someone close to Dante was watching every move they made.
And whoever that traitor was…
They already knew about the letter.
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