The Secret He Left Behind
567 Words
Part 11
Elena's heart pounded.
Victor's voice echoed through the darkness.
“You finally found your father's secret.”
Dante stepped in front of Elena.
“Show yourself.”
A slow laugh came from the staircase.
“You haven't changed, Dante.”
“Victor.”
The name left Dante's mouth like a warning.
Victor stepped into the light.
Older than the man in the photograph, but unmistakably the same person.
Elena stared at him.
“You're the man who destroyed my family.”
Victor smiled.
“Your family destroyed itself.”
Dante raised his weapon.
“Why did you kill my father?”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Because he betrayed me.”
Elena stepped forward.
“My father didn't betray anyone.”
Victor looked at her.
“You really believe that?”
“He protected me.”
“Yes.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“That is exactly why he had to die.”
Elena's anger rose.
“What did he know?”
Victor glanced at the wooden box in her hands.
“He left you something.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
Dante moved closer.
“Where is Marcus?”
Victor laughed.
“You still trust him?”
Dante's expression hardened.
“You're the one who betrayed us.”
“No.”
Victor shook his head.
“I simply showed your family what they truly were.”
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from above.
Dante looked toward the stairs.
“More men are coming.”
Victor smiled.
“Then I suppose we should finish this another time.”
He turned away.
“Wait!” Elena shouted.
Victor stopped.
“Why are you after me?”
He slowly looked back.
“Because your father didn't hide the truth from me.”
He pointed at Elena.
“He hid it inside you.”
Elena froze.
“What does that mean?”
Victor smiled.
“You'll find out soon enough.”
He disappeared into the darkness.
Dante's men rushed down the stairs.
“Boss! He's gone!”
Dante stared at the empty staircase.
“Search the entire estate.”
Elena looked at him.
“What did he mean?”
Dante turned toward her.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“Elena—”
“You promised me no more secrets.”
Dante went silent.
Then he reached for the wooden box.
“Let's see what your father left behind.”
Elena opened it again.
Beneath the photograph was a small black envelope.
Her name was written across it.
ELENA.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
She read the first line.
If Victor has found you, then there is only one person you can trust.
Elena's eyes moved down the page.
Then she stopped.
The name was written clearly.
DANTE ROMANO.
She looked up at him in shock.
Dante stared at the letter.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Elena whispered,
“My father told me to trust you.”
Dante's expression changed.
For the first time, the walls around his heart seemed to c***k.
But beneath the letter was one final sentence.
Elena read it aloud.
“But don't trust him with your heart.”
Silence.
Dante looked at her.
And Elena suddenly realized that the greatest danger might not be Victor.
It might be falling in love with the man her father warned her about.
End of Part 11
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