CHAPTER 8
352 Words
The Hidden Safe
At midnight, nobody came.
Instead, another message arrived.
Look beneath what your father built.
Lia immediately thought of the study.
They searched every corner.
Behind the bookshelf.
Under the desk.
Inside the fireplace.
Nothing.
Then Lia noticed the floor beneath her father's chair.
One section sounded hollow.
Matteo removed the wooden panel.
A safe was hidden beneath it.
The silver key opened it.
Inside were documents.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Letters.
And a small recording device.
Lia pressed play.
Her father's voice filled the room.
"If you're hearing this, Lia, then I failed to protect you."
Lia's eyes filled with tears.
"But I need you to know something. The Romanos were never our true enemies."
Matteo looked at Lia.
"Adrian Vale created the conflict."
Alessandro continued.
"He has people inside both families. Someone close to us is still working for him."
The recording paused.
Then Alessandro said:
"That person is someone you trust."
The recording ended.
Lia looked at Elena.
Elena looked horrified.
"Your father never told me that."
Matteo examined the documents.
"There's more."
He held up a photograph.
Adrian.
Vittorio.
Elena.
And another person.
Lia recognized him immediately.
Marco Moretti.
Her cousin.
Her heart sank.
"Marco."
Matteo looked at her.
"Do you trust him?"
Lia didn't answer.
Because she suddenly remembered all the times Marco had asked about her father's documents.
All the times he had insisted that Lia knew nothing about the family.
She whispered:
"I don't know."
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