Matteo Ricci
582 Words
The moonlight exposed Matteo Ricci’s face fully now.
Older.
Sharper.
More dangerous than the photographs hidden beneath the estate.
A thin scar cut across his jaw while silver streaks lined his dark hair. But his eyes remained cold and calculating.
The eyes of a man who had survived things he never should have.
Elena’s breath caught beside Adrian.
“He’s alive…”
Matteo smiled slowly.
“Disappointed?”
Armed men surrounded the vineyards while rain began falling lightly again across the hills of Florence.
Adrian stepped protectively in front of Elena immediately.
“You should’ve stayed dead,” he said coldly.
Matteo laughed quietly.
“Your father tried very hard to make that happen.”
The words hit Adrian hard, even if he refused to show it.
⸻
One of Matteo’s men aimed his weapon toward them.
Elena tensed instantly.
But Matteo raised a hand calmly.
“No shooting.”
His eyes settled on Adrian.
“Not yet.”
The silence between the two men felt personal.
Old.
Dangerous.
Like this confrontation had been waiting years to happen.
“You finally found the truth,” Matteo said softly. “Though not fast enough to save her.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“Save who?”
Matteo looked directly at Elena.
“His mother.”
Everything stopped.
Elena slowly turned toward Adrian.
Shock spread across his face again.
“What did you say?”
Matteo’s smile disappeared.
“Isabella Moretti didn’t die in that fire, Adrian.”
Adrian looked like the ground beneath him had vanished.
“That’s impossible.”
“No,” Matteo replied quietly. “The impossible part is what your father did after.”
⸻
Rain intensified around them.
Lightning flashed across the vineyards while Matteo reached slowly into his coat.
Adrian immediately stepped forward protectively.
But instead of a weapon, Matteo pulled out an old photograph.
He tossed it toward Adrian.
Adrian caught it carefully.
Elena moved closer beside him.
The photograph showed Isabella standing beside a younger Matteo in front of a small coastal house.
And in Isabella’s arms—
A little boy.
Adrian.
Written on the back:
Run before Lorenzo finds you.
Elena looked up sharply.
“Lorenzo?”
Matteo’s eyes darkened.
“Lorenzo Vale,” he said. “The man Adrian calls father.”
⸻
The rain soaked through Adrian’s black shirt as he stared at the photograph silently.
His breathing had changed.
Uneven now.
Like every truth was breaking him apart piece by piece.
“Why are you telling me this?” he asked quietly.
Matteo stepped closer slowly.
“Because your father is about to erase the last evidence Isabella ever existed.”
At that exact moment—
Headlights appeared at the top of the vineyard hill.
Dozens of them.
Luxury black vehicles.
The armed men around Matteo immediately became tense.
Then one final car arrived slowly at the center.
A Rolls-Royce.
The driver’s door opened.
An older man stepped out wearing a dark tailored coat.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Terrifyingly calm.
Lorenzo Vale.
Adrian froze completely.
Because despite everything…
That was still the man who raised him.
Lorenzo adjusted his gloves slowly while looking down at the scene before him.
Then his cold eyes settled on Adrian.
“You were always too curious,” he said calmly.
Elena felt Adrian’s hand tighten around hers instantly.
Not from anger.
From fear.
Real fear.
Then Lorenzo’s gaze shifted toward Elena.
And he smiled slightly.
“So this,” he said softly, “is the girl ruining everything.”
- Writer
