Chapter 6 - THE HOUSE OF SECRETS
Marco moved them before sunrise.
The penthouse was compromised.
He took Elena, Mia, and Sofia to an old estate outside the city.
It had belonged to his grandfather.
Nobody used it anymore.
Which was precisely why Marco trusted it.
The house stood behind iron gates surrounded by trees.
Mia loved it immediately.
"There are so many windows!"
Elena almost laughed.
"Don't wander."
Mia nodded.
Marco watched them from the doorway.
For the first time in years, his house felt like a home.
Sofia sat beside the fireplace.
"You look like your father."
Marco stiffened.
"I don't want to hear that."
"I know."
"Then don't say it."
Sofia sighed.
"I spent years trying to protect you from becoming him."
Marco looked at her.
"And did you succeed?"
She smiled sadly.
"You're still asking whether you're a good man."
Marco said nothing.
"Your father never asked himself that question."
That stayed with him.
Later that morning, Elena found Marco in the library.
He was studying old documents.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Why are you helping us?"
Marco looked at her.
"Because Mia is my niece."
Elena swallowed.
"Is that all?"
He hesitated.
"No."
She waited.
"I failed Lucas."
"How?"
"I knew he wanted out."
"Did you help him?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid of my father."
Elena's expression softened.
"You were his son."
"So was Lucas."
Marco looked down.
"I should have protected him."
Elena sat opposite him.
"You were young."
"I was old enough to know."
They sat in silence.
Then Mia ran into the room.
"Mommy!"
Elena turned.
"What happened?"
"I found something!"
Mia held up a small wooden box.
Marco stood immediately.
"Where?"
"In the garden."
Elena took it.
There was an engraving on the top.
L.B.
Lucas Bellini.
Marco opened it.
Inside was a child's drawing.
A house.
A woman.
A little girl.
And a man.
On the back was a message.
For my daughter, when she's old enough to know the truth.
Elena's hands trembled.
Marco read it over her shoulder.
The message was short.
If you're reading this, then someone failed to keep you hidden.
Your mother saved my life.
I loved her.
I loved you before I ever saw your face.
And if I'm not there, remember this.
None of this was your fault.
Elena began crying.
Mia looked confused.
"Mommy?"
Elena hugged her.
"It's okay."
Marco noticed something beneath the paper.
A second compartment.
He opened it.
Inside was a USB drive.
Daniel arrived minutes later.
"What is it?"
Marco handed it to him.
"Find a secure computer."
They connected the drive.
A video appeared.
Lucas.
Older than Elena remembered.
Thinner.
Bruised.
But alive.
Elena covered her mouth.
Lucas looked directly into the camera.
"If this reaches Elena, then I'm probably already dead."
Elena whispered:
"No."
Lucas continued.
"If you're watching this, don't trust anyone carrying my father's name."
Marco froze.
Lucas looked exhausted.
"Especially Marco."
Elena turned toward him.
Marco didn't move.
Lucas continued.
"My brother doesn't know what our father did."
The video paused.
Then restarted.
"But if Marco is the one who finds this, listen carefully."
Marco leaned closer.
Lucas stared into the camera.
"Father didn't die."
Marco's face went blank.
"He faked his death."
Elena's breath caught.
Lucas continued.
"And he's been preparing to take control of something much bigger than the Bellini organization."
The video ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then the computer screen flickered.
A final message appeared.
YOU HAVE 24 HOURS.
Beneath it:
BRING THE GIRL.
Elena immediately pulled Mia closer.
Marco stood.
"No."
Sofia looked at him.
"They'll come."
"I know."
"What will you do?"
Marco's eyes hardened.
"What I should have done five years ago."
May you like
He picked up his phone.
"I'm going to find my father."
