Chapter 9 - THE FATHER
The old man smiled.
He looked weaker than Marco remembered.
But his eyes were exactly the same.
Cold.
Intelligent.
Unforgiving.
Marco's father slowly removed his gloves.
"Hello, son."
Marco raised his gun.
"You should be dead."
"I was."
"Five years."
"Long enough."
Lucas stood beside Marco.
"You destroyed my life."
Their father laughed softly.
"No."
"I lost everything because of you."
"You lost your courage."
Marco's finger tightened around the trigger.
Elena stepped between them.
"Why are you here?"
The old man looked at her.
"So you're Elena."
She held Mia closer.
"You know my name."
"I've known your name for years."
Lucas moved forward.
"Stay away from her."
His father smiled.
"You always were sentimental."
Then he looked at Mia.
"Come here, child."
Mia shook her head.
Marco stepped in front of her.
"Never."
The old man's smile disappeared.
"Do you know what your grandfather left her?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what happens when she turns twenty-five?"
"Yes."
"Then you understand why she belongs with me."
Elena's voice was firm.
"She belongs with herself."
The old man looked amused.
"You think you can protect her?"
"Yes."
"You couldn't even protect yourself."
Elena flinched.
Lucas stepped forward.
"Don't talk to her like that."
His father pulled out a small remote.
The church doors locked.
The lights went off.
A timer appeared on the wall.
09:58
Marco looked at him.
"What did you do?"
"I gave you a choice."
"What choice?"
"Leave the city with your brother and surrender the trust."
Marco laughed.
"You think I'll agree?"
"If you don't, the people outside will enter."
Lucas looked around.
"How many?"
"Enough."
Marco whispered:
"You're bluffing."
His father smiled.
"Test me."
The timer reached nine minutes.
Then eight.
Sofia stepped forward.
"You've already lost."
He looked at her.
"You always were stubborn."
"I know where the trust is."
"So do I."
"No."
Sofia smiled.
"You know where the documents are."
She lifted a small key.
"I know where the real money is."
His expression changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Sofia turned toward Marco.
"Your grandfather didn't trust banks."
Marco stared.
"Where is it?"
Sofia looked at Mia.
"Where your daughter took her first breath."
Elena understood.
"The hospital?"
Sofia nodded.
"The Bellini family fortune was moved into a private foundation."
Marco stared.
"And my father can't access it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because the final beneficiary is Mia."
His father suddenly raised his weapon.
Everyone froze.
Then a gunshot rang out.
But it wasn't Marco.
It was Sofia.
She fired first.
His gun dropped.
Security officers rushed into the church.
The old man fell to his knees.
Marco stared at his mother.
"You shot him."
Sofia lowered the weapon.
"He was never going to stop."
Police entered.
The nightmare was finally ending.
Or so they thought.
As officers arrested Marco's father, one of them approached Elena.
"Mrs. Morales?"
"Yes?"
"We found something in his vehicle."
The officer handed her an envelope.
Her name was written on it.
Elena opened it.
Inside was one photograph.
Lucas and Elena.
Five years earlier.
On the back:
YOU WERE NEVER HIS ONLY SECRET.
Elena looked at Lucas.
"What does this mean?"
Lucas's face changed.
He looked terrified.
"I don't know."
Marco took the photograph.
Then saw the date.
Three days before Lucas disappeared.
There was another person in the photograph.
A woman standing in the background.
Marco recognized her.
His face went pale.
"That's impossible."
Elena asked:
"Who is she?"
Marco whispered:
"My father's lawyer."
May you like
Lucas shook his head.
"She's been dead for six years."
