Chapter 11: The Enemy Inside the Bloodline
The house was supposed to be empty.
That was what scared Matteo.
Not the abandoned rooms.
Not the missing people.
Not even the note.
Because empty places meant someone had left.
But this place felt like someone had just stepped away.
Like they were waiting.
Watching.
Matteo stood near the window holding the note.
“He is watching.””
The words burned into his mind.
“Who is he?”” Liana asked.
Nobody answered.
Because everyone had a different fear.
Daniel looked at Teresa.
Teresa looked away.
And Matteo noticed.
“Mother.””
She remained silent.
“Who is he?””
Finally, Teresa spoke.
“Your father.””
The room froze.
Matteo’s expression changed.
“My father is dead.””
“Yes.””
“Then explain.””
Teresa looked older suddenly.
Much older.
“He was supposed to die.””
Matteo stared.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Your father was involved in everything.””
“No.””
“You never knew the full story.””
Matteo’s voice became dangerous.
“My father died when I was a child.””
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
Teresa closed her eyes.
“Because the man you knew as your father was not the man controlling the family.””
The words made no sense.
Liana looked between them.
“What are you saying?””
Teresa answered:
“Your father left someone else in control.””
Matteo felt cold.
“Who?””
She looked at him.
“Your uncle.””
Silence.
Again.
The same name.
The same betrayal.
The same shadow.
“My uncle killed my father?””
“No.””
Teresa shook her head.
“He helped him disappear.””
Matteo stepped back.
“Why?””
“Because your father wanted out.””
“Out of what?””
Teresa looked at Nico and Liana’s child.
“Out of this.””
The answer was almost impossible.
The Varric empire.
The power.
The violence.
The secrets.
Everything Matteo had inherited.
“He wanted to protect you.””
Matteo laughed once.
A bitter sound.
“By abandoning me?””
Teresa looked at him.
“He thought distance would save you.””
“And did it?””
No answer.
Because it didn’t.
Matteo had become exactly what his father feared.
A man built from survival.
A man who trusted power more than people.
A man who believed love was a weakness.
Until now.
Daniel searched the house.
Minutes later, he returned with a small box.
Inside was a recording device.
Old.
Hidden.
Matteo pressed play.
A voice filled the room.
His father’s voice.
A voice he had not heard in decades.
“Matteo, if you are hearing this, then they failed to hide the truth.””
Everyone listened.
The recording continued.
“I made mistakes.””
Matteo closed his eyes.
Because even after all these years, hearing his father apologize hurt.
“I thought power could protect my family.””
A pause.
“It cannot.””
Liana looked at him.
The same realization she had seen in him before.
The same wound.
“Someone inside our family will betray you.””
His father’s voice continued.
“Not because they hate you.””
A pause.
“Because they believe they are saving you.””
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Teresa whispered:
“He knew.””
Matteo looked at her.
“He knew?””
“Yes.””
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I promised him.””
The anger returned.
“You promised a dead man over your living son?””
Her eyes filled.
“I promised to keep you alive.””
Matteo turned away.
Because he wanted to hate her.
He wanted it to be simple.
But nothing was simple anymore.
Not family.
Not loyalty.
Not love.
That night, they stayed inside the abandoned house.
Not because it was safe.
Because they had nowhere else to trust.
Liana sat beside the two babies.
Nico slept beside his brother.
The sight was impossible.
Two children who had been separated.
Now together.
Like they had always belonged together.
Matteo stood nearby.
“You’re thinking too loudly.””
She looked up.
“What?””
He almost smiled.
“Your face.””
For a second, she smiled too.
Then it faded.
“I’m scared.””
“So am I.””
She looked surprised.
“You admit that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I don’t want to lose them.””
The answer was simple.
Honest.
Human.
Liana looked at him differently.
Not as a mafia boss.
Not as a powerful man.
Just a father.
“You know,” she said softly, “Nico never looked afraid with me.””
Matteo looked at the baby.
“He trusted you.””
“Maybe because he knew I needed him.””
The words stayed between them.
Then Matteo’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone became alert.
He answered.
A voice spoke.
A familiar voice.
His uncle.
“Matteo.””
His blood went cold.
“You finally found the truth.””
Matteo said nothing.
The man continued.
“But you found it too late.””
“Where are you?””
A quiet laugh.
“You still think this is about location.””
“What do you want?””
The answer came immediately.
“The children.””
Matteo looked at Nico.
The caller continued.
“Bring them to me.””
“No.””
A pause.
Then:
“Then ask your mother what happened to Isabella.””
The line went dead.
Matteo slowly lowered the phone.
Liana saw his face.
“What did he say?””
Matteo looked at Teresa.
May you like
And this time…
She looked afraid.
