Chapter 5: My Daughter’s Memory
I carried Sophia upstairs immediately.
I didn’t trust anyone in that basement.
Not Vanessa.
Not Lorenzo.
Not even the walls.
My security team arrived within minutes after Marco received my emergency call.
The entire house changed.
Men who had protected me for years moved through every room, checking cameras, doors, and exits.
But none of that mattered.
Because the only thing I cared about was my daughter sitting on my bed, holding a stuffed rabbit with trembling hands.
I sat beside her.
“Princess.””
She looked at me.
“Yes, Daddy?””
“You did the right thing.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I thought you were going to die.””
I pulled her close.
“I’m not going anywhere.””
She rested her head against my chest.
“I tried to tell you.””
“I know.””
“I thought you didn’t believe me.””
Those words hurt more than anything.
Because she was right.
I had spent months testing everyone.
But I never realized the one person telling me the truth was the smallest person in the house.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Sophia looked confused.
“Why?””
“Because you were scared, and I wasn’t listening.””
She hugged me tighter.
“You’re listening now.””
I closed my eyes.
“Yes.””
A knock came at the door.
Marco entered.
His face was serious.
“Boss.””
I stood.
“What did you find?””
He glanced at Sophia.
Then lowered his voice.
“Vanessa’s phone records.””
I motioned for him to continue.
“She wasn’t working alone.””
I already knew.
“Who else?””
Marco placed a file on the table.
“We traced several calls.””
I opened it.
The first page showed a list of numbers.
The second page showed dates.
The third page showed something that made my stomach turn.
A photo.
Of Vanessa meeting someone.
Someone I had trusted.
Someone who had been in my house.
Someone who had held Sophia in his arms.
“My security chief?””
Marco nodded.
“Daniel Russo.””
I stared at the picture.
Daniel had worked for my family for fifteen years.
He was the man I trusted to protect my home.
My daughter.
My wife.
“How?””
“We’re still investigating.””
I looked at him.
“Find out.””
Marco nodded.
Then he hesitated.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
He placed another document down.
“This was found hidden in Lorenzo’s basement.””
I read the page.
It was an old agreement.
Signed twenty years ago.
Between Lorenzo and my father.
Except it wasn’t a business agreement.
It was a confession.
My father had written:
*“If anything happens to me, do not trust Lorenzo Moretti.””*
I stopped reading.
My father knew.
He knew Lorenzo was dangerous.
But why didn’t he tell me?
Why did he leave me to discover it alone?
I turned the page.
There was one final sentence.
*“The person who betrayed me is closer than you think.””*
My heart sank.
Closer than you think.
Lorenzo was obvious.
But maybe he wasn’t the only one.
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
I looked toward the door.
“Who is it?””
Nobody answered.
Then the handle slowly turned.
My hand moved toward the weapon hidden beneath my jacket.
The door opened.
And Vanessa stepped inside.
Her face was pale.
But she wasn’t crying.
She wasn’t angry.
She looked terrified.
“Vincent,” she whispered.
I stood between her and Sophia.
“What do you want?””
She looked at Marco.
Then back at me.
“I know who really ordered the accident.””
The room became silent.
I stared at her.
“Then talk.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“It wasn’t Lorenzo.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What?””
She took one step closer.
“The person who wanted you dead…”
May you like
Her voice cracked.
“…was someone you would never suspect.””
