Chapter 6: The Hidden Enemy
I had heard a lot of impossible things in my life.
Men claiming innocence while covered in blood.
Enemies pretending to be friends.
Friends revealing themselves as enemies.
But nothing prepared me for Vanessa’s next words.
“The order came from your own father’s closest friend.””
I stared at her.
“My father’s closest friend is dead.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
She looked terrified.
“He’s alive.””
Nobody spoke.
Even Marco looked surprised.
“That’s impossible,” he said.
Vanessa looked at him.
“You don’t know everything.””
I stepped closer.
“Explain.””
She looked down.
“I was supposed to help Lorenzo take control.””
My jaw tightened.
“At least you’re finally telling the truth.””
She flinched.
“I never wanted to hurt Sophia.””
“But you did.””
Her eyes filled with regret.
“I know.””
“And you tried to poison me.””
“I was afraid.””
I laughed once.
A cold, empty sound.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“When Lorenzo approached me, he knew exactly what to say.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me your family destroyed his life. He told me your father betrayed him.””
I looked at the documents.
“And you believed him?””
“At first.””
She paused.
“Then I found something.””
“What?””
“A recording.””
She reached into her pocket slowly.
Marco immediately raised his weapon.
“Careful.””
Vanessa froze.
“I’m not trying anything.””
She pulled out a small device and placed it on the table.
“I recorded Lorenzo talking to someone.””
I stared at it.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Your father.””
The room went completely still.
Impossible.
My father had been dead for years.
Marco looked at me.
“Boss…”
I pressed the button.
Static filled the room.
Then a voice.
A voice I hadn’t heard in years.
My father.
“Lorenzo, if you’re hearing this, then I’m already gone.””
My hands froze.
The recording continued.
“I know what you want. You think this family belongs to you.””
A pause.
“You’re wrong.””
Lorenzo’s voice appeared.
“You always underestimated me.””
My father answered.
“No. I always knew exactly who you were.””
The recording ended.
Everyone stood silent.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Where did you get this?””
“In Lorenzo’s basement.””
“Why didn’t you use it earlier?””
Her eyes dropped.
“Because I was scared.””
I believed her.
But trust was not something I could give anymore.
Not easily.
I turned to Marco.
“Take Vanessa downstairs.””
Her head snapped up.
“Vincent—”
“Until I know the full truth, you’re a suspect.””
She nodded slowly.
“I understand.””
As Marco escorted her away, I looked at the recording device.
My father’s voice kept repeating in my mind.
I always knew exactly who you were.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
No one spoke for five seconds.
Then a familiar voice said:
“You’ve been asking the wrong questions.””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
A quiet laugh.
“You sound just like your father.””
My grip tightened.
“Where are you?””
The man ignored my question.
“You think Lorenzo betrayed you. You think Vanessa betrayed you.””
A pause.
“But you still don’t know the truth.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What truth?””
The voice became colder.
“The accident three months ago wasn’t meant to kill you.””
I looked toward the basement.
“What was it meant to do?””
The man answered:
“It was meant to make you disappear long enough for me to take everything.””
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Then I saw the message that appeared seconds later.
A photograph.
Of my father.
Taken years after everyone believed he died.
May you like
And standing beside him…
Was the man who had just called me.
