Chapter 11: The Enemy My Father Never Saw
My father read the letter three times.
He didn't speak.
That scared me.
Anger was easy to understand.
Silence was not.
Finally, Elena asked,
"What does it mean?""
My father folded the paper.
"It means Caroline wasn't in control.""
"Then who was?""
He looked at the letter again.
"I don't know.""
I hated hearing that.
My father always knew what to do.
He always had an answer.
But now he looked like someone searching through darkness.
"Could it be someone from your past?""
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
Later that day, he called people he trusted.
Not many.
I noticed that.
My father had thousands of people who feared him.
But very few he trusted.
By evening, we had one name.
Anthony Russo.
I didn't know him.
But everyone else seemed to.
Elena explained quietly.
"He was your father's closest partner years ago.""
"Partner?""
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
"He disappeared after a disagreement.""
My father entered the room.
"Not a disagreement.""
We looked at him.
"A betrayal.""
The word was heavy.
"What did he do?""
My father sat down.
"He wanted control.""
"And you stopped him?""
"I thought I did.""
That sentence bothered me.
"You thought?""
My father looked at me.
"Because I never found proof.""
The next day, we went to Bellmont.
I didn't want to hide.
My father agreed.
The school needed to see me.
Not a victim.
Not a target.
Emily.
When we entered the building, something felt different.
Students were quieter.
Teachers looked ashamed.
Then I heard someone call my name.
"Emily.""
I stopped.
It was Adrian.
He stood a few feet away.
"I need to tell you something.""
My father stayed beside me.
"What?""
Adrian looked nervous.
"I found another file.""
My father immediately focused.
"Where?""
"The old group server.""
"Why didn't you report it?""
"Because I didn't know who to trust.""
Fair answer.
"What was in it?"" my father asked.
Adrian swallowed.
"Information about your family.""
My father became still.
"What information?""
"Your schedule. Your daughter's schedule. Places you visit.""
I felt cold.
Adrian continued.
"But there was something strange.""
"What?""
"The file wasn't created recently.""
My father asked,
"How old?""
Adrian whispered,
"Eight years.""
Eight years.
I was four years old.
Before Bellmont.
Before the target list.
Before everything.
"Who created it?"" my father asked.
Adrian shook his head.
"It only had initials.""
"Which initials?""
Adrian looked at me.
Then said,
"V.M.""
My father's expression changed.
Everyone became silent.
Because those initials belonged to him.
Vincent Moretti.
"No.""
The word came from my father.
Quietly.
Almost to himself.
Adrian quickly said,
"I know what it looks like.""
My father looked at the floor.
"Someone used my initials.""
"Why?""
"To frame me.""
A teacher approached.
"Mr. Moretti.""
It was Principal Harrison.
He looked terrified.
"We found something in the archives.""
My father turned.
"What?""
"A hidden room.""
Nobody spoke.
"Where?""
"Behind the old administration office.""
The principal continued.
"We found files.""
My father asked,
"About what?""
The principal's voice dropped.
"About Bellmont students.""
My father looked at me.
"Take us there.""
The hidden room smelled old.
Dust.
Paper.
Secrets.
I hated that word.
Secrets.
Everywhere we went, there were secrets.
The principal opened a cabinet.
Inside were dozens of folders.
Names.
Dates.
Photos.
My father picked one up.
Then another.
His breathing changed.
"What is it?""
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Dad?""
He finally spoke.
"They weren't collecting information to hurt students.""
"Then what?""
He opened one folder.
Inside was a photograph.
A young Vincent Moretti.
A young Isabella.
And a third person.
Someone I had never seen before.
But my father recognized immediately.
His voice became almost a whisper.
"That's impossible.""
"Who is it?""
He touched the photograph.
"My brother.""
I froze.
"Your brother?""
"My brother died twenty years ago.""
The room became silent.
Then the lights suddenly went out.
Someone moved in the darkness.
My father grabbed my hand.
And a voice came from the doorway.
"Vincent.""
May you like
My father's entire body went still.
Because the voice belonged to someone who should not exist.
