Chapter 10: The Man I Trusted Most
For twenty years, Marcus had stood beside me.
He had been there when enemies came after me.
He had been there when my father died.
He had been there when I held Sophia for the first time after she was born.
I trusted him more than anyone.
And now I was staring at evidence that his name was connected to the entire nightmare.
The room felt smaller.
The air felt heavier.
Marcus stood across from me, holding his hands at his sides.
He knew exactly what I was thinking.
"Vincent...""
I raised my hand.
"Don't lie to me.""
His expression changed.
A wounded look crossed his face.
"I never lied about protecting you.""
"Then explain why your name is on the property records.""
Silence.
That was all I needed.
Because silence from someone like Marcus was louder than any confession.
I stepped closer.
"How long?""
Marcus looked down.
"Since before the accident.""
My jaw tightened.
"Before?""
He nodded slowly.
"I knew Antonio was alive.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
"You knew?""
"Yes.""
"And you said nothing.""
"I was trying to find proof.""
I stared at him.
"You watched my family fall apart while you searched for proof?""
Marcus looked away.
"I thought I could handle it.""
I laughed once.
Cold.
Bitter.
"That's what everyone says before they destroy everything.""
He took a step forward.
"Vincent, listen to me. I never helped Antonio hurt Sophia.""
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But trust was something I no longer gave freely.
"Where is my daughter?""
Marcus hesitated.
And that hesitation scared me.
"Marcus.""
"I don't know.""
I stared at him.
"You don't know?""
"Antonio moved her.""
My hand slammed against the desk.
"Then why are we standing here?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Because there is something you need to know before you go after him.""
I said nothing.
He reached into his jacket and placed a small envelope on the table.
"This belonged to your first wife.""
My heart stopped.
"Where did you get this?""
"Antonio had it.""
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a letter.
The handwriting was familiar.
My wife's handwriting.
The first line almost broke me.
Vincent,
If you are reading this, then something happened to me.
I forced myself to keep reading.
I knew Antonio was planning something. I knew Vanessa was involved. But there was someone else helping them.
Someone inside our family.
My breathing became shallow.
The letter continued.
I trusted the wrong person.
Someone who had access to everything.
Someone who knew our schedules.
Someone who knew where Sophia would be.
My fingers shook.
Marcus watched me.
"There is more.""
I looked up.
"Who?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Your wife's letter didn't name him.""
"Why?""
"Because she never finished it.""
I stared at the page.
A sentence was cut off.
The ink stopped suddenly.
Because whoever found her...
Stopped her.
I closed my eyes.
Then I saw something.
A detail.
Something I had ignored.
The property records.
The investigation.
The hidden documents.
Everything led back to one place.
My own organization.
Someone inside had been moving pieces.
I looked at Marcus.
"Take me to Antonio.""
He nodded.
But before we left, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Vincent.""
I froze.
Because I recognized it.
Not Antonio.
Not Adrian.
Someone else.
Someone I thought was dead.
"Who is this?""
The voice laughed softly.
"You really did forget me.""
My blood ran cold.
"Show yourself.""
A pause.
Then:
"Look at the photo in your hand.""
I looked down.
The old photograph.
My wife's car.
The man standing beside it.
I turned the picture over.
There was something written on the back.
A name.
A name I had missed before.
The phone voice whispered:
"Now you know who was there that night.""
I looked at the name.
And my entire world collapsed.
May you like
Because the person who caused everything...
Was the one person I never suspected.
