Chapter 8: The Man Who Never Left
I had spent twelve years believing I buried my father.
Now I realized I had been living inside a lie.
The note sat in my hand.
Three words.
Come find your father.
But the handwriting wasn't Antonio's.
It was someone younger.
Someone sending a message.
Someone who wanted me angry.
And terrified.
Marcus searched the room.
"No forced entry.""
I looked at the open window.
"Someone let themselves in.""
He nodded.
"The security system was disabled from inside.""
I turned slowly.
Inside.
That meant someone in the house.
Someone who knew our systems.
Someone who knew our routines.
Someone close.
Adrian walked in.
His face changed when he saw the empty bed.
"Sophia?""
I looked at him.
"Don't.""
He stopped.
I wanted to believe my brother was innocent.
But too many pieces connected to him.
"You knew Antonio was alive.""
Adrian looked down.
"Yes.""
"You knew Vanessa was working with him.""
A pause.
Then:
"Yes.""
My anger exploded.
"You let her near my daughter.""
"I was trying to stop it.""
"No.""
I grabbed his shirt.
"You were trying to save yourself.""
Marcus stepped between us.
"Vincent.""
I released him.
But the damage was done.
Adrian looked broken.
"I made mistakes.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Mistakes are forgetting an anniversary. You helped people destroy my family.""
He looked away.
Then whispered:
"Antonio wasn't the only one behind this.""
I stared at him.
"What do you mean?""
Adrian looked toward Sophia's empty room.
"There was another person.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
And that hesitation told me the answer would hurt.
"Someone you trust.""
Before I could demand more, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered immediately.
"Sophia.""
A small voice responded.
"Daddy.""
My entire body relaxed.
"Sophia, where are you?""
"I don't know.""
I heard crying.
Then a man's voice.
"Hello, Vincent.""
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
Older.
Deeper.
But impossible.
"Antonio.""
A quiet laugh.
"I knew you would recognize me.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is my daughter?""
"Safe.""
"Let me speak to her.""
"You already did.""
My hand tightened around the phone.
"What do you want?""
A pause.
Then:
"Your empire.""
I almost laughed.
"You could have taken it years ago.""
"No.""
His voice became colder.
"I wanted you to give it willingly.""
The words made no sense.
"I don't understand.""
"You built everything your own way. You destroyed everyone who stood against you.""
His tone changed.
"But you forgot the one thing your father taught you.""
I said nothing.
"Power means nothing if you have nobody left to love.""
My stomach tightened.
"Don't talk about love.""
"Why?""
A pause.
"Because your first wife understood that.""
I froze.
My first wife.
Sophia's mother.
"What do you know about her?""
The line went silent.
Then Antonio said:
"Everything.""
My heart started racing.
Because Sophia's mother had died years ago.
At least...
That was what I believed.
"She wasn't killed by chance, Vincent.""
The world seemed to stop.
"What did you say?""
Antonio continued.
"Your wife discovered what I was planning.""
My voice dropped.
"What are you saying?""
"She wasn't supposed to die.""
I couldn't breathe.
Every memory.
Every moment.
Every explanation I had accepted.
Suddenly felt wrong.
Antonio whispered:
"Someone in your house made sure she never told you the truth.""
The call ended.
I stood frozen.
Marcus looked at me.
"Boss?""
I looked at him.
"My first wife.""
He understood immediately.
"What about her?""
I stared at the phone.
"She wasn't the victim of an accident.""
May you like
The room went silent.
"She was murdered.""
