Chapter 5: The Man Inside the House
The emergency lights flickered on.
Only enough to reveal a silhouette at the end of the hallway.
Clara stood behind Rico.
His body was tense.
Every instinct he had was screaming.
“Come out,” Rico said.
The figure stepped forward.
Dante immediately raised his weapon.
“Lower it.””
Rico’s voice stopped him.
Because the man walking toward them was someone who had been beside Rico for years.
Antonio Moretti.
Rico’s older cousin.
The man who had helped build the family empire.
The man everyone called the brother Rico never had.
Antonio smiled slightly.
“Still suspicious of everyone?””
Rico’s expression hardened.
“Especially people who break into my house.””
Antonio looked around.
“I didn’t break in.””
“The alarm says otherwise.””
Antonio shrugged.
“Your security has gotten worse.””
Dante stepped forward.
“No one insults security while standing inside a locked property.””
Antonio ignored him.
His eyes moved to Clara.
“And who is she?””
Rico noticed immediately.
“She works here.””
Antonio smiled.
“A waitress?””
Clara felt the insult.
Not because of the word.
Because of the way he said it.
Like she was something that didn’t belong.
“Yes,” Rico answered.
Antonio laughed softly.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“Nothing.””
Rico stepped closer.
“Why are you here?””
Antonio’s smile faded.
“I heard Elena’s case reopened.””
The room changed.
Clara noticed.
Everyone did.
Rico’s expression became colder.
“How?””
“People talk.””
“Not about police investigations.””
Antonio looked at him.
“You still think everyone around you is loyal.””
“And you?””
Antonio sighed.
“After everything we built together, you’re asking me that?””
“Yes.””
A long silence followed.
Then Antonio looked toward the stairs.
“Where’s Leo?””
Rico’s jaw tightened.
“Why?””
“Because I’m family.””
“No.””
The word came quickly.
Antonio looked surprised.
Rico continued.
“Family doesn’t ask questions before asking if a child is okay.””
Clara saw something flash across Antonio’s face.
Anger.
Only for a second.
But she saw it.
Later, after Antonio left, Clara stood in the kitchen watching Rico pour himself a drink.
“You don’t trust him.””
Rico didn’t answer.
“That means you think he could be involved.””
“He has reasons to hate me.””
“Why?””
Rico stared at the glass.
“Because I chose Elena over the family.””
Clara waited.
Six months ago, she would have never imagined Ricardo Moretti admitting weakness.
But now she was beginning to understand.
Powerful people were still people.
They just had more ways to hide their pain.
“My father wanted me to marry for business,” Rico said.
“Your father?””
“Antonio agreed with him.””
“But you chose Elena.””
“Yes.””
“And that caused problems?””
Rico nodded.
“Elena was not impressed by money. She challenged everyone.””
A small smile appeared.
“She once told me I was the most arrogant man she had ever met.””
Clara almost smiled.
“She was right?””
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised her.
Then a small voice came from behind them.
“Daddy?””
Rico turned.
Leo stood in the doorway holding his stuffed bear.
The fear disappeared from his face when he saw Clara.
But he still walked toward Rico.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like he was trying.
Rico lowered himself.
“What happened?””
Leo held out the bear.
“Bad dream.””
Rico looked at him.
“What about?””
Leo looked toward the hallway.
“Uncle.””
The room became cold.
Rico’s eyes narrowed.
“Antonio?””
Leo nodded.
“He was yelling.””
Clara looked at Rico.
“Was he here before?””
“No.””
Leo shook his head.
“Before mommy went away.””
Rico went still.
“Leo.””
The child covered his ears.
“No questions.””
Clara immediately stepped forward.
“It’s okay.””
Rico stopped.
He wanted answers.
Everyone could see it.
But he listened.
That was the difference.
The next morning, Rico called the detective handling Elena’s case.
Clara overheard only part of the conversation.
“Yes.””
A pause.
“No, I never told anyone that.””
Another pause.
His face changed.
“What do you mean the evidence was moved?””
Clara looked up.
Rico slowly lowered the phone.
“What happened?””
He looked at her.
“The original evidence from Elena’s case disappeared.””
“Who had access?””
Rico didn’t answer.
Because there was only one possibility.
Someone inside his own organization.
Someone trusted.
Someone close.
Then Dante rushed into the room holding a folder.
“Boss.””
Rico turned.
“What?””
Dante looked at Clara.
Then back at Rico.
“We found something in the old security footage.””
“What?””
Dante opened the folder.
“There was another person at the scene the night Elena died.””
Rico took the photograph.
His face turned pale.
Because the person standing near Elena’s car was someone he had known his entire life.
May you like
Someone who had been at his side every day.
Someone who had just walked into his house.
