Chapter 9: The Betrayal Inside The House
The room became silent after the name was spoken.
I waited for Dante to react.
For anger.
For rage.
For the cold fury everyone feared.
But instead…
He looked tired.
Like some part of him had always known.
“Say it again.””
The guard’s voice came through the phone.
“We traced the access codes. The person who entered your home, copied the files, and sent information to Marco Vieri…”
A pause.
“Was Sofia Bellini.””
My stomach dropped.
“No.””
The word escaped before I could stop it.
Dante looked at me.
“You’re certain?””
“Yes, boss.””
I shook my head.
“Sofia wouldn’t do that.””
Dante didn’t answer.
Because he knew something I didn’t.
“You trusted her.””
It wasn’t a question.
I looked away.
“She was my friend.””
Dante’s expression softened slightly.
“And that’s why Marco chose her.””
I hated that he made sense.
Because the worst betrayals weren’t from strangers.
They came from people who knew where to hurt you.
Rafael looked at the screen.
“She was the inside connection.””
Dante nodded.
“For years.””
I looked at him.
“How do you know?””
Dante was silent.
Then:
“Because Sofia wasn’t the first.””
A chill moved through me.
“What?””
Dante walked toward the window.
“My father trusted someone.””
He paused.
“That person betrayed him.””
I understood.
“This is how Marco works.””
Dante nodded.
“He doesn’t attack from outside.””
His voice became darker.
“He enters your life.””
I thought about Sofia.
The coffee.
The conversations.
The questions.
Everything suddenly looked different.
Then I remembered something.
“Sofia knew about my mother.””
Dante turned.
“What did she ask?””
I closed my eyes.
“She asked where my mother kept old photographs.””
Dante’s expression changed.
“Anything else?””
“She asked if I had anything that belonged to her.””
Rafael stepped forward.
“The necklace.””
I looked down.
The necklace was still around my neck.
“She wanted this.””
Dante nodded slowly.
“Because she knew what it was.””
A noise came from outside.
Everyone turned.
A guard rushed in.
“Boss.””
Dante immediately looked up.
“What?””
“We found Sofia’s car.””
“And?””
The guard hesitated.
“She left a message.””
Dante walked forward.
“Where?””
The guard handed him a small device.
A recording.
Dante pressed play.
Sofia’s voice filled the room.
“Dante…”
She sounded scared.
Not evil.
Scared.
“If you’re hearing this, then Marco knows I failed.””
I looked at Dante.
He listened carefully.
“I didn’t betray you because I wanted to.””
A pause.
“He had my daughter.””
My heart sank.
The recording continued.
“He told me if I didn’t help him find Alina, I would never see her again.””
Dante’s face changed.
“She tried to warn us,” I whispered.
Rafael shook his head.
“Not enough.””
The recording continued.
“Alina… I’m sorry.””
My eyes filled.
“She was my only chance.””
Then Sofia said something that made everyone freeze.
“Marco isn’t coming for Leo.””
A pause.
“He’s coming for Alina.””
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Then Dante looked at me.
And I finally understood.
The baby reaching for me.
The dragon tattoo.
My mother’s secrets.
My father returning.
None of it was random.
Everything was connected.
“Why me?”” I whispered.
Dante walked closer.
For once, he didn’t look like a feared mafia boss.
He looked like a man who had spent years carrying a terrible secret.
“Because your mother discovered something before she died.””
“What?””
His eyes met mine.
“She discovered the person who truly controls Marco Vieri.””
I held my breath.
“Who?””
Dante looked toward the dark window.
Then he said:
“The person who started this war…”
May you like
A pause.
“Is someone from your own family.””
