Chapter 5: The Secret About Leo
“No.””
Ricardo’s voice was barely above a whisper.
It wasn’t disbelief.
It was refusal.
“No.””
He grabbed the phone from my hand and pressed the call button.
Nothing.
The number was disconnected.
Again.
Again.
Nothing.
Leo stood quietly in the middle of the room, confused by the adults around him.
“Daddy?””
Ricardo looked down.
The anger disappeared.
The fear returned.
He walked toward his son slowly.
“Come here.””
Leo ran into his arms.
Ricardo held him tightly.
I watched the man everyone feared become a father terrified of losing his child.
“Adrian,” Ricardo said.
His voice was cold again.
“Tell me everything.””
Adrian looked at Leo.
Then at me.
“Sarah discovered the truth two years ago.””
“What truth?”” I asked.
Adrian sat down.
“The Moretti family has enemies. Everyone knows that.””
Ricardo remained standing.
“But Sarah found out someone was trying to destroy Ricardo from the inside.””
I looked at the documents.
“Marco.””
Adrian nodded.
“Marco was working with someone else.””
“Who?””
Adrian looked at Ricardo.
“That’s the part Sarah never discovered.””
The room became tense.
Ricardo’s expression changed.
“Why would she say Leo isn’t my son?””
Adrian was silent.
That silence answered too much.
I looked at him.
“You know.””
He looked away.
“Sarah suspected.””
Ricardo’s face hardened.
“Suspected what?””
“That Leo was switched at birth.””
The words felt impossible.
I stared.
“No.””
Adrian continued.
“Sarah gave birth in a private hospital. The Moretti name attracted attention. Too many people wanted control over your family.””
Ricardo shook his head.
“That hospital was secure.””
“Nothing is secure when someone inside helps.””
I looked at Leo.
The little boy was playing with the edge of Ricardo’s jacket, completely unaware.
“How could Sarah not know?””
“She did.””
Adrian’s voice softened.
“She tested the truth.””
Ricardo looked at him.
“And?””
Adrian hesitated.
“She found out Leo’s DNA didn’t match yours.””
The room went silent.
Ricardo’s face lost all emotion.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Because one thought kept returning.
Sarah knew.
She knew this man loved his son.
She knew I loved her.
And she still kept it from us.
Why?
I turned toward Adrian.
“Where is Sarah?””
“I don’t know.””
“Don’t lie.””
“I’m not.””
His expression became serious.
“She disappeared before she could reveal the person behind everything.””
Ricardo stepped closer.
“Who helped her disappear?””
Adrian looked at him.
“That’s the question you should be asking.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means Sarah didn’t run away.””
Adrian glanced at me.
“She was taken.””
A chill moved through me.
“Taken by who?””
Before Adrian could answer, the apartment alarm exploded.
Red lights flashed across the walls.
Ricardo immediately picked up Leo.
His guards moved into position.
“What’s happening?”” I asked.
Ricardo looked toward the windows.
“We’re not alone.””
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Then another.
Someone was forcing their way in.
Adrian stood.
“Looks like they found us.””
Ricardo looked at him.
“Did you lead them here?””
Adrian smiled bitterly.
“You still think the easiest answer is the right one.””
Gunfire echoed from below.
Leo buried his face against Ricardo’s shoulder.
I froze.
This wasn’t a warning.
This was an attack.
Ricardo grabbed my arm.
“Stay close.””
I looked at him.
“Why should I trust you?””
The question hit him.
For a second, he had no answer.
Then he said quietly:
“Because whoever is coming through that door doesn’t care if you’re my enemy.””
Another crash.
Closer.
“They want everyone connected to Sarah dead.””
The hallway lights flickered.
A shadow appeared beneath the door.
Someone stopped outside.
Then a voice spoke.
“Ricardo.””
Everyone froze.
Because I knew that voice.
I had heard it before.
In old family videos.
In Sarah’s memories.
A voice I never expected to hear again.
“Open the door.””
Ricardo whispered:
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Who is it?””
His eyes met mine.
May you like
And the answer terrified me.
“It’s Sarah’s father.””
