Chapter 6: The Father Who Wanted Sarah Dead
The door opened before anyone touched it.
Not because Ricardo allowed it.
Because someone on the other side unlocked it.
Everyone raised their weapons.
Then an elderly man stepped inside.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
A face that looked calm despite walking into a room full of armed men.
I knew him instantly.
Not because I had met him.
Because Sarah had shown me pictures.
“My father,” she used to say.
Then she would laugh.
“He looks terrifying, but he makes terrible coffee.””
I never imagined that same man would walk into a room like a threat.
“Victor Vance,” Ricardo said.
The old man smiled.
“Still alive, I see.””
My stomach turned.
“You know him?””
Ricardo looked at me.
“Yes.””
Victor looked at Leo.
Then his smile disappeared.
“So this is the boy.””
Ricardo moved Leo behind him.
“You’re not coming near him.””
Victor sighed.
“You still don’t understand.””
“Understand what?””
“That child is the reason Sarah is still alive.””
The room went silent.
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Victor looked at me.
“Your sister made a mistake.””
My voice shook.
“Don’t talk about her like that.””
“She trusted the wrong people.””
Ricardo stepped forward.
“You know where she is.””
Victor didn’t deny it.
“She contacted me.””
My breathing stopped.
“Why?””
“To ask for help.””
“Then help her!””
Victor’s expression hardened.
“I tried.””
Nobody spoke.
Then he looked at Ricardo.
“She told me if anything happened, I needed to find Clara.””
My eyes widened.
“Me?””
Victor nodded.
“She said you were the only person who would never stop looking for her.””
Tears burned my eyes.
Sarah knew me.
Even when she disappeared.
Even when she hid everything.
She knew me.
Ricardo’s voice was quiet.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Victor looked at him.
“Because Sarah was afraid of you.””
The words landed like a weapon.
Ricardo didn’t move.
I watched his face carefully.
Not anger.
Pain.
“Why?””
Victor reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small folder.
“Because she found this.””
He threw it onto the table.
Ricardo opened it.
Inside were medical records.
DNA results.
And one photograph.
A baby.
My hands shook as I looked closer.
“What is that?””
Victor answered.
“The night Leo was born.””
Ricardo stared at the paper.
Victor continued.
“Your son was kidnapped before he ever left the hospital.””
My heart raced.
“And?””
Victor looked at Leo.
“The baby returned to you was not the same child.””
Nobody spoke.
Leo looked between us.
Confused.
Scared.
Ricardo slowly looked down at the boy in his arms.
“But he’s my son.””
Victor’s expression softened.
“Maybe.””
That single word destroyed him.
“Maybe?””
Victor nodded.
“Sarah spent months trying to prove who took the original child.””
“Who?””
Victor looked at me.
Then at Ricardo.
“The same person who arranged the explosion.””
The room went cold.
I whispered:
“Who?””
Victor opened his mouth.
Then the lights went out again.
A gunshot exploded.
Everyone dropped.
I hit the floor.
Someone screamed.
When emergency lights turned on, Victor was gone.
And so was Leo.
Ricardo’s voice broke through the darkness.
“LEO!””
I looked around.
The little boy was missing.
On the floor where he had been standing was a note.
Ricardo picked it up.
His hands trembled.
I watched his face change as he read it.
Then he handed it to me.
Only four words were written.
*BRING ME SARAH VANCE.*
And underneath was a name.
The person who took Leo.
May you like
The person who knew where my sister was.
*Marco Bellini.*
