Chapter 13: The Son Hidden in Plain Sight
The hospital room became silent.
Not the peaceful kind of silence.
The kind that comes right before something breaks.
Everyone looked at Mikey.
The little boy who had spent his entire life carrying secrets meant for adults.
Rico was the first to speak.
“Who?””
Mikey looked down.
His fingers tightened around the stuffed bear in his lap.
“I don’t know if I’m supposed to say.””
I sat beside him.
“You can tell us.””
He looked at me.
“You promise you won’t be mad?””
My heart sank.
Because children only asked that question when they had seen too much anger.
“I promise.””
Mikey took a shaky breath.
“His name is Nico.””
Rico’s face changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
“No.””
Mikey looked at him.
“You know him?””
Rico stepped back.
“That’s impossible.””
“Who is Nico?”” I asked.
Nobody answered.
Then Dante quietly said:
“Nico Bellini.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But it meant something to Rico.
I could see it.
“He’s not Vincent’s son,” Rico said.
Mikey shook his head.
“He is.””
“No.””
Rico’s voice became sharper.
“Vincent never had a son.””
Mikey looked frightened.
“He told Mom he did.””
The room froze.
I looked at Isabella.
She was pale.
“Isabella?””
She whispered:
“Vincent did have a child.””
Rico stared at her.
“You knew?””
“I knew he had a son.””
“Who?””
She looked at him.
“Nico.””
Rico’s expression hardened.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Vincent used him.””
“Used him how?””
Isabella looked at Mikey.
“Because Nico was the only person Vincent loved.””
That sentence made no sense.
Until she continued.
“And the only person he could control.””
I stood.
“So Vincent’s son is helping him?””
Nobody answered.
But the answer was obvious.
My mind went back through everything.
The attack.
The hidden cameras.
The messages.
Someone had access.
Someone knew where we were.
Someone close.
“Who is Nico to you?”” I asked Rico.
His face became distant.
“He grew up around my family.””
“Your family?””
“My father took him in after Vincent disappeared.””
I frowned.
“Wait.””
I looked at him.
“You mean Nico has been around you this whole time?””
Rico nodded.
“He worked for me.””
The room felt colder.
“The person helping Vincent was someone you trusted.””
Rico looked away.
“Yes.””
A horrible realization crossed his face.
“He knew about Isabella.””
Isabella nodded.
“He helped me disappear.””
Rico turned.
“You said you didn’t know who helped you.””
“I didn’t know his real reason.””
She looked at the floor.
“He told me Vincent would kill me if I stayed.””
“And you believed him.””
“I had to.””
Rico laughed once.
A bitter sound.
“So the man I trusted saved my wife just so he could use her.””
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry.””
But Rico didn’t answer.
Because sorry wasn’t enough.
Not anymore.
Dante’s phone buzzed.
He checked the message.
Then immediately handed it to Rico.
“Boss.””
Rico read it.
His expression changed.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“What happened?””
He showed me the screen.
A photo.
Taken seconds ago.
Mikey sleeping in the hospital bed.
But we were all standing there.
The photo had been taken from inside the room.
My blood went cold.
Someone was watching us.
Now.
Dante looked around.
“Everyone stays together.””
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Confident.
Rico moved in front of us.
The door opened.
And a man walked in.
Young.
Well-dressed.
Calm.
Too calm.
He smiled.
“Ricardo.””
Nobody breathed.
Rico stared.
“Nico.””
The man looked at me.
Then at Mikey.
Then at the necklace.
“So.””
He smiled slightly.
“You finally found her.””
My hands tightened.
“You’re Vincent’s son.””
Nico looked amused.
“Did he tell you that?””
I frowned.
“What?””
Nico stepped closer.
“Because Vincent lies about many things.””
Rico moved forward.
“Get away from them.””
Nico ignored him.
Instead, he looked at me.
“You want the truth?””
I said nothing.
“You think Vincent destroyed your family.””
He smiled sadly.
“He did.””
A pause.
“But he wasn’t the only one.””
The room went still.
Nico looked at Rico.
“Your father knew.””
Rico’s jaw tightened.
“You already said that.””
“No.””
Nico shook his head.
“He knew something worse.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“What?””
Nico looked at me.
“Your father wasn’t protecting you from Vincent.””
He stepped closer.
“He was protecting you from Ricardo Moretti.””
Nobody moved.
Rico looked stunned.
“What?””
May you like
Nico smiled.
“And that’s the part nobody ever told you.””
