Chapter 3 - Blood Betrayal
Matteo didn’t move.
Elena expected rage.
Instead, his face became terrifyingly calm.
“Bring me proof.”
The guard handed him a tablet.
Matteo read silently.
Elena watched his jaw tighten.
“Your brother tried to kill you?”
Matteo looked up.
“Apparently.”
“Apparently?”
“In my family, accusations require evidence.”
“There are six dead people in Rome.”
“Yes.”
His voice was suddenly colder.
“And that is why I need certainty.”
The guard spoke.
“Nikolai transferred two million euros yesterday to an account connected to Viktor Saranov.”
Matteo looked at him.
“Saranov?”
“Yes.”
Elena asked, “Who’s that?”
Neither answered.
“Great. More terrifying names.”
Matteo handed the tablet back.
“Find Nikolai.”
The guard left.
Elena followed Matteo into his study.
“You said your wife was dead.”
He stopped.
“She is.”
“How?”
Matteo stared toward the ocean.
“Car explosion.”
Elena went still.
“When?”
“Seven weeks ago.”
Sofia was six weeks old.
Elena understood.
“She died after giving birth?”
“One week after.”
“Was Sofia with her?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“My wife, Anna, received a message telling her I had been attacked. She left Sofia with her sister and drove to me.”
“It was a trap.”
“Yes.”
“And you think your brother—”
“I think nothing until I have proof.”
Elena stepped closer.
“You already believe it.”
Matteo looked at her.
She recognized the expression.
She had worn it herself after the accident.
The desperate wish that facts could somehow become something else.
A baby monitor crackled from the desk.
Sofia started crying.
Matteo immediately moved.
Elena caught his arm.
“You can’t keep doing this.”
“What?”
“Running every time she makes a sound.”
“She needs me.”
“She needs you calm.”
His eyes dropped to her hand on his arm.
Elena released him.
“Sorry.”
“You’re right.”
That surprised her.
He sat.
“I don’t know how to do this.”
“Be a father?”
“Yes.”
“Neither does anyone.”
“I command four thousand employees across twelve countries.”
“Congratulations.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Babies don’t care.”
Matteo almost smiled.
“Sofia certainly doesn’t.”
Elena picked up the monitor.
“I’ll check her.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
That answer silenced him.
Later that night, Elena found Matteo alone on the terrace.
Sofia was asleep after another feeding.
“You should sleep,” he said.
“So should you.”
“I don’t sleep much.”
“Neither do criminals in movies.”
Matteo glanced at her.
“You think I’m amusing?”
“I think you’re exhausting.”
“Fair.”
She sat opposite him.
“Tell me about Nikolai.”
“Why?”
“Because if your brother wants everyone in this house dead, I’d like context.”
Matteo considered refusing.
Then he spoke.
“Nikolai is younger. Our father always preferred me.”
“That’s it?”
“No.”
“Good, because attempted murder over daddy issues felt excessive.”
Matteo’s mouth twitched.
“Three years ago, Nikolai began using our shipping company to move things I had forbidden.”
“Drugs?”
“Yes.”
“People?”
Matteo’s silence answered.
Elena’s expression changed.
“I stopped it,” he said.
“You want credit?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I stripped him of authority. He disappeared for a year.”
“And now he wants revenge.”
“Possibly.”
A sound came from behind them.
Matteo stood instantly.
A man emerged from the darkness.
Elena gasped.
Matteo drew a pistol.
The man raised both hands.
“Brother.”
Matteo froze.
Nikolai Volkov smiled.
He was younger, leaner, but unmistakably related.
“Put the gun down.”
“You have ten seconds.”
Nikolai looked at Elena.
“So this is her.”
Matteo moved between them.
“Don’t look at her.”
Nikolai laughed.
“Relax. I’m not here for the nurse.”
“She’s not a nurse.”
Elena muttered, “Technically, I was.”
Both brothers looked at her.
“Sorry.”
Matteo turned back.
“Nine seconds.”
Nikolai’s smile disappeared.
“I didn’t betray you.”
“Eight.”
“Viktor wants Sofia.”
Matteo stopped counting.
“Why?”
“Because Anna left something behind.”
Matteo stared at him.
“What?”
“Evidence.”
“Of what?”
Nikolai stepped closer.
“Everything.”
Matteo’s pistol remained raised.
“Explain.”
“Anna discovered Viktor was using Volkov freight routes for trafficking. She copied records, names, payments, politicians, ports.”
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
Nikolai looked toward the house.
“But Viktor believes Sofia is the key.”
Elena frowned.
“She’s six weeks old.”
“Not the baby herself.”
Nikolai looked at Matteo.
“Anna hid the evidence before she died.”
“Where?”
“She told Viktor one thing before the car exploded.”
Matteo’s voice became quiet.
“What?”
Nikolai answered.
“Matteo will find it when he finally looks at his daughter.”
Silence.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the terrace doors.
Matteo grabbed Elena and pulled her down.
May you like
“GET SOFIA!”
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