Chapter 3 - The Traitor Came Back
Vittorio entered the Moretti mansion twelve minutes before Alessandro returned.
Rosa heard the front door.
She stepped into the nursery hallway.
“Mr. Marchetti?”
Vittorio smiled.
“Where’s the boss?”
“Out.”
“And Mia?”
Rosa’s expression changed.
“Sleeping.”
Vittorio looked toward the nursery.
“I’ll wait.”
“You can wait downstairs.”
His smile disappeared.
“Rosa.”
She didn’t move.
“I said downstairs.”
Behind the nursery door, Mia heard his voice.
She climbed off the bed.
Her mother had taught her one rule about danger.
Hide first.
Cry later.
Mia crawled beneath the large wooden bed and covered her mouth.
Downstairs, the front door suddenly opened.
Alessandro entered.
Vittorio turned.
“Boss.”
Alessandro removed his gloves.
“You’re here late.”
“I forgot a report.”
“At Bellport?”
Silence.
Vittorio’s face changed.
Barely.
But enough.
Alessandro walked closer.
“You should be more careful with your phone.”
Vittorio slowly understood.
“How much do you know?”
“Enough.”
Marco appeared behind Alessandro.
Two guards quietly closed the doors.
Vittorio looked upstairs.
Alessandro saw it.
“Don’t.”
Vittorio smiled.
“So the little girl remembered.”
Alessandro stepped between him and the staircase.
“Where is Elena?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“You know how this works.”
“No,” Alessandro said. “You’ve apparently forgotten how this works.”
Vittorio’s jaw tightened.
“I gave you ten years.”
“And I gave you trust.”
“You gave me orders.”
“I gave you a seat beside me.”
“And I stayed beside you while you got everything.”
Alessandro studied him.
“This was about money?”
“Power.”
“Same disease. Different symptom.”
Vittorio laughed bitterly.
“You think everyone wants to serve Alessandro Moretti forever?”
“No.”
Alessandro moved closer.
“But most men have enough courage to leave without stealing from me and kidnapping a mother.”
Vittorio’s confidence flickered.
Marco placed a phone on the table.
“We found the payments.”
Then another document.
“The shipment coordinates.”
Then Alessandro placed the USB drive beside them.
Vittorio stared at it.
For the first time, fear appeared.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“She recorded me.”
“Yes.”
Vittorio shook his head.
“I searched her room.”
“You didn’t search the rabbit.”
Upstairs, Mia crawled from beneath the bed after hearing Alessandro’s voice.
She reached the landing.
Vittorio saw her.
His eyes shifted.
Alessandro immediately turned.
“Mia, stay there.”
She froze.
Vittorio whispered, “That child destroyed everything.”
“No,” Alessandro said. “You did.”
Marco’s phone buzzed.
He checked the message.
Then looked at Alessandro.
“We found something.”
“What?”
“Bellport utility records. Electricity usage jumped fourteen days ago.”
Vittorio went pale.
Alessandro saw it.
“Thank you.”
Vittorio frowned.
“For what?”
“For answering the question.”
Alessandro turned to Marco.
“She’s there.”
Vittorio stepped forward.
“You don’t know that.”
“You just confirmed it.”
Marco smiled coldly.
“Never play cards with him.”
Alessandro looked at his guards.
“Keep Vittorio here.”
Then he climbed the stairs.
Mia waited.
“Did you find Mommy?”
“I know where she is.”
“Can I come?”
“No.”
Her eyes filled.
Alessandro crouched.
“Mia, listen to me. Your mother needs me to bring her home. I can’t do that if I’m worrying about you.”
She thought about it.
Then nodded reluctantly.
“Okay.”
He handed her the rabbit.
“Guard this.”
Mia hugged it.
“Bring Mommy.”
Alessandro stood.
This time, there was no hesitation.
May you like
“I will.”
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