Chapter 13: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Ricardo stared at the photograph until his eyes burned.
Mateo Bennett.
Alive.
Standing beside Isabella.
The man who had been buried by rumors.
The man who was supposed to have vanished before Clara was born.
The man who had been the missing piece in every secret surrounding his family.
Dante watched Ricardo carefully.
“Boss.””
Ricardo didn’t respond.
His mind was racing through memories.
Every conversation with Isabella.
Every argument.
Every moment she looked distant.
Every time she refused to explain something.
Had Mateo been somewhere in the shadows all along?
Had Isabella been protecting him?
Or had she been protecting Ricardo from him?
Clara looked at the picture with tears in her eyes.
“That’s my father.””
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew what to say.
For years, she had believed her father abandoned her.
Now she was looking at proof that he had been alive.
Ricardo finally spoke.
“Find them.””
Dante nodded.
“I already started.””
“No.””
Ricardo looked at him.
“I don’t want information.””
A pause.
“I want them.””
Dante understood.
Ricardo wasn’t searching anymore.
He was hunting.
The location in the photograph was traced within hours.
A small coastal town outside the city.
A place where nobody knew the Valenti name.
A place where Isabella could disappear.
Ricardo arrived with Dante and Clara.
The house was old.
Simple.
Almost peaceful.
The opposite of Ricardo’s world.
He stood outside the door for a long moment.
The woman he loved had been here.
Living.
Breathing.
While he mourned her.
Dante looked at him.
“Boss.””
Ricardo knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
Still nothing.
Then Clara noticed something.
“There.””
She pointed toward the window.
A curtain moved.
Someone was inside.
Ricardo pushed the door open.
The house was empty.
Almost.
On the table was a cup of coffee.
Still warm.
A photograph.
And a note.
Ricardo picked it up.
His hands froze.
Because the handwriting belonged to Isabella.
*I knew you would find me eventually.*
Dante looked over his shoulder.
“What does it say?””
Ricardo kept reading.
*If you are here, it means the truth has already started destroying everything.*
His jaw tightened.
*I’m sorry, Ricardo. I never wanted to hurt you.*
A tear almost escaped his eye.
Almost.
*But I had to protect Leo. I had to protect Clara.*
Clara stepped closer.
“My name…”
Ricardo continued.
*You deserve to know everything. But before you find me, you need to understand one thing. Mateo did not betray us.*
Ricardo stopped.
That sentence changed everything.
He looked at Dante.
“Keep reading.””
The final line was short.
*The real enemy is the person who convinced you Mateo was your enemy.*
Suddenly, a sound came from behind them.
A voice.
“You finally understand.””
Everyone turned.
A woman stood in the doorway.
Evelyn Carter.
Ricardo’s expression hardened.
“You.””
Evelyn looked older than before.
Tired.
Broken.
“I knew this day would come.””
Dante raised his weapon.
“Where is Isabella?””
Evelyn looked at Ricardo.
“She’s safe.””
Ricardo stepped forward.
“Where?””
“You still don’t understand.””
“Understand what?””
Evelyn’s eyes filled with regret.
“That Isabella didn’t disappear from you.””
A pause.
“She disappeared to save you.””
Ricardo’s anger flared.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because if she wanted to leave you, she would have.””
The words hit harder than expected.
Evelyn continued.
“She loved you too much.””
Clara looked confused.
“Then why did she hide me?””
Evelyn turned toward her.
“Because your existence was dangerous.””
“My existence?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Your grandfather knew about you.””
Ricardo went still.
“Carlo.””
“Yes.””
“What did he want?””
Evelyn looked down.
“He wanted Mateo’s loyalty.””
“And when he refused?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“He threatened Isabella’s children.””
Ricardo’s hands clenched.
“He threatened Leo.””
“And Clara.””
The room became silent.
Evelyn reached into her bag.
She pulled out an old journal.
Ricardo recognized it immediately.
His father’s journal.
“The answers are here.””
He took it.
But before he opened it, Evelyn spoke.
“There’s one thing you need to know first.””
Ricardo looked at her.
“Isabella isn’t hiding from you.””
A pause.
“She’s hiding from the man who is trying to find her.””
“Who?””
Evelyn’s face turned pale.
“Someone you thought died years ago.””
Ricardo frowned.
“What?””
Evelyn whispered:
“Your father’s right-hand man.””
Dante’s expression changed.
“No.””
Ricardo looked at him.
“You know him?””
Dante slowly nodded.
“Everyone thought he died with Carlo.””
“Who?””
Dante looked terrified.
May you like
“Victor Morelli.””
And for the first time in years, Dante looked afraid.
