Chapter 7 - The Truth Buried With the Dead
For ten years, Callum Russo believed he knew exactly who his enemies were.
He was wrong.
The most dangerous secrets were not hidden behind locked doors.
They were buried inside families.
The video ended.
Nobody in the room moved.
The only sound was the rain hitting the warehouse windows.
Sadie stared at the black screen.
Her father’s face was gone.
But his words remained.
They killed your father.
Callum stood completely still.
His expression gave away nothing.
But Sadie noticed something.
His hand was shaking.
Only slightly.
Most people would never see it.
She did.
“Callum…”
He looked at her.
“Play it again.”
Marcus looked surprised.
“Boss?”
“Again.”
Nobody questioned him.
The video restarted.
Daniel Miller appeared once more.
Older.
Exhausted.
Terrified.
“If you’re watching this, I’m already gone.”
Callum watched every second.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Because he wasn’t just listening.
He was analyzing.
Daniel continued.
“Anthony Russo trusted the wrong people.”
Callum’s eyes narrowed.
His father’s name.
Again.
“The company was never just about money. There were accounts hidden from everyone. Even from Anthony.”
Sadie looked confused.
“Accounts?”
Callum nodded slowly.
“My father hated surprises.”
Daniel continued.
“He found out someone was using the Russo organization to move illegal money through legitimate businesses.”
The room became silent.
Sadie looked at Callum.
“Your father was investigating them?”
“Yes.”
The answer came quietly.
Too quietly.
Because Callum had spent years believing his father was the problem.
Not the person fighting one.
Daniel’s voice became weaker.
“When Anthony confronted them, they gave him a choice.”
The screen flickered.
“Disappear…”
A pause.
“Or die.”
Sadie covered her mouth.
Callum’s jaw tightened.
“My father wasn’t killed in an accident.”
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone knew.
Anthony Russo’s death had always been explained as a car crash.
A tragic mistake.
A closed case.
A lie.
Daniel continued.
“I tried to protect the evidence.”
The video froze briefly.
Then a final sentence appeared.
“The person who betrayed Anthony Russo is still alive.”
The screen went black.
Callum slowly turned away.
Marcus stepped closer.
“What do we do?”
Callum looked at the executives standing behind him.
For the first time in years, they saw something they had never seen before.
Not anger.
Not control.
Pain.
“We find who killed my father.”
Sadie looked at him.
“And if it’s someone close?”
Callum met her eyes.
“Especially if it’s someone close.”
Suddenly, one of the security officers rushed inside.
“Mr. Russo.”
Callum turned.
“What?”
“We found something outside.”
The officer handed him a small evidence bag.
Inside was an old key.
Callum froze.
Because he recognized it.
Sadie noticed.
“What is it?”
Callum looked at the key.
“My father’s office key.”
Marcus frowned.
“Impossible.”
Callum didn’t answer.
Because there was something attached to the key.
A small piece of paper.
Three words.
Come alone, son.
Callum stared at it.
May you like
And for the first time that night…
he looked afraid.
