Chapter 9 - The Betrayal Nobody Expected
Callum Russo had spent his entire life believing trust was a weakness.
Now he understood why.
Because the person closest to you was always the person who could hurt you the most.
Victor sat in his brother’s old office.
The same room where Anthony Russo had planned his empire.
The same room where he had discovered the betrayal that killed him.
Callum stood across from him.
“You expect me to believe you?”
Victor looked calm.
“No.”
That answer surprised him.
“I expect you to investigate.”
Sadie watched carefully.
She knew something about Callum.
He didn’t believe words.
He believed evidence.
Victor reached into his coat.
Callum immediately aimed his weapon.
Victor slowly removed a small envelope.
“Your father left this for you.”
Callum didn’t move.
“Why didn’t I get it?”
“Because I wasn’t supposed to give it to you.”
“Who stopped you?”
Victor looked at him.
“Your mother.”
Silence.
Sadie looked shocked.
Callum’s expression changed.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
Victor shook his head.
“No, Callum. The impossible thing is how long everyone managed to hide it from you.”
Callum grabbed the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
His father’s handwriting.
The first line made his heart stop.
My son, if you are reading this, I failed to protect you.
Callum read silently.
Sadie watched his face change.
Pain.
Anger.
Confusion.
All at once.
Finally, he lowered the letter.
“What does it say?”
Callum didn’t answer.
Victor spoke.
“It says Anthony knew someone inside the family was working with criminals.”
“Who?”
Victor looked toward the old family portrait.
“Your mother.”
The room went silent.
Sadie looked at Callum.
“No.”
Victor continued.
“She wasn’t the mastermind.”
“Then who?”
Victor looked at him.
“The person who convinced her.”
Callum’s voice became colder.
“Name.”
Victor hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Callum stepped closer.
“Name.”
Victor finally whispered:
“Evan Blake.”
Sadie froze.
“Evan?”
Victor nodded.
“He was never just an employee.”
Callum’s eyes darkened.
“He knew my father?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Victor looked at him.
“Because Evan Blake wasn’t hired by you.”
A pause.
“He was hired by your father.”
Everything stopped.
Sadie slowly looked at Callum.
The man they thought was the enemy…
had been part of the Russo family for years.
But before Callum could respond, his phone rang.
Marcus.
Callum answered.
“What happened?”
Marcus sounded nervous.
“Boss…”
“Talk.”
“We found Evan.”
Callum’s eyes narrowed.
“Where?”
A pause.
Then Marcus said:
“He’s at the hospital.”
“Why?”
Another pause.
“Because someone tried to kill him.”
Callum looked at Victor.
Then Sadie.
And suddenly, the truth became even more dangerous.
Because if Evan was the traitor…
someone wanted him silenced.
But if Evan wasn’t…
then the real enemy was still hiding.
Marcus continued:
“Boss…”
“What?”
“We found something on Evan.”
Callum waited.
Marcus took a breath.
“A message.”
“What message?”
The answer came quietly.
“It says…”
A pause.
“Ask Callum what happened the night his father died.”
The phone went silent.
Callum slowly lowered it.
Because for the first time…
May you like
he realized the biggest secret wasn’t who killed his father.
It was what his father had been trying to protect him from.
