Chapter 9 - THE CHOICE BETWEEN LOVE AND REVENGE
Victor saw the fear in Chloe’s eyes.
And it hurt more than any enemy’s attack ever had.
Because fear from strangers meant nothing.
Fear from Chloe meant everything.
“What did she say?”
Chloe didn’t answer.
“Chloe.”
She looked at him.
“My mother said you killed my father.”
The room became painfully quiet.
Victor didn’t move.
Didn’t defend himself.
Didn’t get angry.
And that scared Chloe even more.
“You’re not denying it.”
“Because I don’t know what happened.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No.”
His voice became softer.
“It’s the truth.”
Chloe looked away.
Everything inside her was fighting.
The man in front of her had protected her.
Helped her brother.
Stayed beside her when everyone else disappeared.
But he was also Victor Russo.
The man connected to every dark rumor she had ever heard.
Victor decided to find Chloe’s mother himself.
Not because he trusted the woman.
Because he needed the truth.
They traveled to an abandoned property outside Chicago.
An old farmhouse hidden from public records.
The place where Sarah claimed Chloe’s mother had been kept.
Chloe walked beside Victor.
“You’re really doing this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victor looked ahead.
“Because if I destroyed your family…”
He paused.
“I deserve to know.”
Chloe studied him.
Most powerful men would deny everything.
Victor wanted the truth even if it destroyed him.
That confused her.
Inside the farmhouse, they found old documents.
Photos.
Records.
Evidence that someone had been hiding people for years.
Then they found a hidden room.
A room filled with files.
One file had Chloe’s name.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Her mother.
Her father.
Victor’s brother Marco.
Together.
Alive.
Happy.
Before everything fell apart.
Then she found a letter.
Her mother’s handwriting.
“Chloe, if you are reading this, I failed to protect you.”
Tears filled her eyes.
She kept reading.
“The person who destroyed our family was never Victor Russo.”
She stopped.
Victor leaned closer.
“What does it say?”
Chloe looked at him.
Her voice trembled.
“It says…”
She swallowed.
“It says Richard Hale betrayed everyone.”
Victor froze.
Richard.
His most trusted advisor.
The man who raised him after his brother died.
The man who had always claimed loyalty.
Suddenly, every memory looked different.
Every conversation.
Every decision.
Every tragedy.
They returned to the Russo estate.
But they were too late.
The security system was disabled.
The guards were unconscious.
And inside Victor’s office…
Richard Hale was waiting.
Older.
Calm.
Smiling.
“I wondered how long it would take you.”
Victor raised his weapon.
“You.”
Richard smiled.
“Yes.”
Chloe stood behind Victor.
Richard looked at her.
“Do you know how long I waited for you to discover the truth?”
Victor’s voice was deadly.
“Why?”
Richard laughed softly.
“Because Victor Russo was never supposed to become this powerful.”
A pause.
“I was.”
The room went silent.
Richard stepped forward.
“Your father trusted me.”
“Your brother trusted me.”
“And now you…”
He smiled.
“But you made one mistake, Victor.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Richard looked at Chloe.
“You let yourself care about someone.”
The lights suddenly went out.
A gunshot exploded.
And when the lights returned…
May you like
Chloe was gone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
