Chapter 12 - VICTOR’S LAST CARD

Elise was already gone when they reached the safe house.

No broken door.

No gunfire.

No struggle.

Just one envelope on the kitchen counter.

PAOLO.

Inside was a photograph of Elise sitting in the back seat of a car.

Alive.

Angry.

Under it was a handwritten note.

BRING LUCA’S FILES.

COME ALONE.

Paolo crushed the note.

Marco said, “Victor.”

Luca nodded.

“He knows what I kept.”

“What did you keep?”

Luca looked at Paolo.

“Everything.”

“Define everything.”

“Names. Accounts. Judges. executives. politicians. people Renato paid.”

Paolo’s expression darkened.

“You have proof?”

“Enough to destroy half the network.”

“Where is it?”

Luca smiled weakly.

“You’re going to hate this.”

“Try me.”

“Your house.”

Paolo stared.

“Where?”

“Your father’s wine cellar.”

Paolo laughed once.

“Of course.”

They returned to the mansion before dawn.

Carmela was waiting.

When she saw Ava, she burst into tears.

She dropped to her knees.

“Ava.”

Ava hid behind Paolo.

That hurt Carmela more than anything Paolo could have said.

She lowered her hands.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

Ava said nothing.

Paolo gave Ava to Talia.

Then faced his mother.

“Victor took Elise.”

Carmela’s eyes widened.

“No.”

“Where would he go?”

“I don’t know.”

“You knew him for twenty years.”

“I said I don’t know.”

Paolo stepped closer.

“You have one chance to stop protecting people who would happily bury your children.”

Carmela’s face crumpled.

“I am not protecting him.”

“Then think.”

She closed her eyes.

Minutes passed.

Then she whispered.

“The lake house.”

Paolo froze.

His father had owned a private property three hours north.

He had sold it years ago.

At least Paolo thought he had.

“Victor handled the sale,” Carmela said.

Paolo looked at Luca.

Luca nodded.

“Renato bought it through a company.”

Marco checked records.

“Still active.”

Paolo grabbed his coat.

Carmela touched his arm.

He looked down at her hand.

She released him.

“Bring her home.”

He stared at his mother.

“For once, we want the same thing.”

He left.

The lake house sat beside black water under a gray morning sky.

Paolo arrived with Luca and Marco.

Victor waited on the dock.

Elise sat nearby with her wrists tied.

Victor held a gun.

“You came.”

Paolo stepped onto the dock.

“I’m here.”

“The files.”

Luca raised a case.

Victor smiled.

“Good.”

Paolo looked at Elise.

“You okay?”

She nodded.

Victor snapped.

“Stop talking.”

Elise looked at him.

“I’ve listened to you lie for six months. I’m done taking orders.”

Victor shoved the gun toward her.

Paolo took a step.

“Don’t.”

Victor smiled.

“There he is.”

“What?”

“The man everyone fears.”

Paolo’s voice was flat.

“You should.”

Victor laughed.

“No.”

He pointed toward Luca.

“I’m afraid of him.”

Luca said, “You should be.”

Victor’s jaw tightened.

“You destroyed everything.”

“No. I documented it.”

Victor looked at Paolo.

“Give me the case.”

Paolo took it.

Walked forward.

Set it down.

Victor kicked it toward himself.

He opened it.

Empty.

His face changed.

Paolo smiled.

“The files were sent to federal prosecutors forty minutes ago.”

Victor raised the gun.

“You’re lying.”

Luca held up his phone.

“Check the news.”

Victor stared.

Then his own phone began ringing.

He looked at the screen.

And knew.

Paolo said quietly, “It’s over.”

Victor grabbed Elise and dragged her closer.

“No.”

He pressed the gun against her side.

“If I’m done, she’s coming with me.”

Elise looked at Paolo.

Paolo saw something in her face.

A warning.

Then she drove her heel into Victor’s foot.

He shouted.

She twisted.

The gun fired.

Paolo lunged.

Victor fell backward off the dock.

Into the freezing lake.

Marco pulled Elise away.

Paolo grabbed her.

“Are you hit?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

In the water, Victor surfaced once.

Then disappeared beneath the dock.

Marco looked down.

“Do we get him?”

Paolo stared at the dark water.

“Yes.”

Elise looked surprised.

Paolo said, “He answers for what he did.”

Divers recovered Victor alive twelve minutes later.

As police handcuffed him, he looked at Paolo.

“You think this fixes your family?”

Paolo said nothing.

Victor smiled.

“Ask your mother who really signed the first order against Elise.”

Paolo went still.

Victor was dragged away.

Elise stared at Paolo.

May you like

THE MAID’S DAUGHTER

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE,” HIS FIANCÉE TOLD THE MAID—THEN THE MAFIA BOSS LOOKED AT HER LITTLE GIRL“Get out of my house. And take that...

**MY HUSBAND CALLED ME A “BARREN LEECH”—HE DIDN’T KNOW MY MONEY WAS KEEP...

My husband threw his wedding ring at my feet and told security to remove the “barren leech” from the ballroom.He had no idea he wa...

MY DAUGHTER’S NOTE STOPPED MY WEDDING—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE

MY DAUGHTER SLIPPED ME A NOTE BEFORE “I DO”—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE’S PLANPART 1 — TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VOWS“Daddy, if you marry he...

Neither of them spoke.

Because there was still one betrayal left to uncover.