Chapter 2 - The CurseThe Words That Made the Most Dangerous Man Smile
The old Sicilian left Sophia's mouth before she could stop it.
Sharp.
Ancient.
A curse her mother had whispered only when she was furious or afraid.
The words struck the room like a thrown knife.
Two armed guards stepped forward.
Sophia's heart slammed against her ribs.
She had no idea what she had done.
Then Matteo raised one hand.
Everything stopped.
He leaned forward over the black marble table.
And smiled.
It was not a warm smile.
It was worse.
Recognition.
"Say that again."
Sophia stared at him.
"What?"
"The words."
"Why?"
Matteo's smile disappeared.
"Say them."
Sophia's throat tightened.
"No."
The nearest guard reached inside his jacket.
Sophia stepped back.
"I said no."
Matteo looked at the guard.
"Leave."
The man hesitated.
"Boss..."
"All of you."
Within seconds, the room emptied.
The heavy doors closed.
Sophia and Matteo stood alone.
He looked older now.
Not physically.
Something had fallen away from his face.
The mask.
"What did your mother tell you those words meant?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
Matteo walked to the window.
Below them, the harbor glittered under the afternoon sun.
"I haven't heard those words spoken aloud in twenty years."
Sophia folded her arms.
"From my mother?"
"Yes."
The answer came too quickly.
"You knew her well."
Matteo remained silent.
Sophia stepped closer.
"Did you love her?"
That finally made him turn.
For one long second, neither spoke.
Then Matteo said:
"Yes."
Sophia had expected denial.
Instead, the honesty frightened her more.
"My mother never mentioned you."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because I gave her a reason to hate me."
The words landed heavily.
Sophia's anger faltered.
"Did you hurt her?"
Matteo's jaw tightened.
"Not the way you think."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"No."
He looked down.
"I never touched your mother with violence."
"Then why did she hate you?"
"Because she believed I had killed her brother."
Sophia stared at him.
"My mother didn't have a brother."
Matteo's expression changed.
"You were told that?"
"Yes."
"By whom?"
"My mother."
Matteo walked back to the table.
"Then she lied to you."
Sophia shook her head.
"You don't know anything about my family."
"I knew your mother before you were born."
He opened a drawer and removed an envelope.
He placed a photograph on the table.
Sophia picked it up.
Her fingers went cold.
The photograph showed Elena Romano at twenty-three.
Young.
Beautiful.
Standing beside Matteo.
Not beside him.
With him.
Her mother's hand was resting on his chest.
Matteo's arm was around her waist.
Sophia turned the photograph over.
On the back, three words were written.
Twenty years ago.
Underneath was a date.
And another sentence.
We were supposed to leave together.
Sophia looked at Matteo.
"What happened?"
"Someone betrayed us."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
Matteo looked at the photograph.
"I believed the wrong person."
"And my mother?"
"I told her to leave."
"Why?"
"Because I knew what was coming."
Sophia waited.
Matteo finally said:
"Three men came to the house that night."
"Who?"
"My enemies."
"Did they kill my mother?"
"No."
Sophia's voice cracked.
"Then what happened?"
"They thought they had."
Silence.
Sophia stared.
"My mother lived."
"Yes."
"Then why did she disappear?"
Matteo looked at her.
"Because she made me promise something."
"What?"
"That if she survived, I would never look for her."
Sophia stepped back.
"Why?"
"Because she believed you would die if I stayed in her life."
Sophia laughed bitterly.
"She died anyway."
Matteo's eyes lowered.
"I know."
The phone on the table rang.
Matteo answered.
His expression changed within seconds.
"How long?"
A pause.
"What hospital?"
Another pause.
Then he hung up.
Sophia was already standing.
"What happened?"
Matteo looked at her.
"The police found the driver."
Sophia's heart jumped.
"Where?"
"Dead."
Her blood turned cold.
"When?"
"Forty minutes ago."
"Who killed him?"
Matteo didn't answer.
He looked at the photograph of Elena.
Then at Sophia.
"The problem," he said quietly, "is that dead men are not supposed to send messages."
He slid a phone across the table.
One new message.
A photograph.
The dead driver had been found in an abandoned warehouse.
On his chest, written in blood, were four words.
May you like
SHE IS NOT YOUR DAUGHTER.
Sophia stopped breathing.
Related Stories
