Chapter 7 - Her Mother's ConfessionNora refused to believe it.
“My mother doesn't know anything.”
Lorenzo drove her to the family house before she could change her mind.
The place had been locked for months.
Dust covered the furniture.
Pictures of Daniel still lined the hallway.
Nora walked into the living room.
Her mother sat in the dark.
Waiting.
She didn't look surprised.
“You came.”
Nora stopped.
“You knew?”
Her mother looked at Lorenzo.
Then back at Nora.
“I knew you would eventually find out.”
“Find out what?”
Her mother reached for a box.
Inside were letters.
Dozens of them.
All addressed to Nora.
Never delivered.
“I wrote these after Daniel died.”
Nora picked one up.
“Why didn't I get them?”
“Because they would have killed you.”
Lorenzo looked sharply at her.
“Who?”
Her mother closed her eyes.
“Victor.”
Nora stepped back.
“You worked for him.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Daniel was investigating him.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Leo was involved.”
“Yes.”
Nora's voice broke.
“Then why didn't you save my brother?”
Her mother began crying.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“He had your father.”
Nora froze.
“My father?”
“He wasn't dead.”
Silence filled the room.
Lorenzo stared at her.
“What did you say?”
Her mother looked down.
“Your father was alive for months after everyone thought he died.”
Nora's mouth opened.
“No.”
“He disappeared because Victor threatened him.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
Lorenzo stepped forward.
“When did he disappear?”
“The night Daniel died.”
Nora looked at Lorenzo.
“Your father knew.”
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
His own father had been connected to the operation.
But why?
Her mother pushed the box across the table.
“There is one thing Daniel wanted you to know.”
Nora opened it.
At the bottom was a letter.
She unfolded it.
Nora, if you're reading this, don't trust the man who saves you.
She stopped.
Lorenzo stared at the words.
Nora continued reading.
Because the person protecting you may be the person who started this.
Her hand trembled.
She looked at Lorenzo.
He said nothing.
Her mother whispered:
“Daniel wrote that three days before he died.”
Nora backed away.
Lorenzo stepped toward her.
“Nora.”
“Don't.”
“Listen.”
“Did your father know my brother?”
“Yes.”
“Was your family involved?”
“I don't know.”
“Did Lorenzo's father help Victor?”
Her mother answered before he could.
“Yes.”
Nora looked at Lorenzo.
Everything suddenly felt different.
The man whose arms had protected her might be connected to the people hunting her.
The man she had chosen might have inherited the same darkness.
Lorenzo's phone rang.
His security chief.
Lorenzo answered.
Then his expression changed.
“What?”
A pause.
He looked at Nora.
“Leo just uploaded the recording.”
Nora's blood ran cold.
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“Where?”
“Everywhere.”
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