Chapter 7 - THE FATHER BENEATH THE MASKVictor Vescari Was WatchingMatteo didn't speak.

Elena sat at the kitchen table.

Alina stood across from her.

Gabriel was recovering in a secure hospital.

Leo was safe.

For the first time in twenty years, all of them were in the same room.

And yet Alina felt more frightened than ever.

"How is he alive?" Matteo asked.

"Fake death."

"Whose idea?"

"His."

"Why?"

Elena's eyes lowered.

"Because your father wanted everyone to believe Victor Vescari was dead."

Matteo's hand tightened around the table edge.

"So who has been running the family?"

"A man wearing his name."

Silence.

Alina whispered:

"Then who gave the orders?"

Elena looked directly at her.

"Victor."

Matteo shook his head.

"Where?"

"Everywhere."

A phone buzzed.

Everyone froze.

It was Alina's.

Unknown caller.

She answered.

No one spoke.

Then a child laughed.

Leo.

Alina's blood went cold.

A man's voice followed.

"Good evening, granddaughter."

She couldn't breathe.

Victor.

"How does it feel," he asked, "to learn that your entire childhood was built on a lie?"

Matteo grabbed the phone.

"Where are you?"

Victor laughed.

"You still think you can find me."

"I will."

"You've been trying for twenty years."

Matteo's face changed.

"You knew."

"Of course."

"Where's Leo?"

"Safe."

"Let him go."

"No."

Victor's voice sharpened.

"I want something."

"What?"

"The ledger."

Alina stepped forward.

"You think it's the microfilm?"

Victor paused.

"No."

"What then?"

"The original."

Elena closed her eyes.

Alina watched her.

"Mom?"

Victor laughed softly.

"Ask your mother where she buried it."

The call ended.

Alina turned.

"Where?"

Elena didn't answer.

"Mom."

"I couldn't destroy it."

"Where is it?"

Elena whispered:

"Under the nursery."

Matteo stared.

"The nursery here?"

Elena nodded.

"The room where Gabriel grew up."

They returned to the estate.

The old nursery was untouched.

Dust covered the toys.

A broken wooden horse leaned against the wall.

Matteo found the floorboard.

Underneath was a steel box.

Locked.

Alina's pendant fit the lock.

Inside lay the ledger.

Heavy.

Black leather.

Hundreds of pages.

Names.

Accounts.

Photographs.

Dates.

Payments.

Murders.

Alina turned pages.

Then stopped.

One page contained her own name.

ALINA VESCARI.

Beside it:

Asset.

Under that:

Future successor.

Alina looked at Matteo.

"I was never just a child."

"No."

"What was I?"

"An heir."

She turned another page.

There was a handwritten note.

If Alina survives to adulthood, the Vescari holdings transfer to her.

Matteo's face hardened.

"He built all of this around you."

"Why?"

"Because Gabriel was the rightful heir."

Alina looked up.

"And you?"

Matteo smiled without humor.

"Second son."

A sound came from the doorway.

Slow applause.

Everyone turned.

Carlo stood there.

Clapping.

"You finally found it."

Matteo aimed his gun.

Carlo raised both hands.

"Don't."

"Where is Victor?"

Carlo smiled.

"Closer than you think."

A shadow moved behind the curtains.

Someone stepped out.

Old.

White hair.

Perfect suit.

Cold eyes.

Alina knew him immediately.

Not from photographs.

From the shape of her mother's fear.

Victor Vescari.

He looked at Alina.

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And smiled.

"My little granddaughter."