Chapter 522: The Family Secret
Chapter 522: The Family Secret
Chapter 522: The Family Secret
The church seemed to hold its breath.
Dante kept his gun trained on Samuel while Isabella stood beside him, frozen beneath the dim light spilling from the balcony.
Samuel’s words echoed through the empty sanctuary.
Your father told me never to trust Isabella’s family.
Dante lowered his weapon, but did not put it away.
“Explain.”
Samuel looked at Isabella again.
“I need to know exactly who she is.”
Isabella swallowed.
“My name is Isabella Romano.”
Samuel’s expression hardened.
“Romano.”
Dante noticed it immediately.
“You know her family.”
“I knew them before you were old enough to remember their name.”
Marco moved forward.
“Samuel, we don't have time for this.”
Samuel ignored him.
“Does Isabella know what her father did?”
Isabella’s face tightened.
“My father died when I was twelve.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Samuel stared at her for several seconds.
Then he looked at Dante.
“Your father believed the Romanos were working with Adrian.”
Dante’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because they were.”
Isabella stepped back.
“No.”
Samuel’s voice remained calm.
“Your father discovered that Adrian wasn't acting alone. Someone inside the Romanos gave him information about the Moretti family.”
Dante turned toward Isabella.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Your father?”
“No.”
Her answer came too quickly.
Samuel noticed.
“So you do know something.”
Isabella shook her head.
“I know my father had enemies. I know people whispered about him. I know my family disappeared from the city after he died. That's all.”
Dante studied her. He wanted to believe her, but every piece of evidence seemed determined to turn that trust into a weakness.
Samuel descended the balcony stairs and stopped several feet away.
“Your father saved my life once. That is why I stayed loyal to him.”
“What happened?”
“Antonio found out Adrian was building something called Blackwater.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed.
“You found pieces of it.”
Samuel reached inside his coat.
Marco raised his gun.
Samuel froze.
“Relax.”
He slowly removed a small envelope and held it toward Dante.
“This is what your father gave me the night he died.”
Dante took it.
His hands felt cold.
“Why didn't you give it to me?”
“Because I thought you were being watched.”
“You were.”
“I know.”
Samuel looked toward the church doors.
“And now I think we all are.”
“What is in the envelope?” Isabella asked.
Samuel looked at her.
“A name.”
“Whose?”
“Your mother's.”
Isabella stopped breathing.
“My mother?”
Samuel nodded.
“Her name was Elena Romano.”
Dante looked at Isabella.
She seemed genuinely shocked.
“My mother was never involved in my father's business.”
Samuel’s expression softened slightly.
“Your mother was the reason Antonio believed there were still good people inside your family.”
Isabella stepped closer.
“What did she do?”
“She tried to expose Adrian.”
Dante frowned.
“Then why did my father distrust the Romanos?”
“Because Elena disappeared before she could prove anything.”
Isabella stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because Adrian would use you to find her.”
Dante looked at Isabella.
“And we still ended up here.”
Samuel looked between them.
“That's what Adrian wanted.”
Dante’s expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
Samuel stepped closer.
“Think about it. He attacks Victor. He leaves the files behind. He lets you find the second witness. Then he sends you a message directing you to the station.”
“He wanted us to find you.”
“Yes.”
“And he knew we'd come to the church instead.”
Samuel nodded.
“He knows this place.”
Marco cursed under his breath.
Victor moved toward the doors.
“We need to leave.”
A sharp crack sounded from outside.
The church windows shattered. Everyone dropped.
Gunfire erupted.
Dante pulled Isabella behind a stone pillar.
Marco fired toward the entrance.
Victor dragged Samuel toward the side aisle.
Another bullet struck the pillar inches from Dante’s shoulder.
Isabella clung to his arm.
“Dante!”
“I've got you.”
He looked across the church.
Three shadows moved outside the broken windows.
Then another.
Too many.
“They followed us.”
Samuel shouted from across the sanctuary.
“No. They were already here.”
Dante looked at him.
“What?”
Samuel pointed toward the altar.
“Blackwater.”
Victor’s face went pale.
He rushed toward the altar and knocked the candle aside.
A small black device was attached beneath the wooden table.
“A tracker.”
Dante’s jaw tightened.
“They knew exactly where we'd be.”
Isabella looked at Samuel.
“Who put it there?”
Samuel shook his head.
“I didn't.”
Everyone looked at one another.
Then Dante saw it.
A small red light blinking beneath the altar.
Not a tracker.
A camera.
“They're watching us.”
Dante’s phone lit up.
Unknown number.
A video began playing.
Adrian appeared on the screen.
His expression was calm.
“Dante.”
Dante stared.
“You've been looking for the truth.”
Adrian smiled.
“Now you're standing inside it.”
Isabella stepped closer.
Adrian looked directly at her through the camera.
“Hello, Isabella.”
Her face went white.
Adrian continued.
“She left something for you.”
Isabella whispered, “What?”
“A truth your father killed to protect.”
The video ended.
“What truth?” Dante asked Samuel.
Samuel’s face had lost all color.
“He's talking about Elena.”
Isabella shook her head.
“My mother died.”
Samuel hesitated.
“No.”
She stared at him.
“No?”
“She didn't die.”
The gunfire stopped. The church fell silent.
Dante looked toward the shattered windows.
“Why did everyone think she was dead?”
Samuel looked at Isabella.
“Because Adrian needed you to believe it.”
A loud explosion rocked the church.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Dante pulled Isabella against him as pieces of stone crashed around them.
They ran toward the side door.
Marco and Victor covered them while Samuel followed.
They burst into the alley behind the church.
Rain poured over them.
Dante grabbed Isabella's face between his hands.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“My mother is alive?”
“I don't know.”
“But Samuel said—”
“I know.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“My entire life has been a lie.”
Dante pulled her against his chest.
“No.”
She looked up.
“Then what is real?”
He didn't hesitate.
“Me.”
Isabella stared at him.
“And you.”
She closed her eyes.
Samuel emerged from the church carrying the envelope.
“There is one more thing.”
Dante turned.
Samuel held out the photograph.
“Your father didn't just leave this for me.”
He handed it to Isabella.
“He left it for you.”
Isabella turned the photograph over.
Written across the back was a message in faded ink.
WHEN THE TRUTH COMES, TRUST DANTE.
Her breath caught.
Dante stared at the words.
The fear in Isabella's eyes disappeared.
Something else replaced it.
Determination.
She folded the photograph and slipped it into her coat.
“Then let's find my mother.”
Dante nodded.
“And let's find out who killed my father.”
Samuel looked toward the dark street.
“Then we have to move fast.”
“Why?”
Samuel lowered his voice.
“He wants you alive.”
Dante’s expression hardened.
“And Isabella?”
Samuel looked at her.
“He wants her dead.”