Chapter 51 Phase 3
Rafael
The plane cut through the night sky.
I couldn't stop replaying Vittorio's words in my head.
"She never knew which version of you she would wake up to each day."
Eva had been afraid of me.
And I'd been too blind to see it.
"Boss," Marco said, sitting down across from me. "You okay?"
"No," I said honestly. "I'm not."
Marco glanced at Flora, who'd fallen asleep with her head against the window.
"She's exhausted," he said.
"Marco, did you know?" I asked.
"About Eva wanting to divorce me?"
Marco's jaw tightened. "I suspected. She asked me once about lawyers. About how to leave without you finding out."
My stomach dropped. "What did you tell her?"
"I told her it was impossible," Marco said. "That you had too many connections."
"So you helped trap her," I said.
"I was trying to protect you," Marco said. "I thought if she tried to leave, you'd fall apart. I thought I was being loyal."
"You were being complicit," I said bitterly.
Marco looked down at his hands. "I know that now. And I'm sorry, boss. I'm so fucking sorry."
We sat in silence for a moment.
"Do you think Antonio knew she was planning to leave?" I asked.
"Had to," Marco said. "He was watching her closely in those last few weeks. I thought he was just being thorough with security. But now..."
"Now we know he was monitoring her for someone else," I finished.
Vittorio approached us, ending his phone call.
"We have a situation," he said.
"What now?" I asked.
"The Morelli family council is demanding an emergency meeting," Vittorio said. "They've seen Antonio's confession. They know about Eva's true heritage. And they're not pleased."
"What do they want?" I asked.
"Answers," Vittorio said. "And blood. Some are calling for Flora to be eliminated. Others want her protected as family. The council is divided."
"We're not giving them Flora," I said firmly.
"I know," Vittorio said. "Which is why we're going to Malta instead of facing them directly. We need time to build our case. To prove that Flora is innocent."
"And if we can't prove it?" Marco asked.
"Then we fight," Vittorio said simply.
The plane began its descent.
Malta appeared below us. A small island in the Mediterranean. Dark and isolated.
Perfect for hiding.
We landed on a private airstrip. Several cars were waiting.
"My men," Vittorio explained.
"They've secured the villa. No one gets in or out without my permission."
We drove through narrow streets to a villa on the cliffs.
The place was fortress-like. High walls. Armed guards. Security cameras everywhere.
"You'll be safe here," Vittorio said as we entered.
The interior was luxurious. Marble floors, expensive furniture. Artwork lined every wall.
"Your rooms are upstairs," Vittorio said. "Get some rest. We'll talk about strategy in the morning."
Flora and I were shown to separate rooms.
"Rafael," Flora said as we stood in the hallway. "Can we talk? Just for a minute?"
"Of course," I said.
We went into her room. She sat on the bed. I took a chair by the window.
"Rafael, what if we're still being manipulated?" Flora asked. "What if Vittorio is part of this too? What if this whole thing is another trap?"
"Then we'll deal with it," I said.
"Will we?" Flora asked. "Because I heard what Vittorio said about how you treated Eva. And I wonder... am I just making the same mistake she did? Staying with someone who traps me?"
Her words hit like a punch.
"Flora, I would never…"
"You already have," Flora interrupted. "You kidnapped me. Held me prisoner. Tried to make me into Eva. How is that different from what you did to her?"
"It's not," I admitted. "It's exactly the same. And I hate myself for it."
"Hating yourself doesn't change what you did," Flora said.
"I know," I said. "But I'm trying to change. Isn't that worth something?"
"Maybe," Flora said. "But trying isn't the same as succeeding. And I need to know... if we weren't in danger right now, if we weren't running for our lives, would you still let me leave? Would you let me walk away?"
The question hung in the air.
Would I?
If Flora wanted to leave right now, would I let her go?
Or would the old Rafael resurface?
"I don't know," I said honestly. "I want to say yes. I want to believe I've changed that much. But I don't know if I have."
Flora looked at me with sad eyes. "At least you're honest."
"What do you want me to say?" I asked.
"I want you to say you'll let me go,"
Flora said. "That you won't trap me the way you trapped Eva."
"I want to say that," I replied. "But what if you're in danger? What if leaving means you get killed by Isabella or the Morellis or whoever else wants you dead?"
"Then that's my choice to make," Flora said.
"Even if it gets you killed?" I asked.
"Even then," Flora said firmly.
I stood up and walked to the window.
"I can't promise I'll let you walk into danger," I said. "I can't promise I won't try to protect you even if you don't want protection. Because I care about you, Flora. And I don't know how to care about someone without trying to control their safety."
"Then you haven't changed at all," Flora said quietly.
"Maybe not," I admitted. "But I'm aware of it now. I'm fighting it. That has to count for something."
A knock on the door interrupted us.
"Come in," Flora called.
Marco entered, his face grim. "Boss, we have a problem."
"What?" I asked.
"I've been going through the files on Helena's phone," Marco said. "The one she dropped when Vittorio shot her. And I found something."
"What?" Flora asked.
Marco showed us the phone.
On the screen was a message thread between Helena and someone labeled "A.M."
Antonio Martinez.
But the messages continued after Antonio's death.
"This doesn't make sense," I said. "Antonio's dead. Who's still using his phone?"
"That's not the worst part," Marco said. "Look at the last message. Sent an hour ago."
I read the message.
"Phase 3 initiated. The girl and Valserro are exactly where we need them. Vittorio has taken the bait. Eliminate them all at the villa. Leave no survivors. —A.M."
My blood turned to ice.
"This whole thing," I said slowly. "Malta. The villa. Vittorio's protection. It's all a trap."
"Boss, we need to leave. Now," Marco said.
"Agreed," I said. "Get our things. We're…"
An explosion rocked the villa.
The windows shattered. The building shook.
Flora screamed.
I grabbed her, pulling her down as debris rained around us.
"What was that?" Flora shouted.
"They're here," I said. "Whoever A.M. is, they're here."