Chapter 9: The Betrayal Inside the Moretti Family
For twenty years, Vittorio had been Dante's most trusted man.
He had stood beside him at funerals.
Protected Matteo when Dante was away.
Managed the estate.
Handled the family's most sensitive business.
And now he was pointing a gun at me.
Dante moved between us.
“Put it down, Vittorio.””
Vittorio sighed.
“You always did have a weakness for impossible women.””
“Don't make me ask again.””
“I'm afraid you don't have that authority anymore.””
Dante's eyes narrowed.
“What did you do?””
Vittorio looked at the black notebook in Sophia's hands.
“Your grandfather left instructions. Someone had to make sure the ledger remained protected.””
“Protected?””
Dante's voice became dangerously quiet.
“You sold children.””
Vittorio's expression didn't change.
“Your grandfather built an empire. Empires require sacrifices.””
I felt sick.
“Were you involved in taking Sophia?””
Vittorio glanced at me.
“I arranged the transportation.””
I stared at him.
“You took a newborn baby from her mother?””
“I followed orders.””
“And my mother?””
He smiled faintly.
“Your mother made the mistake of believing she could destroy a man like Salvatore Moretti.””
Dante lunged.
Vittorio fired.
The bullet struck the stone wall beside Dante's head.
“Stop!”” Sophia screamed.
Vittorio raised his weapon again.
“Give me the notebook.””
Sophia held it tighter.
“No.””
“You don't understand what you're holding.””
“I understand perfectly.””
She opened the notebook.
“My mother died because of this. My real mother spent twenty-six years believing she had lost me. And you want me to hand over the only evidence that can expose you?””
Vittorio's expression hardened.
“Your real mother is dead.””
Sophia flinched.
I reached for her hand.
“Don't listen to him.””
Vittorio laughed.
“Both of you are exactly like Margaret. Sentimental. Predictable.””
Dante took one slow step forward.
“Vittorio, you have one chance to walk out of here alive.””
The older man shook his head.
“Still making promises you can't keep.””
He glanced toward the staircase.
Then he pressed a small device.
A loud metallic click echoed through the basement.
The security doors slammed shut.
Red emergency lights illuminated the corridor.
Dante looked at the ceiling.
“What did you activate?””
Vittorio smiled.
“The old lockdown system.””
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“It means nobody leaves until I decide.””
He turned toward Sophia.
“Give me the notebook.””
Sophia looked at me.
Then she did something unexpected.
She threw the notebook.
Not toward Vittorio.
Toward Dante.
He caught it.
Vittorio immediately fired.
Dante ducked.
The bullet struck a metal cabinet.
Vittorio rushed forward.
Dante tackled him into the filing drawers.
The gun fell.
Sophia grabbed my arm.
“Run!””
We sprinted toward the opposite corridor.
Behind us, I heard the crash of metal and Dante shouting.
A door stood open at the far end.
We slipped inside.
It was a narrow storage room filled with old furniture and cardboard boxes.
Sophia locked the door.
I turned toward her.
“Are you hurt?””
She shook her head.
“Are you?””
“No.””
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me about Isabella?””
Sophia looked away.
“I didn't know how.””
“You were her daughter?””
“She raised me for six years.””
My throat tightened.
“Did she love you?””
Sophia's eyes filled.
“More than anything.””
I stepped closer.
“Then she was your mother too.””
Sophia looked at me.
For a moment, the anger disappeared from her face.
“I used to dream about you.””
I swallowed.
“About me?””
“I imagined what it would have been like if we had grown up together. Whether we would have shared clothes. Whether we would have fought over boys. Whether you would have hated me.””
I laughed through my tears.
“I probably would have stolen your clothes.””
Sophia smiled.
Then her expression changed.
“But there's something else you need to know.””
“What?””
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small envelope.
It was addressed to her.
The handwriting was my mother's.
“I found it in the notebook,” she whispered.
I took the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
*My beautiful girls,*
If you have found each other, then the truth has finally survived.
There is something I have never told either of you.
The man who took Sophia was not the only person responsible for what happened to our family.
Your father made a choice.
He was offered two options: surrender the ledger and allow both girls to be taken, or give up one child and save the other.
He chose Elena.
My fingers went numb.
Sophia looked at me.
“He chose you.””
I couldn't speak.
The letter continued.
I know your father loved you both. I know he believed he was saving Elena. But I could never forgive him for allowing Sophia to be raised by the very people who destroyed our family.
There is one more secret.
The ledger was never meant to belong to the Morettis.
It was meant to belong to the daughters of the man who stole it.
I looked at Sophia.
“What does that mean?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
I turned the page.
At the bottom, my mother had written:
*The final account is under the name Matteo Moretti.*
My breath stopped.
Matteo.
Dante's son.
I stared at the words.
“Why would my mother's ledger be connected to Matteo?””
Sophia looked terrified.
“Because your grandfather planned this long before Matteo was born.””
A crash sounded outside.
Then Dante's voice.
“Elena!””
I rushed toward the door.
“Dante!””
The door opened.
He stood there with blood running down his forehead.
Behind him, Vittorio was gone.
“Are you hurt?””
I shook my head.
“Where is he?””
“Escaped through the service tunnel.””
Dante looked at the envelope in my hand.
“What is that?””
“My mother's letter.””
He read the final sentence.
His expression changed.
“Matteo?””
I nodded.
“What does my son have to do with this?””
I swallowed.
“I don't know.””
Dante took out his phone.
He called the estate immediately.
“Sofia?””
A pause.
“Where is Matteo?””
Another pause.
His expression turned to ice.
“What do you mean he's not there?””
My stomach dropped.
Dante ended the call.
Then he looked at me.
“Matteo is missing.””
The journey back to the estate felt endless.
Dante sat beside me, making call after call.
Every security team.
Every driver.
Every employee.
Nobody had seen Matteo since breakfast.
Sofia had gone upstairs to prepare his lunch.
When she returned, his bedroom was empty.
His favorite toy car was on the floor.
His small blue jacket was missing.
I gripped the edge of my seat.
“This is my fault.””
Dante turned sharply.
“No.””
“Your grandfather wanted the ledger. My mother hid it. My father stole it. Sophia and I—”
“Elena.””
His voice was firm.
“Look at me.””
I did.
“Matteo is my responsibility. Whatever happens, it is not your fault.””
I swallowed.
“Then find him.””
“I will.””
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Where is my son?””
A distorted voice laughed.
“Straight to business, Dante. I admire that.””
“Who are you?””
“Someone who knows what your grandfather left behind.””
“Give me Matteo.””
“Of course. But first, I need the ledger.””
Dante looked at me.
I held up the notebook.
The voice continued.
“Bring it to the old Moretti estate. Alone.””
Dante's expression darkened.
“No.””
“Then your son stays with me.””
A child's voice suddenly came through the phone.
“Papa?””
Dante closed his eyes.
“Matteo.””
“Papa, I'm scared.””
My chest tightened.
Dante's voice softened immediately.
“Listen to me, piccolo. You're going to be brave. I'm coming for you.””
“There's a man here. He says he knows Mommy.””
Dante went completely still.
“What man?””
Matteo whispered something.
Then the call ended.
I looked at Dante.
“What did he say?””
Dante's hands tightened around the phone.
“He said the man told him he was his mother's brother.””
I stared.
“Isabella had a brother?””
Dante shook his head.
“Not that I know of.””
Sophia leaned forward from the opposite seat.
“Wait.””
We turned toward her.
She looked at the photograph from the café.
Then at the old family portrait.
“Isabella told me something when I was little.””
Dante's face changed.
“What?””
Sophia swallowed.
“She said she had a brother who disappeared when they were children.””
Dante stared at her.
“Who?””
Sophia hesitated.
“His name was Anthony.””
My heart dropped.
“Anthony Bellini?””
Sophia nodded.
“The same man who adopted me.””
Dante looked out the window.
His face had become unreadable.
“Anthony Bellini was declared dead eleven years ago.””
Sophia shook her head.
“He wasn't.””
She looked at me.
“He's the man who has been sending us the messages.””
I felt cold.
“Then who was the man outside the gate?””
“An associate,” she whispered.
Dante leaned forward.
“Why would Isabella's brother take Matteo?””
Sophia looked down.
“Because he believes Matteo is the rightful heir to the Moretti empire.””
Dante laughed once.
A cold, humorless sound.
“My son is five years old.””
Sophia shook her head.
“That's why.””
She reached into her bag and removed another document.
It was a copy of the original trust agreement.
Dante scanned it.
Then he stopped.
The document stated that the Black Ledger would pass to the first male descendant of Salvatore Moretti's bloodline.
Matteo.
But beneath that clause was another condition.
If the first male descendant died or became legally disqualified, the trust would pass to the next eligible beneficiary.
Sophia.
And if Sophia refused, ownership would transfer to the two daughters of Margaret Rossi.
Me.
And my sister.
I looked at Dante.
“Your grandfather made all of us part of this.””
Dante nodded slowly.
“Not just part of it.””
He turned the page.
“Matteo is the key to unlocking the trust.””
My phone vibrated.
A new message.
It contained a photograph of Matteo sitting on a wooden chair.
His face was wet with tears.
Beside him stood an older man.
Dark hair.
Crooked nose.
A familiar scar.
Anthony Bellini.
The message underneath read:
*MIDNIGHT. BRING THE LEDGER. NO POLICE. NO SECURITY.*
Then another message appeared.
*AND BRING THE GIRLS. BOTH OF THEM.*
I looked at Sophia.
She looked at me.
For the first time since meeting her, I saw something other than fear in her eyes.
Determination.
“We're going,” she said.
Dante shook his head.
“Absolutely not.””
Sophia leaned forward.
“Anthony wants us because he thinks we can unlock the trust. He won't release Matteo without us.””
Dante looked at me.
“I won't risk you.””
I reached for his hand.
“Then don't.””
He stared at me.
“We go together.””
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he nodded.
“Together.””
At 11:47 p.m., we returned to the old Moretti estate.
The front doors stood open.
A single chandelier illuminated the entrance hall.
Dante carried the notebook.
Sophia held the original trust agreement.
I carried the letter from my mother.
Three pieces of a puzzle that had destroyed two families.
We entered.
“Anthony!”” Dante called.
A slow clap echoed from the staircase.
An older man appeared.
He was tall, dressed in a dark suit, and had the same crooked nose I remembered from the photographs.
But there was something else.
His eyes were identical to Sophia's.
“Dante Moretti,” he said.
Then he looked at me.
“Elena Rossi.””
His smile widened.
“And the girls are finally together.””
“Where is Matteo?”” Dante demanded.
Anthony pointed toward the drawing room.
“He's safe.””
“Bring him out.””
“Not until we finish our business.””
Sophia stepped forward.
“You stole me from my mother.””
Anthony looked at her.
“I gave you a better life.””
“You gave me a fake identity.””
“I gave you a family.””
“You gave me lies!””
Anthony's smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed for you.””
Sophia's eyes filled.
“You killed Isabella.””
Anthony looked at Dante.
“Your wife was a difficult woman.””
Dante raised his weapon.
“Say another word about her.””
Anthony laughed.
“Still emotional. Still weak.””
Then he turned toward me.
“Your mother was exactly the same.””
I stepped forward.
“Why did you take my sister?””
“Because Salvatore ordered it.””
“And why did you help him?””
“Because I wanted the ledger.””
“Then why didn't you take it?””
Anthony smiled.
“Because your mother was smarter than all of us.””
He held out his hand.
“Give me the notebook.””
I looked at Dante.
He shook his head slightly.
Then a small voice came from the drawing room.
“Elena?””
My heart stopped.
Matteo appeared in the doorway.
His cheeks were wet.
He was holding a small photograph.
“Papa!””
Dante lowered his weapon.
“Matteo!””
The boy ran toward him.
But before he reached us, Anthony grabbed his shoulder.
“Not so fast.””
Dante froze.
“Let him go.””
Anthony pressed a gun against Matteo's back.
“Give me the ledger.””
I stepped forward.
“Please. He's just a child.””
Anthony looked at me.
“Then you should understand why I need to finish this.””
I held out the notebook.
“Take it.””
Dante turned sharply.
“Elena, no.””
I looked at him.
“He's going to hurt Matteo.””
Anthony smiled.
“Good girl.””
I handed him the notebook.
He opened it.
Then he laughed.
“It's empty.””
Dante's eyes narrowed.
“What?””
Anthony turned the pages.
“Where is the original?””
I looked at him.
“You tell me.””
His smile disappeared.
Then, for the first time, he looked genuinely frightened.
Because he realized something.
The notebook wasn't the ledger.
It was only the key.
And the real ledger was hidden somewhere none of us had thought to look.
Anthony raised his gun.
“Where is it?””
Before I could answer, a voice came from the staircase.
“Under the nursery floor.””
We all turned.
A man stood at the top of the stairs.
His face was older.
His hair almost entirely white.
But I recognized him immediately.
My father.
He held a small black metal box.
And behind him stood Vittorio.
My father looked directly at Anthony.
“It's over.””
Anthony's expression twisted.
Then he smiled.
“Not quite.””
May you like
He raised his gun.
And pointed it at Matteo.
