Chapter 2: The Secret Inside The Envelope
Rico Moretti had built his reputation on never showing weakness.
People had mistaken that for being fearless.
They were wrong.
Fear was something everyone felt.
The difference was that Rico had learned how to bury his.
But standing in Il Destino with his son’s tiny hand wrapped around a waitress’s finger, he felt something he hadn’t felt in years.
Panic.
Not for himself.
For Leo.
“Dante.””
His security chief immediately stepped forward.
“Sir.””
“Take everyone out.””
Dante looked around.
“The restaurant?””
“All guests.””
The order was calm.
Too calm.
That was when everyone knew something was wrong.
Marco rushed over.
“Mr. Moretti, should I close the kitchen?””
“Yes.””
“Now?””
Rico looked at him.
Marco nodded instantly.
“Yes. Now.””
Within minutes, Il Destino transformed from a crowded restaurant into an empty room filled with uncertainty.
Chairs were pushed back.
Wine glasses remained untouched.
The expensive meals nobody finished grew cold.
Clara stayed exactly where she was.
Leo still held her hand.
She noticed Rico watching.
“You can go read whatever that is.””
His eyes moved to the envelope.
“You’re not curious?””
She glanced at it.
“Very.””
“And?””
“And I also know a scared child doesn’t become less scared because adults start acting mysterious.””
Rico stared at her.
“You always talk this much?””
“Only when I’m nervous.””
“You’re nervous now?””
Clara looked around the empty restaurant.
A billionaire crime rumor turned businessman.
A security team.
A secret letter.
A traumatized child.
“Yes.””
For a second, something almost human appeared in Rico’s eyes.
Not amusement.
Something close.
“You’re strange.””
“I’ve heard worse.””
Leo suddenly shifted.
His eyes opened wider.
“Daddy?””
Rico immediately looked down.
“Yes, buddy.””
The word came out softer than anyone in the room expected.
Leo looked at Clara.
Then back at his father.
“Mommy coming home?””
Silence.
The question was simple.
But it destroyed every wall Rico had built.
Clara looked away.
Dante lowered his eyes.
Rico crouched slowly.
For a man who made grown men afraid, kneeling beside his son looked unnatural.
But he did it anyway.
“No, little man.””
Leo’s bottom lip trembled.
Rico continued.
“But she loved you.””
“Did she leave because bad?””
Rico froze.
The question wasn’t about Elena.
It was about him.
Children didn’t understand death the way adults did.
They filled empty spaces with their own explanations.
Rico swallowed.
“No.””
“Promise?””
Rico placed his hand over Leo’s tiny one.
“I promise.””
Leo studied his face.
Then, slowly, he looked toward Clara.
“Clara stay?””
The question surprised everyone.
Especially Clara.
She looked at Rico.
He looked back.
Neither of them knew what to say.
Finally, Rico answered.
“If she wants to.””
Clara blinked.
“You’re letting me decide?””
“Yes.””
“That’s new.””
Rico ignored the comment.
But Dante definitely heard it.
Clara looked down at Leo.
“I can stay a little while.””
Leo nodded.
Satisfied, he leaned against the table.
Only then did Rico open the envelope again.
Clara watched his face carefully.
“What does it say?””
Rico didn’t answer.
She immediately regretted asking.
“Sorry.””
“It’s not your place.””
The words were cold.
Sharp.
The old Rico returned for a moment.
Clara stood.
“Then I’ll leave.””
Leo’s hand immediately reached for hers.
“No.””
The single word stopped her.
Rico saw it.
Saw the way his son’s fingers curled around hers.
Saw the fear return.
And something inside him shifted.
“Stay.””
Clara looked at him.
“You just said it wasn’t my place.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
Rico looked down at Leo.
“Because apparently you’re the only person here my son trusts.””
The honesty surprised her.
She sat back down.
Rico unfolded the paper.
Clara didn’t mean to read it.
But one sentence caught her attention.
*Security footage confirms Elena Moretti was not the target.*
Her stomach dropped.
Rico continued reading.
His face became colder with every line.
Dante noticed.
“What is it?””
Rico handed him the page.
Dante read.
Then his expression changed.
“No.””
Rico looked toward him.
“Yes.””
“What are you going to do?””
Rico folded the paper carefully.
Too carefully.
That was when Clara understood something.
The dangerous man everyone feared wasn’t angry.
He was preparing.
“Find out who changed the target.””
Dante nodded.
“And if we find them?””
Rico looked at Leo.
Then at the empty chair where Elena used to sit.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“They took my wife.””
A pause.
“They almost took my son.””
His eyes hardened.
“Now they’re going to learn what happens when they take from me.””
Clara felt a chill.
Because the entire restaurant feared Rico Moretti.
But Leo didn’t.
Leo only feared losing people.
And somehow, that made Clara wonder something.
What kind of man was Rico Moretti before the world forced him to become someone everyone feared?
Before she could think about it, her phone vibrated.
She glanced down.
A message.
From her landlord.
*Final notice. If rent isn’t paid by Monday, your apartment is no longer available.*
Her heart sank.
She quickly locked the screen.
But Rico noticed.
“What happened?””
“Nothing.””
“Clara.””
She looked up.
The way he said her name made it clear he wasn’t asking.
He was expecting the truth.
She hesitated.
Then her phone vibrated again.
This time, a different message appeared.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
May you like
And when Clara read it, all the color left her face.
*Stay away from the Moretti boy, or you’ll end up like his mother.*
