Chapter 10 - THE FATHER WHO LEFT US TO SURVIVE
Michael Voss had spent years trying to expose Vittorio Moretti's criminal operation.
That was what the recovered records showed.
He worked as an accountant.
Managed financial documents.
And eventually discovered that charitable funds were being diverted through false adoption agencies and shipping companies.
He copied the records.
Then contacted federal investigators.
But someone leaked his identity.
Within weeks, Michael disappeared.
Cassandra panicked.
She made deals with the people controlling the operation.
And her children became bargaining chips.
Us.
I stared at the photograph of my father.
The man who had once held me.
Loved me.
Promised to return.
Then vanished.
"Is he dead?" I asked.
Detective Bennett hesitated.
"We don't know."
Roman stood near the window.
His expression was grim.
"My father destroyed so many lives."
I looked at him.
"You didn't know."
He turned.
"But I've spent years protecting his name."
I didn't answer.
Because that was different.
Roman hadn't created every crime his father committed.
But he'd inherited a violent organization.
And he'd continued parts of its culture.
He knew that.
So did I.
That evening, he asked to speak with me privately.
We sat in Beatrice's garden.
The old woman was inside with Owen and Elena.
I watched through the window as the three of them signed animatedly.
For the first time in years, Beatrice looked genuinely happy.
Roman sat beside me.
"Harper, I need to tell you something."
I looked at him.
"Okay."
"I've spent my life believing power meant control."
I waited.
"My father taught me that people only respected strength."
He looked toward the house.
"But my mother spent decades protecting children with nothing but courage."
I smiled faintly.
"She has more strength than most people I've met."
Roman nodded.
"I know."
Then he looked at me.
"I don't want to keep running the organization the way my father did."
My heart tightened.
"What do you want?"
"To separate the legitimate businesses from everything criminal."
I studied him.
"That won't be easy."
"No."
"You may lose people."
"Yes."
"And money."
He smiled sadly.
"Probably a lot."
I looked toward the window.
"Then why do it?"
Roman's voice softened.
"Because I don't want another family paying for my father's legacy."
For the first time, I believed he might truly change.
But before I could answer, Detective Bennett called.
"Harper, we've located Michael Voss."
My heart stopped.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
I covered my mouth.
"Where?"
The detective hesitated.
"He's been living under a protected identity."
I began crying.
Then she added:
"He has one condition before agreeing to meet you."
I swallowed.
"What?"
"He wants to speak with Roman Moretti first."
Roman's expression changed.
Then Detective Bennett said:
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"Michael claims he knows who ordered Owen's disappearance."
And the person was still working inside Roman's organization.
