Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ABOUT SALVATORE
“No.”
Elena couldn't accept it.
Salvatore lowered his head.
“I fired the gun.”
Vincent stared at him.
“You killed my father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he was going to kill you.”
Vincent stepped forward.
Salvatore didn't resist.
“Your father discovered that Rosa had stolen the ledger. He planned to kill her. Then he planned to kill you because you had seen the accounts.”
“So you shot him.”
“Yes.”
Rosa began crying.
“I begged him not to.”
Salvatore looked at her.
“You had Elena.”
“I had nothing.”
“You had her.”
Salvatore pointed at Elena.
“That was enough.”
Vincent's hands shook.
“Why did everyone let me believe my father was murdered by strangers?”
“Because if you knew the truth, you'd come looking for us.”
“And I would have found Elena.”
“Yes.”
Vincent looked at Elena.
She understood.
Her mother had spent twenty years keeping everyone apart.
Not because she hated them.
Because she loved them.
Then the flash drive beeped.
Elena connected it to the laptop.
A recording appeared.
Evelyn's younger voice filled the room.
“If Rosa survives, find the girl.”
Another voice answered.
“And if she refuses?”
Evelyn said:
“Then take the money.”
Elena stared.
The recording continued.
“The girl is the beneficiary. When she turns forty, the trust becomes hers.”
Vincent looked at his mother.
“You knew about Elena's inheritance.”
“Yes.”
“You've been trying to find her for twenty years.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“Because the money was never the real prize.”
Elena frowned.
“What was?”
Evelyn looked at Rosa.
“Your mother's evidence.”
Rosa's face went pale.
“What evidence?”
Evelyn whispered:
“The names.”
She turned to Elena.
“Your mother kept one final list.”
“What list?”
“Every person who participated in the operation.”
Elena looked at the ledger.
“But this is the list.”
“No.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“That is only the beginning.”
Then the restaurant doors upstairs burst open.
Federal agents stormed inside.
Everyone froze.
An agent shouted:
“Hands where we can see them!”
Vincent raised his hands.
Elena stared at the doorway.
A familiar man entered behind the agents.
Her uncle.
The brother Rosa had always claimed was dead.
He smiled at her.
“Hello, Elena.”
Rosa screamed.
“No.”
May you like
The man looked at her.
“You really thought you could hide my daughter forever?”
