Chapter 4 - The Wooden Box Beneath My Bed
Grandma Rose had never sent me a frightening message in her life.
She usually texted grocery lists, reminders to wear a coat, and photographs of her cat sleeping in ridiculous positions.
Now she was telling me not to come home.
I immediately called.
She answered on the third ring.
"Sophie?"
"Grandma! Where are you?"
"I'm safe, sweetheart."
Her voice trembled.
"Where?"
"Mrs. Peterson's apartment."
I closed my eyes.
"Thank God."
Antonio stood beside me, listening without interrupting.
"Grandma, what happened?"
Rose hesitated.
"Two men came to the building. They asked about your father."
My heart pounded.
"What did you tell them?"
"Nothing."
"Did they hurt you?"
"No."
She paused.
"But Sophie, I recognized one of them."
I froze.
"Who?"
Rose's voice dropped.
"Your uncle Vincent."
My stomach turned.
Antonio looked sharply toward me.
I whispered:
"Vincent Moretti?"
"Yes."
The same man Antonio had identified as my mother's brother.
The man I'd never met.
Grandma began crying.
"He looked exactly the same."
I swallowed.
"What did he want?"
"The box Daniel left you."
I stared at Antonio.
He held out his hand.
"May I speak with her?"
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
Antonio took the phone.
"Mrs. Bennett, my name is Antonio Russo."
A long silence followed.
Then Rose whispered something I couldn't hear.
Antonio's expression changed.
"Yes, ma'am. I knew Daniel."
Another pause.
"I understand."
He listened carefully.
Then said:
"We'll make sure Sophie is safe."
He handed back the phone.
Grandma was crying.
"Sophie, listen to Mr. Russo. Your father trusted his family once."
I frowned.
"Grandma?"
But she ended the call.
Antonio looked toward the window.
"What did she say?" I asked.
He hesitated.
"She recognized my father."
"Your father?"
"Gabriel Russo."
I stared.
Antonio continued.
"He and Daniel worked together years ago."
My chest tightened.
"Doing what?"
"Trying to expose corruption inside the Moretti shipping businesses."
I sank into a chair.
The restaurant suddenly felt too small.
Too bright.
Too full of secrets.
Antonio's voice softened.
"Sophie, I can arrange for the police to secure your apartment before you return."
I nodded.
"Thank you."
Later that evening, investigators documented the break-in.
The wooden box was gone.
My stomach dropped when I saw the empty space beneath my bed.
But something else remained.
A small envelope taped underneath the wooden slat.
Dad's handwriting covered the front.
For Sophie, if they ever find the box.
I opened it with trembling hands.
Inside was a photograph of a young boy standing beside my father.
On the back, Dad had written:
Antonio Russo saved my life once.
I stared at the picture.
The little boy was Antonio.
May you like
And the final sentence made my knees weaken.
If I'm gone, trust him before you trust anyone with our surname.
