Chapter 9 - THE VOICE THAT BROKE ROMAN VALE
Margaret gave us an audio recorder and a letter containing instructions from Isabella.
The recording was old, but the voice was clear.
“My little lion,” Isabella whispered. “If you're hearing this, Lucia kept her promise. I'm sorry I wasn't there to watch you grow up.”
Roman sat completely motionless.
His mother explained that she had discovered evidence of Adrian's financial crimes shortly before her husband died. When she confronted Adrian, he threatened her and claimed Roman would never be safe if she exposed him.
Days later, Roman's father was killed in what the family described as a vehicle accident.
Isabella had discovered evidence suggesting the crash was deliberate.
She tried to take Roman and flee, but the fire at Saint Agnes separated them. Lucia managed to rescue the child, while Isabella escaped through a back entrance with help from the priest.
She had spent years moving between protected residences, afraid that contacting Roman would expose him to the men hunting her.
“I never abandoned you,” she said on the recording. “Every birthday, I wrote you a letter. Every year, I prayed someone would bring you home to me.”
Roman pressed his knuckles against his mouth.
Then came the final part.
“Adrian believes he destroyed the evidence. He is wrong. The original ledger is hidden in the old family boathouse, inside the wall behind the west fireplace.”
The recording stopped.
Victor immediately called the security team to arrange a discreet search of the property.
But before anyone could move, my phone lit up with a message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Noah in his hospital room.
Beneath it were seven words.
May you like
Bring Roman alone, or your brother dies.
Roman rose slowly, and the softness vanished from his face.
