Chapter 4: The Weight of Betrayal
Vittorio remained hidden behind the cypress trees, his mind racing.
He had faced death many times before. He had been shot at, ambushed, and betrayed by men he once called brothers. But this was different. This was personal in a way nothing else had ever been.
His own wife had kissed the man sent to kill him.
And his supposedly dead brother was alive and working with her.
Vittorio slowly pulled out the cracked phone Sophia had given him and stared at the photo of Renzo again. The gardener’s face was bruised, but his eyes remained steady. Even in captivity, Renzo didn’t look broken.
Vittorio respected that.
He looked down at Sophia, who was still crouched beside him. The little girl hadn’t said a word since showing him the message. She simply watched the villa with those serious gray eyes.
“How long have you known about them?” Vittorio asked quietly.
Sophia didn’t look at him when she answered.
“Since last summer,” she said. “I saw them kissing behind the lemon trees one night. I told Papa, and he told me to keep quiet and start paying attention.”
Vittorio felt a fresh wave of anger.
His own daughter — no, his niece — had been watching his wife cheat on him for months, while he remained completely blind to it.
“Why didn’t your father tell me?” he asked.
Sophia finally turned to look at him.
“He said no one would believe him. He’s just the gardener. And you… you trusted Miss Isabella more than anyone.”
The words stung, but Vittorio couldn’t deny them.
He had trusted Isabella completely. He had defended her when his mother questioned their marriage. He had given her access to accounts, properties, and information that no one else had. And she had used all of it against him.
Vittorio took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm.
He couldn’t afford to lose control now.
Not when Sophia’s father was still in danger.
He pulled out his real phone — the one only his most trusted men had — and sent a message to his captain, Marco.
Vittorio: Do not come to the villa. The driver is fake. There is a bomb in my car. Alessio is alive. He’s working with Isabella. Find Renzo. Now.
The reply came almost immediately.
Marco: Understood, Boss. What about you?
Vittorio: I’m safe. I have the gardener’s daughter with me. Keep this between us. Trust no one else.
He put the phone away and looked at Sophia.
“We’re going to move soon,” he said. “But first, I need to know everything you’ve seen and heard. Can you do that?”
Sophia nodded.
Vittorio crouched down beside her again.
May you like
“Start from the beginning.”
