Chapter 3: The Man Behind the Perfect Smile
Damian Voss had always been the kind of man people trusted too quickly.
That was his talent.
Not violence.
Not intimidation.
Trust.
He wore expensive suits, remembered birthdays, and brought coffee to meetings.
He was the man who helped old employees with medical bills.
The man who smiled at children during family gatherings.
The man nobody imagined would betray the Romano family.
Which was exactly why he was dangerous.
Gabriele stood in the center of the estate, staring at him.
“You arranged the attack.””
Damian sighed.
“I was hoping you’d ask a more interesting question.””
Marco stepped forward.
“You kidnapped a child.””
Damian looked at him.
“Careful.””
The calmness in his voice was worse than anger.
“You’re still assuming I’m the villain.””
Federica watched him carefully.
That was when she noticed something.
A small stain on his cuff.
Dark.
Almost invisible.
But familiar.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You were at the warehouse.””
Damian looked at her.
For the first time, his confidence slipped.
Only for a second.
But Federica saw it.
“You recognized the building,” she said.
Nobody moved.
Gabriele turned toward her.
“You’re sure?””
“No.””
Federica stepped closer.
“But his reaction told me.””
Damian laughed softly.
“Still analyzing people?””
“No.””
She looked at his sleeve.
“I’m analyzing evidence.””
The room became tense.
Damian glanced down.
Then smiled.
“Impressive.””
Gabriele’s voice dropped.
“You’re going to explain.””
Damian walked slowly toward the table.
“You think this is about Leo?””
Nobody answered.
“It’s bigger than one child.””
Federica frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Damian looked at Gabriele.
“You really never asked why your brother died?””
The room froze.
Gabriele’s expression changed.
“My brother died in an accident.””
“Did he?””
Marco looked uncomfortable.
Federica noticed.
Again.
A tiny reaction.
A hidden wound.
Gabriele noticed too.
“Marco.””
The captain looked down.
“Boss…”
“Tell me.””
Marco hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Gabriele moved closer.
“You knew something.””
Before Marco could answer, the lights went out.
The entire estate disappeared into darkness.
A gunshot exploded.
Someone screamed.
Federica dropped behind the table.
Another shot.
Then another.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Damian was gone.
The front doors were open.
And Marco Bellini was missing.
Gabriele stood in the middle of the chaos.
His face was unreadable.
Federica found him staring at the empty doorway.
“You think Marco helped him.””
Gabriele did not answer.
“Gabriele.””
Finally, he spoke.
“My brother trusted Marco.””
Federica watched him.
“And you?””
A long silence.
Then:
“I trusted him too.””
For a moment, the most feared man in Chicago looked less like a criminal kingpin.
And more like someone who had just realized his family was built on lies.
Later that night, Federica returned to the safe house with Leo sleeping peacefully nearby.
She sat at the table, replaying everything.
The attack.
The payments.
Damian’s words.
Marco’s reaction.
Something did not fit.
Then she opened the copied files again.
She searched through the transactions.
Thousands of names.
Hundreds of accounts.
Millions of dollars.
Until she found something.
A payment made eleven months earlier.
Before Leo was born.
Before the kidnapping.
Before anyone had a reason to betray Gabriele.
The recipient name was hidden.
But the account number was familiar.
Federica slowly stood.
Because she knew that account.
She had personally approved it.
May you like
And it belonged to someone who should have been impossible.
Someone who had been dead for eight months.
