Chapter 6: The Lie Buried Under Blood
Federica had been accused of many things in her life.
Being boring.
Being too quiet.
Being too serious.
Once, a manager told her she lacked “executive presence” because she brought a homemade sandwich to a meeting instead of ordering expensive catering.
But never betrayal.
Never kidnapping.
Never murder.
Yet now she stood inside a Romano safe house while the missing man she helped uncover warned everyone not to trust her.
The silence was unbearable.
Gabriele was the first to speak.
“Explain.””
Federica looked at him.
“I don’t know what that was.””
“That wasn’t an answer.””
“No.””
Her voice sharpened.
“It was the truth.””
The room remained tense.
Isabella watched her carefully.
Marco was gone.
Damian was gone.
Matteo was alive.
And somehow Federica had become the center of all of it.
Gabriele walked toward the table.
“Why did my brother know your name?””
Federica opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because that was the question.
And she had no answer.
“I’ve never met him.””
Gabriele studied her.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I don’t know how to prove something never happened.””
That answer stopped him.
For a second, his anger faded.
Then the alarm sounded again.
Everyone turned.
Isabella looked toward the security panel.
“That’s not an outside breach.””
Federica frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means someone inside triggered it.””
Gabriele immediately moved.
“Lock everything down.””
The safe house changed instantly.
Men appeared from hidden doors.
Security systems activated.
The quiet building became a fortress.
Federica stood still.
Then she noticed something.
A small red light blinking near the wall.
A camera.
She walked toward it.
“Wait.””
Gabriele stopped.
“What?””
“The camera.””
“What about it?””
“It’s new.””
One of the guards frowned.
“It’s been there for months.””
“No.””
Federica shook her head.
“I saw this model in the warehouse.””
Everyone looked at her.
“The kidnappers used the same brand.””
Gabriele’s face darkened.
“You’re saying someone copied their equipment?””
“No.””
She stepped closer.
“I’m saying someone inside this house helped them.””
A guard immediately reached for his weapon.
Gabriele stopped him.
“Don’t.””
The guard froze.
Federica examined the camera.
Then she saw something taped beneath it.
A small memory card.
She removed it carefully.
“Interesting.””
Gabriele looked at her.
“What?””
“They wanted us to find this.””
She inserted the card into a computer.
A video loaded.
The image shook.
Security footage.
A hallway.
The Romano estate.
And Marco Bellini.
Standing with Damian Voss.
Federica watched the timestamp.
The recording was from two days before the kidnapping.
Gabriele stared.
His oldest friend.
His most loyal captain.
Meeting with the man who betrayed him.
Marco said something.
The audio was damaged.
Federica increased the volume.
Static.
Then:
“We only get one chance.””
Damian replied.
“And the child?””
Marco looked away.
“He’s the key.””
The video ended.
Gabriele said nothing.
Nobody dared.
Finally, Isabella whispered:
“No.””
Gabriele walked to the screen.
Slowly.
Almost calmly.
That scared Federica more than anger.
Because rage was loud.
Betrayal was quiet.
“He was my father’s soldier.””
Isabella looked at her son.
“He was your brother’s friend.””
Gabriele closed his eyes.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
This time, he answered.
A familiar voice spoke.
Marco.
“You saw the video.””
Gabriele’s grip tightened.
“Where are you?””
A pause.
Then Marco laughed softly.
“Still asking the wrong question.””
Gabriele said nothing.
Marco continued.
“The question is why Matteo was afraid of you.””
Federica looked at Gabriele.
“What?””
Marco’s voice became colder.
“Ask your boss what really happened the night his brother disappeared.””
The call ended.
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And for the first time, Federica wondered if Gabriele Romano was hunting a traitor…
Or hiding from one.
