Chapter 9
Chapter 9
My Own Brother
The gunshot echoed through the abandoned warehouse.
For one terrifying second...
Everything fell silent.
Dust drifted from the ceiling.
A single light bulb swayed gently above the concrete floor.
Giovanni Moretti slowly opened his eyes.
The bullet had struck the wooden chair beside his head, splintering the backrest.
The man standing before him lowered the silenced pistol.
"You should consider yourself lucky," he said coldly.
"I still need one answer."
Giovanni coughed, blood staining the corner of his lips.
"You'll never get it."
The stranger smiled.
"We'll see."
He turned and walked toward the exit.
"Keep him alive."
"But not comfortable."
The steel door slammed shut behind him.
Giovanni closed his eyes.
Julian... hurry.
Back at the Rossi Mansion...
Nathan replayed the hidden recording for what felt like the hundredth time.
Julian stood by the fireplace, unable to look away from the frozen image of Elena.
His wife had been terrified.
Not angry.
Not unfaithful.
Terrified.
Nathan paused the recording where the second man entered the office.
Only polished Italian shoes and the lower half of a tailored suit were visible.
"No face."
"No fingerprints."
"No reflection."
"This was planned carefully."
Julian nodded.
"They expected someone might record it."
Nathan looked at him.
"You recognized the second voice."
Julian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked to an old family portrait hanging above the mantel.
His father stood proudly in the center.
Beside him were two young boys.
Julian.
And...
Marco.
Marco Rossi.
Julian's older brother.
Five years older.
Charming.
Intelligent.
Always smiling.
The heir everyone expected to inherit the Rossi empire.
Until everything changed.
Their father had shocked the family by naming Julian as CEO instead.
Marco had accepted the decision with a smile.
At least...
That was what everyone believed.
"I don't want to accuse him."
Julian finally spoke.
"But..."
Nathan finished the sentence.
"You think the voice belongs to Marco."
Julian closed his eyes.
"It sounds like him."
Nathan folded his arms.
"When did you last speak?"
"Almost nine months ago."
"Before Elena disappeared?"
Julian nodded.
"He called to congratulate me on a new project."
"Nothing unusual."
Nathan remained silent.
Sometimes...
The most dangerous lies sounded ordinary.
Julian walked into his father's old study.
The room had remained untouched since the funeral.
Leather-bound books lined the shelves.
A grandfather clock ticked steadily.
He opened an antique cabinet and removed a dusty photo album.
Page after page revealed happier days.
Family holidays.
Birthday parties.
Christmas dinners.
Then...
One photograph caught his attention.
It showed Elena laughing beside Marco during a charity event.
Marco's hand rested lightly on her shoulder.
At first glance...
It looked innocent.
But Julian noticed something strange.
Elena wasn't smiling at Marco.
She was looking away.
Uncomfortable.
Almost trapped.
How had he never seen it before?
His phone suddenly rang.
The screen displayed a familiar name.
Marco Rossi.
Julian stared at it for several seconds before answering.
"Marco."
"Little brother."
Marco's warm laugh filled the line.
"I heard about your accident."
"I'm glad you're alive."
Julian listened carefully.
The voice...
The rhythm...
The slight roll of the letter R...
His heart sank.
It was the same voice.
Carefully disguised in the recording.
"You still there?" Marco asked.
"Yes."
"I was thinking..."
Marco continued casually.
"Why don't we have dinner tonight?"
"It's been too long."
Julian glanced toward Nathan.
Nathan quietly nodded.
Go.
"I'll be there."
That evening...
The Rossi Family Club overlooked Lake Como.
An exclusive estate reserved for the family's closest associates.
Marco was already waiting with a glass of red wine.
He stood as Julian approached.
"You look terrible."
Julian forced a smile.
"I've had a rough week."
Marco embraced him warmly.
"Sit."
They ordered dinner.
For several minutes...
They spoke about ordinary things.
Business.
Weather.
Travel.
Neither mentioned Elena.
Finally...
Marco leaned back.
"I heard something interesting."
Julian looked up.
"What?"
"Someone told me..."
"They saw Elena."
Julian carefully hid his reaction.
"You've heard that?"
Marco nodded sympathetically.
"I'm sorry."
"If it's true..."
"I hope she's happy."
Julian studied his brother's face.
Every expression seemed genuine.
Every word perfectly measured.
Then Marco asked quietly,
"Is the baby yours?"
Julian froze.
He had never mentioned the pregnancy.
Neither had the media.
Only a handful of people knew.
"So..."
Julian said slowly.
"You know she's pregnant."
Marco realized his mistake.
Only for an instant.
Then he smiled.
"I guessed."
Julian said nothing.
The silence between them grew heavier.
Across the restaurant...
Nathan watched from another table, pretending to read a newspaper.
An earpiece connected him to two security officers outside.
His eyes never left Marco.
Suddenly...
He noticed something unusual.
Marco slipped a folded napkin beneath his wine glass.
Minutes later, a waiter quietly collected it.
Instead of throwing it away...
The waiter placed it inside his pocket.
Nathan immediately stood.
"I'll be right back," he muttered into the microphone.
He followed the waiter toward the service corridor.
Inside the narrow hallway...
The waiter stopped beside a maintenance closet.
Before he could open the folded napkin...
Nathan grabbed his wrist.
"Security."
The waiter panicked.
"I don't know anything!"
Nathan calmly took the note.
He unfolded it.
Only six words were written.
He knows about the recording.
Nathan's expression hardened.
"Who gave you this?"
The waiter remained silent.
Nathan repeated the question.
Still nothing.
Then—
The waiter suddenly collapsed.
Nathan caught him before he hit the floor.
A tiny dart protruded from the side of his neck.
Poison.
Nathan spun around.
At the far end of the corridor...
A hooded figure disappeared through the emergency exit.
Meanwhile...
Back in the dining room...
Julian looked directly into Marco's eyes.
"I have a question."
Marco smiled.
"Anything."
"Where were you..."
Julian's voice became steady.
"...the day Elena disappeared?"
Marco didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He slowly placed his wine glass on the table.
Then he smiled.
"A dangerous question."
Julian held his gaze.
"I'd still like the answer."
Marco leaned forward.
"So would I."
Julian frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Marco's smile widened.
"It means..."
"I've been asking myself the exact same thing."
Before Julian could respond...
A loud explosion shattered the restaurant windows.
Glass rained across the dining room.
Guests screamed.
The lights went out.
Smoke filled the air.
Nathan burst into the room.
"Julian!"
He looked toward the table.
It was empty.
Marco Rossi...
Had vanished.
Only one thing remained on his chair.
A black envelope.
Julian picked it up with trembling hands.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Elena.
Sleeping in her hospital bed.
Taken...
Just hours earlier.
On the back, written in neat handwriting, were seven chilling words:
May you like
"Your family has always belonged to me."
End of Chapter 9
