Chapter 5 - The Enemy Behind the Golden Doors
The woman’s name was Sofia Marin.
She had once worked as Elena’s personal assistant.
Luca remembered her immediately.
He also remembered that she had disappeared two weeks after Elena’s funeral.
Sofia sat inside the library with two guards behind her.
She looked exhausted.
“I left because Elena told me to.”
Luca stood across from her.
“My wife has been dead eighteen months.”
“I know.”
“Then start talking.”
Sofia looked toward Clara.
“She stays.”
Luca’s expression sharpened.
“You don’t give orders here.”
“No.”
Sofia swallowed.
“But Elena mentioned someone like her.”
Clara stared.
“Me?”
“Not by name.”
Sofia explained.
Weeks before her death, Elena had become convinced that Vittorio was betraying Luca.
But eventually she discovered Vittorio was only part of something larger.
Someone inside the estate had been giving him information.
Security schedules.
Vehicle routes.
Private conversations.
Elena believed there was a second traitor.
“Who?” Luca demanded.
“I don’t know.”
Sofia reached into her coat.
The guards immediately moved.
“Slowly.”
She removed an envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Elena.
Vittorio.
And a third person standing at a distance.
The face was blurred.
But Clara recognized the uniform.
Moretti security.
Luca stared.
“That could be any guard.”
“Yes.”
Sofia nodded.
“Elena was trying to identify him.”
“Why come back now?”
“Because Vittorio contacted me.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“He knows I helped Elena gather evidence.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“What did he say?”
Sofia hesitated.
“He said Clara had discovered too much.”
Clara felt cold.
“And?”
“He said the house would take care of her.”
Luca immediately ordered every security officer confined and questioned.
Nobody left.
Phones were collected.
Records examined.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
Then Clara remembered something.
The day she first entered Mia’s playroom, an SUV engine had been running outside.
Every time Mia heard a particular engine tone, she panicked.
Clara went to the garage.
Rows of luxury vehicles filled the space.
Mia came with her, holding Luca’s hand.
Clara crouched.
“You don’t have to do anything.”
Mia nodded.
One by one, engines were started.
First car.
Nothing.
Second.
Nothing.
Third.
Mia tightened her grip on Luca.
Fourth.
She covered her ears.
“Stop.”
The engine shut down.
Mia pointed.
“That one.”
Luca looked at the vehicle.
A black SUV.
“Whose?”
His security chief checked the records.
“Marco uses it.”
Luca’s face changed.
Marco DeSantis.
Head of estate security.
The man responsible for protecting Mia.
Marco was summoned.
He entered calmly.
Too calmly.
Luca placed the photograph on the table.
Marco glanced at it.
“What is this?”
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know.”
Mia entered behind Clara.
Marco saw her.
For one fraction of a second, his expression changed.
Mia hid.
That was enough.
Luca noticed.
“Where were you the afternoon Elena died?”
Marco answered immediately.
“At the warehouse.”
“Records?”
“Probably.”
“Probably?”
Marco’s hand moved toward his jacket.
Three guards drew weapons.
“Hands.”
Marco froze.
Then smiled.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Luca stepped forward.
“I’ve made many.”
His voice became deadly quiet.
“I’m correcting one.”
Marco was searched.
A second phone was discovered.
Messages connected him to Vittorio.
But something didn’t fit.
Marco had provided information.
Vittorio had followed Elena.
Yet there was still no direct proof either man ordered the crash.
Marco refused to speak.
Until Clara entered the room.
“You.”
His eyes filled with hatred.
“You should have stayed on your knees cleaning.”
Clara’s stomach tightened.
Luca moved between them.
Marco laughed.
“She changed everything, didn’t she?”
Nobody answered.
“Seven professionals couldn’t control your daughter. Then some broke maid walks in and suddenly the kid starts talking.”
His smile disappeared.
“You should have let her stay broken.”
Luca hit him.
Once.
Hard.
Clara grabbed Luca’s arm.
“Stop.”
Marco laughed through blood.
“There he is.”
Luca froze.
Marco wanted rage.
Wanted chaos.
Clara understood.
“Why are you trying to make him angry?”
Marco looked at her.
“Smart girl.”
“Why?”
No answer.
“Because angry people stop thinking.”
Marco’s smile faded.
Clara continued.
“That’s how Elena died, isn’t it? Everyone expected Luca to react emotionally.”
Marco stared.
“And while he searched for enemies outside…”
Clara looked around.
“…you stayed here.”
Luca’s face darkened.
Marco said nothing.
That silence was an answer.
Police could have been called.
But Luca’s world did not operate simply.
Still, something had changed in him.
He did not kill Marco.
Instead, evidence was secured.
Records were copied.
And Marco was held until trusted federal contacts could receive information about the conspiracy without exposing Mia.
Clara was surprised.
“You’re letting the law handle him?”
Luca looked tired.
“I have a daughter watching who I become.”
That answer stayed with Clara.
Later, they stood on the balcony.
“You stopped me,” Luca said.
“You wanted me to.”
“I definitely did not.”
“You listened.”
“That’s different.”
Clara smiled.
Luca looked at her.
“You changed this house.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Mia did.”
“You saw her.”
“That’s all.”
“That was everything.”
Their faces were close.
Too close.
Clara’s breathing changed.
Luca lifted one hand, then stopped before touching her.
He waited.
Clara noticed.
The man who once ordered everything now waited for permission.
She stepped closer.
Their kiss was quiet.
Brief.
Almost uncertain.
When they separated, Luca looked more nervous than he had facing armed enemies.
Clara laughed.
“Are you afraid of me?”
“Extremely.”
“Good.”
A small voice came from behind them.
“Ew.”
They turned.
Mia stood in the doorway.
Clara’s face burned.
Luca cleared his throat.
“You should be sleeping.”
“You kissed Clara.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Mia stared.
Clara stared.
Luca sighed.
“Fine.”
Mia smiled.
For a few precious seconds, they were simply three people laughing.
Then Luca’s phone rang.
The smile disappeared.
Vittorio had vanished.
His home was empty.
Accounts drained.
Vehicles abandoned.
But before disappearing, he had sent Luca one final message.
A photograph.
Clara looked at it.
Her stomach dropped.
It showed Mia sleeping.
Taken from inside her bedroom.
And beneath the photograph were four words.
May you like
You found the wrong traitor.
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