Chapter 12 - The Recording That Broke Her Trust
They returned to Italy with Sofia under protection.
Carlo released the recording before they landed.
Vittorio’s voice:
“Antonio has become a liability.”
Another man asked:
“What do you want done?”
Vittorio answered:
“Make sure this ends before he destroys both families.”
That was enough.
Every headline changed.
VITTORIO ROSSI ORDERED MARINO DEATH.
Isadora listened once.
Then again.
She looked at Gio.
“I need space.”
“Isa—”
“Please.”
He let her go.
For three days, she stayed with Marco and Elena.
Anger poisoned every memory.
Her father.
Vittorio at her mother’s funeral.
The locket.
The kindness.
Had all of it been guilt?
On the fourth night, Marco entered carrying headphones.
“You need to hear something.”
“I heard enough.”
“No.”
He placed his laptop down.
“Listen carefully.”
The recording played.
Antonio has become a liability.
“What?”
Marco paused it.
“Background noise.”
She listened.
A church bell.
Three rings.
Marco opened another file.
“The original metadata says the conversation happened at 10:40 p.m.”
“So?”
“The church near Vittorio’s office didn’t ring after ten.”
Isadora stared.
“The audio was edited?”
“Parts were.”
Marco isolated another section.
Vittorio’s second sentence sounded slightly different.
Make sure this ends before he destroys both families.
Marco explained.
“The words are real. The conversation isn’t.”
“Then what did he actually say?”
“We found a partial backup from another recording.”
He played it.
Vittorio:
“Antonio has become a liability to Carlo’s operation.”
Then:
“Make sure this ends before he destroys both families. Get Antonio out of Salerno tonight.”
Isadora covered her mouth.
Vittorio had not ordered her father’s death.
He had tried to save him.
“But Papa died anyway.”
Marco nodded.
“Because Carlo intercepted him.”
Isadora immediately called Gio.
He answered on the first ring.
“Are you all right?”
She closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For believing it.”
“You had every reason.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
His voice softened.
“Isadora, your father died. You are allowed to be angry before being logical.”
She started crying.
“I hate when you say reasonable things.”
“I can insult you if that helps.”
She laughed through tears.
“Maybe later.”
There was silence.
Then she asked:
“Where are you?”
“La Corona.”
“Why?”
“Someone sent me a package.”
Her smile disappeared.
“What package?”
“A wedding invitation.”
“To whose wedding?”
Gio answered:
May you like
“Mine.”
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