Chapter 5 - The Night Adrian’s Father Vanished
Adrian sat for the first time.
The room had become too small.
Too many years inside it.
His father remained standing.
Adrian asked:
“What happened that night?”
His father looked at Samuel.
Samuel closed the door.
Then Adrian’s father spoke.
“Giovanni asked me to meet him at the warehouse.”
“Why?”
“He knew I had contacted Mr. Vale.”
“And?”
“He wanted the bank documents.”
Adrian looked at the photograph again.
“Mr. Vale was there.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he had copies.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“So you both planned to confront Giovanni.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
His father looked toward the floor.
“Giovanni offered us a deal.”
Adrian laughed without humor.
“Of course.”
“What deal?”
“Destroy the records.”
“Forget Elena.”
“Stay silent.”
“And in exchange?”
His father looked at him.
“You.”
Silence.
Adrian stared.
“What about me?”
“He said he would leave you untouched.”
Adrian’s mother covered her mouth.
She had heard this before.
Adrian had not.
His father continued.
“If we refused, he said he would make you answer for every crime connected to the Russo name.”
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“You believed him.”
“Yes.”
“So you agreed.”
“No.”
Adrian looked up.
His father’s face hardened.
“I hit him.”
Silence.
Samuel almost smiled.
Almost.
His father continued.
“Then the lights went out.”
Adrian frowned.
“Someone else was there.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
His father looked at Samuel.
Samuel answered.
“Bianca’s father.”
Adrian stared.
“He was already there.”
“Yes.”
“Then why is he in the photograph like he arrived with you?”
Samuel said:
“Because the photograph was staged.”
Adrian stood.
“What?”
His father nodded.
“Mr. Vale wanted proof he had been negotiating.”
“For what?”
“Protection.”
Adrian’s mother whispered:
“He knew federal investigators were already looking at the bank.”
Adrian stared.
“So he wanted a photograph showing he was cooperating.”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked toward the hallway.
“And then?”
His father continued.
“When the lights went out, someone fired.”
Adrian stopped.
“Who was shot?”
Silence.
Then his father answered:
“Giovanni.”
Adrian’s expression emptied.
“My grandfather was shot eleven years ago?”
“Yes.”
“But he died four years later.”
“Yes.”
Adrian frowned.
“Then who fired?”
His father looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
Samuel looked down.
Adrian saw it.
“Samuel.”
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