Chapter 6 - Sofia’s Father Tells the Truth

The country house wine cellar had two entrances.

Samuel knew one.

Leonard knew the other.

Forty years as caretaker mattered.

We entered through an old service tunnel.

Vincent.

Isabella.

Leonard.

And me.

Vincent had told me to stay behind.

Again.

I ignored him.

Again.

This time he only sighed.

At the end of the tunnel, voices.

Samuel Pike.

Older.

Seventy-two.

Silver hair.

Black coat.

Sofia and Carlo tied to chairs.

Two armed men nearby.

Samuel held a folder.

“Isabella will come.”

Carlo laughed weakly.

“You don’t know her.”

Samuel looked at him.

“I knew her before you did.”

Carlo’s face tightened.

Sofia whispered:

“Dad.”

Samuel turned.

“Your father has always been sentimental.”

Carlo stared.

“You used me.”

“For nineteen years.”

“Yes.”

Sofia looked at her father.

“What does he mean?”

Carlo closed his eyes.

Samuel smiled.

“Tell her.”

Carlo whispered:

“I helped Samuel move money.”

Sofia froze.

“Before Vincent’s father died?”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Seven years.”

Sofia started crying.

“You told me you found out afterward.”

“I lied.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted you to believe I was weak.”

Samuel laughed.

“You were weak.”

Carlo looked at him.

“No.”

“I was greedy.”

Silence.

Sofia’s face changed.

The truth was worse.

Carlo continued.

“I told myself everyone did it.”

“Then Vincent’s father discovered the accounts.”

“I panicked.”

“You asked Samuel to scare him.”

“Yes.”

“And Samuel killed him.”

Carlo cried.

“Yes.”

Samuel’s smile disappeared.

“You make it sound accidental.”

Carlo looked at him.

“You shot him.”

“Because he refused.”

“You were supposed to threaten him.”

“I improved the plan.”

Vincent stepped from the shadows.

“Bad improvement.”

Everyone turned.

Samuel smiled slowly.

“Vincent.”

The armed men raised weapons.

Leonard switched off the cellar lights.

Darkness.

A struggle.

Vincent moved.

Glass broke.

One gunshot.

Then another.

Lights returned.

One armed man down.

The other pinned by Leonard with an iron bottle rack.

I had Sofia’s chair behind a stone pillar.

Isabella cut Carlo free.

Samuel stood near the stairs.

Gun in hand.

Pointed at Isabella.

Vincent froze.

“Put it down.”

Samuel smiled.

“You brought her.”

“No.”

“She brought herself.”

Isabella looked at Samuel.

“Nineteen years.”

He stared back.

“You look older.”

“So do you.”

Samuel’s smile faded.

“Where is the amendment?”

Vincent held up an envelope.

Samuel’s eyes moved to it.

“There.”

“Let them go.”

“I already have what I need.”

“No.”

Vincent smiled faintly.

“You have paper.”

Samuel frowned.

“My mother’s confirmation requires biometric verification.”

Silence.

Samuel looked at Isabella.

She smiled.

“Your lawyer never told you?”

Vincent stared.

Neither had he known.

Isabella continued.

“His father changed the process after he stopped trusting you.”

Samuel’s face hardened.

“You’re lying.”

Carlo laughed.

“She isn’t.”

Samuel turned.

Carlo continued.

“I witnessed it.”

Sofia looked at him.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

Samuel’s gun moved toward Carlo.

Vincent threw the envelope.

Paper scattered.

Samuel looked instinctively.

Leonard struck his arm.

Gun fell.

Vincent tackled him.

Security entered through the main cellar door.

Dominic’s men.

But not Dominic’s orders.

Vincent’s.

Samuel was restrained.

Sofia stood.

Her hands shook.

Vincent looked at her.

She looked at him.

Neither moved closer.

Not yet.

Carlo sat on the floor.

Blood on his lip.

Vincent looked down.

“You lied to your daughter.”

“Yes.”

“You helped steal from my family.”

“Yes.”

“You brought Samuel into my father’s life.”

“Yes.”

“You helped create the meeting where he died.”

Carlo cried.

“Yes.”

Vincent’s jaw tightened.

Sofia whispered:

“Vincent.”

He looked at her.

She didn’t ask him to forgive Carlo.

She only said:

“I’m sorry.”

That mattered.

Police arrived.

Not local.

Federal investigators Isabella had contacted before returning.

Samuel was taken away.

Carlo was taken too.

Sofia stared.

“Dad?”

Carlo looked at her.

“I have to answer for it.”

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She cried.

For once, he did not ask her to save him.