The dull, heavy thud of his body hitting the floor echoed through Villa Nero, followed by silence. The kind that made breathing feel too loud.
Isabella's heart slammed against her ribs as she stared at the man on his knees.
"No…" she whispered, blinking to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
But he was real with bruises and blood all over his face and body. And looking straight at her.
"Signora…" he choked out. That old title dragged her five years back in an instant.
"Alessio…" she breathed.
"You know him?." Lorenzo's gaze snapped to her.
Isabella didn't answer immediately, the truth was unraveling too fast.
"He was the one," she said finally, her voice tight. "He helped me escape."
The room shifted as all eyes turned to Lorenzo who in turn looked down at the man.
Alessio was one of his trusted guards or so he had thought.
"You helped my wife disappear," Lorenzo said quietly.
"No.. .no, Boss, it wasn't like that," Alessio shook his head quickly, panic flooding his expression.
"It's exactly like that." Lorenzo's voice didn't rise, it didn't need to because the threat was already there.
"I was only trying to protect her!" Alessio rushed out. "I swear, if I didn't, she would've died that night…"
"From Marco," Lorenzo finished.
Alessio froze.
"You knew." Lorenzo's eyes darkened,that was all the confirmation needed.
"I didn't have enough proof," Alessio said quickly. "But I saw enough, he way he moved, the way he controlled the scene after your father died… it just didn't feel right."
"So you decided to act on your own?." Lorenzo questioned
"No! I decided to keep her alive!" the desperation in his voice echoed.
"You could have come to me." Lorenzo said, his face hardening.
"You wouldn't have believed me." Alessio laughed bitterly.
There was silence in the room because once again, it was true even Lorenzo didn't try to deny it.
He just stared at the man in front of him.
"So why now?" he asked, the question was sharp.
"What?" Alessio blinked.
"The security breach," Lorenzo said. "Internal access. Why the heck is your name is in the logs."
"What? No…no, that's not possible I have never touched the system…" shock crossed Alessio's face.
Sofia stepped forward with tablet in hand.
"Access point: 22:14," she said, turning the the device towards him. "These are your credentials, clearance."
"No… that's a setup! I swear it's not me!" Alessio shook his head violently.
Lorenzo didn't move, he just watched the people in the room with measured, calculated stares.
"Wait." Isabella stepped forward suddenly. All eyes turned to her as she looked at Lorenzo.
"He's telling the truth." she revealed.
"How sure are you sure about this?" Lorenzo's gaze sharpened.
"Yes," she said firmly. "If Alessio wanted me dead, I wouldn't be standing here."
That much was undeniable but this was no longer about that past now.
"Then someone must have used his access," she said as she narrowed her eyes slightly.
"And that someone is still inside," Lorenzo finished.
The room went cold, because that only meant that the real traitor had not been caught, they were still among them, watching and playing games.
A dark, slow smile crept across Lorenzo's face.
"They're quite bold,I must admit," he said quietly.
"No… not bold, they are desperate" she whispered.
Marco wasn't just reacting, he was escalating fast and aggressively which only meant something bigger was coming. Lorenzo turned to his men.
"Lock down the entire estate, nobody leaves or enters," he ordered.
"Yes, Boss." the guards chorused.
"Make sure to double the double security on Matteo." he finished
At that Isabella's head snapped up.
"No." she clipped, sharp and immediate.
"You don't get to say no." Lorenzo snapped shifting his gaze to her.
"I do when it comes to my son," she shot back.
"He's already been taken once," Lorenzo replied coldly. "That would never happen again."
"And putting him in the middle of your fortress makes him a bigger target!" she retorted, her voice rising a notch higher as their eyes locked on to each other fiercely.
"He's safer here than anywhere else," Lorenzo said.
"You don't know that!". She said, her eyes spitting fire.
"I know enough."
Sofia cleared her throat and said, "Okay, lovebirds, hate to interrupt, but we have a bigger issue."
They both turned to her, she held up the tablet again as her expression turned serious.
"This wasn't just a breach," she said. "It was a message."
"What kind of message?" Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
Sofia tapped the screen, opening a hidden, encrypted file that was buried deep inside the system.
"I almost missed it," she admitted, unlocking it
The screen flickered as a video began to play, it was dark and grainy but it was clear enough. Isabella held her breath as she recognized the place instantly; It was Lorenzo's father's study from five years ago.
The video showed two figures. Sitting on the chair behind his desk was Adrien, Lorenzo's father and standing across pacing around angrily was Marco. They were arguing, their voices were raised and the tension was thick. Then, Marco whipped out a gun from his holster and fired.
The screen glitched but not before capturing truth, crystal clear and undeniable. Marco had killed him.
The silence filled the room that filled the room after the revelation was heavy and explosive. Lorenzo didn't move or react.
But his eyes? They were completely cold and empty. Now his suspicions has been erased and there were no longer doubt or suspicions, the only things left was Revenge.
The video cut displaying only static, then a simple and direct
"Now you know the truth."
"Come find me."
The room felt like it tilted, Marco had not just teased Lorenzo but na brought it open as a challenge, a trap and declaration of war.
"Finally," Lorenzo said, a dey ile plastering his lips.
Isabella's heart kept pounding, she recognized that tone, that look. This wasn't just about justice anymore but about complete, absolute destruction.
*****
Marco stood in front of a large screen looking on as they watched the video observing every shift, reaction and crack.
Then, he pressed a button an
d another screen lit up, on the screen was showing a live video of Matteo's room.
"Let's see how well you protect him now." Marco muttered, as he smiled.