Chapter 10: THE NIGHT THE TRUTH CAME OUT
Marcus reached inside his jacket.
Everyone froze.
“Hands where we can see them!” one agent shouted.
Marcus stopped.
Slowly, he withdrew a phone.
“Relax,” he sneered. “I’m calling my attorney.”
But the federal agents weren’t smiling.
One stepped forward.
“Marcus Bellamy, you’re being detained in connection with an ongoing federal investigation.”
Marcus laughed.
“On whose word? A runaway girl and a crooked businessman?”
My father moved closer.
“On mine.”
I stared at him.
Anthony Russo looked nothing like the powerful man who had once ruled our mansion.
His shoulders sagged.
His hands shook.
And his eyes were red.
“I gave them the original shipping records,” he said.
Marcus turned pale.
“You idiot.”
My father continued.
“And the payments made to the officer who altered Michael’s accident report.”
Marcus lunged toward him.
The agents moved immediately.
Within seconds, Marcus was restrained.
He struggled.
“You think this ends anything? I know people!”
Dante stood motionless.
“Then they can visit you in prison.”
Marcus glared at him.
“You’ll regret this, Moretti.”
Dante’s expression never changed.
“I’ve regretted plenty in my life, Marcus. Helping Elena won’t be one of them.”
I watched as the agents led Marcus away.
The man who had haunted my dreams for seven months was finally leaving in handcuffs.
But I felt no triumph.
Only exhaustion.
And grief.
My father approached.
“Elena.”
I stepped back.
He stopped.
For the first time in my life, he respected the distance I placed between us.
“I know you hate me.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t know what I feel.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“I should have protected Michael.”
“Yes.”
“I should have protected you.”
“Yes.”
He lowered his head.
“I was afraid of losing everything.”
I looked at him.
“And you did.”
He began to cry.
I had imagined this moment so many times.
I thought I would feel powerful.
Vindicated.
Free.
Instead, I felt like a little girl standing outside her brother’s bedroom, waiting for someone to tell her he was coming home.
But Michael wasn’t coming home.
Nothing could change that.
My father wiped his face.
“I’ve agreed to cooperate fully. I’ll accept whatever happens.”
I nodded.
It wasn’t forgiveness.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
But it was the first honest thing he had done in years.
As the agents prepared to leave, one approached Dante.
“Mr. Moretti, we’ll need you to come in tomorrow. There are questions about several old business arrangements.”
Dante nodded.
“I understand.”
I turned toward him.
“What does that mean?”
He looked at me.
“It means I have some things to answer for, too.”
My heart tightened.
“Are they going to arrest you?”
“I don’t know.”
The answer frightened me more than any promise could have comforted me.
Dante took a breath.
“Elena, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What?”
He glanced toward the warehouse doors.
“Three years ago, I knew Marcus was involved in something illegal. I didn’t know about Michael’s death, but I knew enough to investigate further.”
I stared at him.
“And you didn’t?”
“I chose to protect my business.”
My chest hurt.
“Just like my father.”
Dante closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The word hung between us.
I stepped away.
For weeks, I had begun to believe Dante was different.
Now I realized that even good intentions couldn’t erase a dangerous past.
He looked at me.
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head.
“I need time.”
He nodded.
“Take all you need.”
Then he did something Marcus never would have done.
He let me walk away.