She Walked Past the Mafia Boss Without Looking Back, and His Next Order Shocked Everyone
Chapter 10
Elena knew immediately that something was wrong.
Matteo’s mother had been imprisoned for years.
Why was she smiling?
Elena turned the ledger upside down.
The ink formed a pattern.
A map.
The final page was not a warning.
It was a route.
The path led beneath the estate.
Elena followed it.
She found a hidden entrance beneath the chapel.
Inside was a tunnel.
At the end stood Matteo’s mother.
She was holding a pistol.
“Elena Moretti.”
“You know me.”
“I knew your father.”
“Where is Valli?”
“Dead.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
“He died years ago.”
“Then who is running the network?”
The woman lowered the pistol.
“Caruso.”
Elena stared.
“Caruso works for Valli.”
“He did.”
“Then what changed?”
“He killed Valli.”
Elena finally understood.
Caruso had not been trying to restore Valli’s empire.
He had been stealing it.
The entire conspiracy had been designed to make everyone blame someone else.
Valli.
Lorenzo.
The Belladonna family.
The truth was simpler.
Caruso wanted everything.
He had manipulated Matteo’s father.
He had manipulated Matteo’s mother.
He had manipulated Elena’s uncle.
And now he wanted the ledger.
Matteo entered the chamber.
He stopped when he saw his mother.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then she dropped the pistol.
Matteo crossed the room.
They embraced.
Elena looked away.
After a few seconds, Matteo’s mother whispered:
“Caruso is here.”
Matteo turned.
“Where?”
“At the river.”
“Why?”
“To burn the ships.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“If he burns the ships, the records stored on them will disappear.”
Matteo nodded.
“And so will the proof.”
They ran.
