She Walked Past the Mafia Boss Without Looking Back, and His Next Order Shocked Everyone
Chapter 8
Thomas Moretti welcomed them with a smile.
He was seventy years old.
He walked with a cane.
He had always treated Elena kindly.
When she was a child, he had brought sweets to her house.
Now she stood in his parlor holding a letter accusing him of betrayal.
“Uncle.”
He looked at her.
“What happened?”
“Did my father know about Caruso?”
Thomas’s smile faded.
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
Silence.
Matteo stepped forward.
Thomas looked at him.
“You have your father’s eyes.”
Matteo’s voice was cold.
“Answer her.”
Thomas sat down.
“I was there the night Marco died.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“You told us it was an accident.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because I was threatened.”
“By Caruso?”
Thomas shook his head.
“By Valli.”
“But Valli is dead.”
“No.”
Thomas looked toward the window.
“He isn’t.”
Elena froze.
“Where is he?”
Thomas whispered:
“Inside the Belladonna house.”
Matteo turned sharply.
“Who?”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“Your mother.”
Matteo stepped backward.
“No.”
“She never died.”
Thomas’s voice broke.
“She disappeared because she discovered the truth.”
Matteo stood motionless.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Thomas.”
“She was taken.”
“By whom?”
Thomas looked at Elena.
Then Matteo.
“The man who has been running the river for twenty years.”
Matteo’s eyes narrowed.
“Caruso?”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
He whispered the name.
“Lorenzo Valli.”
Elena stared.
“He’s alive.”
Thomas nodded.
“And he’s coming for the ledger.”
