The Mafia Boss Locked the Door After Midnight — Then His Secretary Whispered Why She Was Leaving
Chapter 5
Her name was Evelyn Cross.
For fifteen years, Evelyn had been the Moretti family’s most trusted secretary.
She had worked for Vincent’s father.
Then Vincent.
She knew every account.
Every meeting.
Every property.
Every secret.
And according to Teresa, she disappeared hours after Vincent’s father was murdered.
“Where is she now?” Isabella asked.
“No one knows,” Vincent said.
Teresa shook her head.
“I know.”
Vincent turned.
“You do?”
“She contacted me last month.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because she told me not to.”
Vincent looked furious.
“What did she want?”
Teresa reached into a drawer.
A photograph.
Evelyn, older now, standing outside a small church.
On the back was an address.
“That’s where she lives.”
Vincent grabbed the photograph.
Gabriel stopped him.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We should assume it’s a trap.”
Vincent nodded.
Isabella looked at him.
“You’re going.”
“Yes.”
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“I need answers.”
“You need to stay alive.”
She stepped closer.
“You keep saying that as though I’m helpless.”
Vincent looked at her.
“I don’t think you’re helpless.”
“Then stop treating me like I am.”
Something changed in his eyes.
He nodded.
“Fine.”
They drove two hours north.
The church stood beside a quiet cemetery.
Evelyn was waiting.
She looked at Isabella first.
Then Vincent.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
Vincent walked forward.
“You disappeared.”
“I survived.”
“Why?”
Evelyn looked toward the cemetery.
“Because your father wasn’t killed by his enemies.”
Vincent froze.
“He was killed by his own people.”
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at Isabella.
“Marco tried to stop them.”
Vincent’s face hardened.
“Marco betrayed me.”
“No.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“He betrayed the organization.”
“Why?”
“Because he discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
Evelyn opened her purse.
She removed a small black notebook.
“This belonged to your father.”
Vincent took it.
He opened the first page.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
Meetings.
Then a familiar name.
Vincent.
He stared.
“I didn’t do these.”
“I know.”
“Then why is my name here?”
“Because someone wanted it to look like you did.”
Isabella leaned closer.
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at her.
“The person who has been controlling the organization.”
Vincent’s voice became low.
“Who?”
Evelyn hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Gabriel.”
Vincent turned sharply.
His security chief stood behind him.
Gabriel’s face was unreadable.
The church fell silent.
Isabella’s heart pounded.
Vincent reached inside his jacket.
Gabriel raised his hands.
“Boss.”
“Don’t move.”
Evelyn stepped backward.
“You were right to distrust everyone.”
Gabriel looked at Vincent.
“You have no idea what’s happening.”
Vincent’s voice was ice.
“Then explain.”
Gabriel looked at Isabella.
“The baby is not the key.”
Isabella froze.
“Then what is?”
Gabriel answered:
“The person who knows where Marco hid the ledger.”
Everyone looked at Isabella.
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Gabriel’s expression softened.
“Yes, you do.”
Isabella remembered the safe.
The passport.
The note.
Then she remembered something else.
A necklace Marco had given her years ago.
She had worn it every day.
Gabriel pointed toward it.
“That’s where he hid it.”
