Chapter 11 - The Woman Who Sold the Secret
Lily stepped back.
"Why?"
Elena's eyes filled with something that looked almost like regret. "Because I have a daughter. Because Matteo knows where she lives. Because he promised she'd be safe if I brought him the ledger."
"You helped him?"
"I gave him one address. One. I thought your mother would be gone before he got there."
"She died."
Elena flinched as if Lily had struck her.
"I know."
Lily held the case tighter. "Did you know Daniel was going to the pier?"
"No. I swear."
A sound echoed from the corridor. Elena looked toward it.
"He's here," she whispered.
"Who?"
"Matteo."
A man's voice drifted through the dark.
"Elena. You always were bad at keeping promises."
Matteo stepped into the doorway. He looked like Victor, but where Victor's face carried the weight of years, Matteo's wore a practiced ease. His suit was expensive. His smile was almost kind.
"Lily Chen," he said. "You have your mother's eyes."
"Stay away from me."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"You sent a hitman into a restaurant."
"Rourke is a blunt instrument. I prefer conversations."
Matteo held out his hand.
"Give me the ledger. You can walk away."
Lily glanced at Elena. The older woman was crying silently.
"Did you kill my mother?" Lily asked.
Matteo's smile faded.
"I gave her a chance to live."
"That's not what I asked."
He sighed. "She made a choice."
Lily understood then. He would never admit it. Not because he was innocent, but because he believed the truth belonged to him.
She dropped the case.
May you like
Matteo looked down.
Lily kicked it beneath a metal shelf and ran.
