Chapter 3 - The Man Vincent Hunted for Twenty Years
The drilling continued.
Vincent kept his voice below a whisper.
“Your father murdered mine.”
“No.”
“He disappeared the same night.”
“Because your uncle ordered him killed.”
Vincent’s jaw tightened.
“My uncle died in prison.”
“Not before he framed my father.”
Elena reached beneath her apron and removed a small folded photograph.
The image showed Daniel Russo beside Vincent’s father, Anthony Torino.
Between them stood a teenage Marcus.
On the back were blurred markings and a date.
The night before Anthony died.
“What does this prove?” Vincent asked.
“That Marcus knew my father.”
“Everyone knew the accountant.”
“He visited him after the murder.”
Vincent looked toward the bedroom.
Marcus had been sixteen when their father was killed.
Vincent had protected him afterward.
Raised him.
Brought him into the organization.
Trusted him more than any other man alive.
Elena continued.
“My father spent twenty years collecting evidence. He said Anthony discovered someone inside the family was selling names to federal agents and rival crews.”
“Marcus was a child.”
“He was being used by your uncle.”
The drill stopped.
One intruder said, “We found another plate.”
Marcus stepped closer to the wall.
Vincent’s breathing slowed.
If Elena was lying, she had chosen the worst possible room and moment to do it.
If she was telling the truth, his entire life had been built around a false enemy.
“What is inside the compartment?”
“A recorder. Account ledgers. One sealed letter.”
“From whom?”
“Your father.”
Vincent almost laughed.
“My father died before that wall was built.”
“The wall was rebuilt after his death.”
By Daniel Russo.
The missing accountant.
The man Vincent had blamed for twenty-two years.
Marcus ordered the intruders to pull the safe free.
Elena looked at Vincent.
“When the compartment opens, he will kill everyone in this room.”
“Including his own men?”
“Especially them.”
Vincent studied Marcus through the crack.
His brother’s posture was controlled.
But one hand flexed repeatedly beside his leg.
A tell Vincent had seen since childhood.
Marcus only did it when afraid.
Vincent raised the pistol again.
May you like
This time Elena did not lower it.
👉 The brother Vincent had protected since childhood was terrified of hearing their dead father’s voice.
