Victor stood in the center of the room.
Elena was beside the door.
She looked at the girls.
Then at the man who had destroyed their mother's life.
"Please," she whispered. "They're children."
Victor turned.
"That's why we're here."
He walked toward the piano.
Isabella squeezed her sister's hand.
"Don't be scared."
Sofia nodded.
"Where's Daddy?"
"He's coming."
"How do you know?"
Isabella looked at the photograph above the piano.
Their mother was smiling.
"Because he promised."
Victor crouched.
"Come out, girls."
Neither moved.
"I won't hurt you."
Isabella shook her head.
"You're a liar."
Victor's expression changed.
For a moment, he looked genuinely offended.
Then he reached beneath the piano.
Elena stepped forward.
"Victor, stop."
He turned.
"Move."
"No."
Victor looked at her.
"You have become sentimental."
Elena's voice trembled.
"Lucia trusted me."
"Lucia is dead."
"And you killed her."
The room became silent.
Victor stood.
Then he slapped Elena across the face.
She stumbled against the piano.
Beneath it, Sofia began screaming.
Victor turned toward the sound.
And that was when the front doors opened.
Alessandro Moretti entered the house.
He was carrying no briefcase.
No coat.
Only a pistol and the white teddy bear his daughter had given him that morning.
Behind him came Marco and the remaining security team.
Alessandro looked at Victor.
Then at the girls.
Then at Elena.
His eyes settled on the red marks across her face.
"Step away from my children."
Victor smiled.
"You're late."
Alessandro took one step forward.
"Not for them."
The two men stared at each other.
For three years, Alessandro had imagined what he would do if he ever found the person responsible for Lucia's death.
He had imagined anger.
He had imagined revenge.
He had imagined the satisfaction of watching the man who destroyed his family beg for mercy.
But standing in that room, with his daughters hiding beneath their mother's piano, he felt none of those things.
Only shame.
Because while he had been searching for a murderer, the danger had been living inside his house.
Because while he had been building an empire, his daughters had been growing up without their mother.
Because the man who had promised to protect Lucia had failed.
Victor lifted his hands.
"Let's talk."
Alessandro looked at him.
"We have nothing to discuss."
"You want the journal."
"I want the truth."
"You already have it."
"No."
Alessandro raised his weapon.
"I have your version."
Victor smiled.
"Then ask Elena."
Alessandro glanced toward her.
Elena was crying.
He lowered his weapon slightly.
"Tell me."
She looked at the girls.
Then at Alessandro.
"Lucia knew about the money. She knew Victor was stealing from the family. She found the accounts, the payments, and the names of everyone involved."
Alessandro remained silent.
"She asked me to help her. She wanted to take the girls away before Victor discovered what she knew."
"Why didn't she come to me?"
Elena lowered her head.
"She was afraid you would choose the organization."
The words landed heavily.
Alessandro looked at his daughters.
Sofia was holding Isabella.
Both were watching him.
Elena continued.
"She told me she loved you. She believed you could change. But she also knew that if you learned what she had discovered, you would start a war."
Alessandro looked toward the piano.
"Where is the journal?"
Elena pointed.
"Inside."
Victor laughed.
"You really think the truth is going to save you?"
Alessandro did not look at him.
"Marco."
Marco stepped forward.
"Yes?"
"Take Victor."
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Alessandro..."
"Alive."
Two guards approached.
Victor looked toward Marco.
"You know what happens if you betray me."
Marco stopped.
Then he turned toward Alessandro.
For the first time in twenty years, the two men looked at each other without friendship.
Marco removed his pistol.
He placed it on the floor.
"I know."
He approached Victor.
Victor tried to move, but the guards restrained him.
The room became quiet again.
Alessandro holstered his weapon.
Then he knelt beside the piano.
"Girls?"
Two small faces appeared.
He opened his arms.
Isabella ran first.
Sofia followed.
He held them tightly.
"Daddy!"
"I'm here."
"That man scared us."
"I know."
"Elena said not to tell you."
Alessandro looked at Elena.
Then back at his daughters.
"You can always tell me."
Sofia held out Mr. Buttons.
"He's okay."
Alessandro smiled faintly.
"Good."
He looked at the girls.
"Can you do something for Daddy?"
They nodded.
"Can you stay with Margaret for a little while?"
Isabella frowned.
"Are you going to work?"
"No."
He kissed her forehead.
"I'm going to find something Mommy left for us."
The girls looked at each other.
Then Isabella whispered.
"Is it a surprise?"
Alessandro looked toward the piano.
"I think it is."