She had been Carlo's younger sister.
Unlike her brother, Elena had never been involved in the family's criminal activities. She had worked as a nurse and lived quietly outside Westbridge.
The investigator found an address.
Adrian wanted to visit her immediately.
Salvatore warned him not to go alone.
They arrived at a small house near the coast.
Elena opened the door.
She was in her late sixties, with silver hair and gentle eyes.
When she saw the photograph in Adrian's hand, her expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"It belonged to my father."
Elena stepped back.
"Come inside."
She made tea and sat opposite Adrian.
"Daniel helped me once," she said. "My brother had become dangerous. I was trying to leave the family, and Carlo threatened me."
Adrian listened carefully.
"Why did my father help you?"
"Because he believed I deserved a life of my own."
Elena touched the photograph.
"Daniel helped me disappear. He gave me money, found me a place to stay, and never asked for anything in return."
Adrian felt a strange mixture of sadness and pride.
"Did you know what happened to him?"
Elena looked down.
"I heard rumors. I was afraid to ask."
"Do you know anything about the warehouse?"
Elena nodded slowly.
"Carlo told me that Daniel had something he wanted. He said the young man was stubborn."
Adrian's voice became quiet.
"What happened to him?"
Elena looked toward the window.
"I don't know. But I remember Carlo saying that Daniel had been taken somewhere."
Chapter 32: A Hidden Recording
Before Adrian left, Elena handed him a small cassette.
"Your father gave me this. He said to keep it safe."
Adrian stared at it.
"Why didn't you give it to Salvatore?"
"I didn't trust anyone connected to the Moretti family. I was afraid Carlo would find me."
The cassette was labeled with a date.
Adrian took it to the café and found an old tape player in the storage room.
He pressed play.
Daniel's voice filled the room.
"If you're hearing this, something has gone wrong."
Adrian closed his eyes.
His father's voice sounded exactly as he remembered it.
Daniel explained that he had uncovered evidence of a financial scheme involving Carlo and several associates. He believed Salvatore was unaware of the full extent of the operation.
Then Daniel mentioned a second concern.
He had discovered that someone inside the organization was providing Carlo with information.
The recording ended with a name.
"Marco."
Adrian sat motionless.
He listened again.
The name was unmistakable.
Chapter 33: The Betrayal
Adrian returned to the mansion.
Salvatore and Marco were in the study.
He placed the cassette on the desk.
"I heard Dad's recording."
Salvatore looked at him.
"What did he say?"
Adrian pressed play.
When Daniel's voice named Marco, the old adviser closed his eyes.
Salvatore turned toward him.
"Explain."
Marco's hands trembled.
"I was not working for Carlo."
"Then why did Daniel name you?"
Marco looked at Adrian.
"Because I gave Carlo information."
Adrian stepped forward.
"What information?"
"Meeting times. Locations. I believed Carlo was trying to prevent a conflict within the organization. I did not know he intended to harm Daniel."
Salvatore's expression was cold.
"You gave him the location of the warehouse."
Marco nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian felt his anger rise.
"You knew my father was going there."
"Yes."
"And you told Carlo."
Marco lowered his head.
"I thought I was preventing a greater disaster."
Adrian's voice shook.
"You betrayed him."
Marco did not deny it.
Salvatore stood.
"Why?"
Marco looked at him.
"Because I believed you were losing control. Carlo promised that he would protect the family if you stepped aside."
Salvatore stared at him.
"You traded Daniel's life for a promise?"
Marco's eyes filled with tears.
"I never wanted him to die."
Adrian turned away.
He could not bear to hear another explanation.
Chapter 34: The Don's Choice
Salvatore ordered Marco to leave the mansion.
He did not threaten him.
He did not raise his voice.
He simply said:
"You are no longer part of this family."
Marco stood slowly.
"I understand."
Salvatore looked at him.
"No. You understand that you have lost your position. You do not understand what you took from Daniel's family."
Marco lowered his head.
Then he walked out.
Adrian remained by the window.
Salvatore approached him.
"I should have seen it."
Adrian shook his head.
"You trusted him."
"I trusted the wrong man."
Adrian looked at him.
"And Dad paid for it."
Salvatore nodded.
"Yes."
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian asked, "What happens now?"
Salvatore looked toward the city.
"Now we find Carlo."
Chapter 35: The Message from Carlo
That evening, Salvatore received a message.
It contained a photograph of Daniel's old notebook.
Beneath it was a short sentence:
Some truths are better left buried.
Salvatore read it twice.
Then he handed the phone to Adrian.
Adrian looked at the photograph.
Carlo had the notebook.
The evidence they had spent years searching for was now in the hands of the man who had tried to destroy it.
Adrian looked up.
"He's afraid."
Salvatore nodded.
"Yes."
"Then we keep going."
Salvatore studied him.
"Adrian, this could become dangerous."
Adrian looked at Daniel's photograph on his phone.
"My father already paid the price for the truth. I'm not going to let his story end with a threat."
Salvatore said nothing.
He knew Adrian was not seeking revenge.
He was seeking answers.
And for the first time in many years, Salvatore Moretti understood that the future of his family would be decided not by the men who commanded fear, but by the people who refused to surrender their conscience.