CHAPTER 3: THE TRUTH HIDDEN IN THE FIRE
Two nights later, Lily couldn't sleep.
Her asthma was acting up again.
While wandering the mansion halls, she noticed something strange.
A light beneath a locked office door.
Voices.
Angry voices.
Curious, she moved closer.
Vincent Russo stood inside speaking on the phone.
"I don't care how much it costs."
Silence.
Then:
"The little girl wasn't supposed to be there."
Lily froze.
Her tiny body went still.
Vincent continued.
"Lucas should have died that night."
The words slammed into her like ice water.
For a moment she didn't fully understand.
Then she did.
He wanted Mister Lucas dead.
The floor creaked beneath her foot.
Vincent turned instantly.
The office door flew open.
Lily ran.
Fast as her small legs could carry her.
Behind her, Vincent's footsteps thundered down the hallway.
Fear exploded inside her chest.
Her lungs tightened.
Breathing became harder.
The asthma attack returned.
She stumbled.
Collapsed.
And just before Vincent reached her—
A voice echoed through the hallway.
"Vincent."
Both froze.
Lucas stood at the far end.
Watching.
Silent.
Dangerous.
Vincent immediately stepped back.
"I heard a noise," he lied.
Lucas didn't answer.
Instead, he looked down at Lily.
Terror filled her eyes.
Then she whispered something that changed everything.
"He said you were supposed to die."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lucas slowly lifted his gaze toward Vincent.
Years of friendship stood between them.
Twenty years.
Trust.
Loyalty.
Brotherhood.
Yet suddenly every memory felt poisoned.
That same night, Lucas ordered a private investigation.
Within forty-eight hours the truth emerged.
Bank transfers.
Hidden accounts.
Bribed mechanics.
Corrupt investigators.
And one horrifying discovery.
The accident that killed Isabella and Daniel wasn't an accident.
It was murder.
Planned by Vincent Russo.
Executed because Lucas wanted to leave the empire.
Vincent had killed Lucas's wife.
Killed his son.
And spent three years pretending to mourn beside him.