Chapter 5 - SECRETS WRITTEN IN RED
The interior of the SUV was dark and smelled of leather and gunpowder.
The mysterious woman adjusted her rearview mirror, looking at Victor and the child.
Victor pulled his secondary pistol and pointed it straight at the back of her head.
"Who are you and why are you following us?" Victor demanded coldly.
The woman sighed, taking off her dark sunglasses to reveal striking green eyes.
"Put the gun away, Victor. I'm Inspector Vance, Interpol," she replied calmly.
"Elena was my undercover operative before Salvatore ordered her executed."
Victor lowered his weapon slightly, but his guard remained fully up.
"Elena was working for Interpol?" Victor asked, his voice full of disbelief.
"She was trying to build a case to destroy Salvatore's entire syndicate," Vance explained.
"When she realized Salvatore discovered her identity, she went into hiding."
"She knew she wouldn't survive, so she hid the evidence with the only person she trusted."
Vance glanced back at Lily, who was fast asleep in Victor’s arms, exhausted.
"She trusted a cold-blooded killer?" Victor asked bitterly.
"She trusted the man who sacrificed everything to keep her safe seven years ago," Vance said.
"She knew you would die before letting anyone harm her daughter."
Victor looked down at the sleeping child in his arms.
Her small hand was still holding the folded piece of paper tightly.
Slowly, Victor used his fingers to gently pry the paper from her grip.
He carefully unfolded the paper under the dim reading light of the car.
On the front was the simple, bright red crayon heart drawn by a child's hand.
He turned the paper over to examine the back side.
Under the faint interior light, subtle, micro-fine lines became visible across the fiber.
It wasn't just a drawing; it was a complex micro-map of a secret vault in Switzerland.
A vault containing bank accounts, names of corrupt politicians, and hit lists.
"Salvatore will mobilize every hitman in the state to get this paper back," Vance said.
"You have nowhere to hide, Victor."
Victor gently refolded the paper and tucked it safely into his vest pocket.
"We don't need to hide," Victor said, his eyes glowing with dangerous resolve.
"Tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, I have a school play to attend."
Vance stared at him through the mirror as if he had completely lost his mind.
"Are you insane? You're going to a kindergarten school play while hunted by the mafia?"
Victor looked at Lily's peaceful face as she breathed softly against his chest.
May you like
"I gave her my word," Victor answered coldly.
"And I never break a contract."
