Chapter 3 - The Enemy Inside My Own House
The photograph shook slightly in my hand.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I was trying to stop myself from destroying everything around me.
The picture showed my home.
My bedroom hallway.
The place where my son had taken his first steps.
The place where my wife had once waited for me after long nights away.
The place I believed was untouchable.
But someone had been inside.
Someone had taken that photograph minutes ago.
And the person standing in the image was not a stranger.
It was my brother.
Antonio Costa.
I stared at the screen.
Every memory I had of him fought against what I was seeing.
Antonio teaching Leo how to throw a baseball.
Antonio sitting beside my hospital bed after I was shot years ago.
Antonio telling me, "Family is the only thing that matters."
The same man was now standing outside my bedroom door.
Inside my house.
While my son was fighting for his life.
"Boss?"
One of my men spoke carefully.
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
Because if Antonio was behind this...
Then the person I trusted most had been the person standing closest to the knife.
Damian Costa was not a man who trusted easily.
I had learned that lesson young.
People lied.
People betrayed.
People smiled while planning your downfall.
But family was supposed to be different.
At least, that's what I wanted to believe.
I handed the phone to Marco.
"Where was this taken?"
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
"Tonight."
"I know that."
"No."
He looked at me.
"I mean tonight. Right now."
A cold feeling moved through my chest.
"What are you saying?"
Marco pointed at the photograph.
"Look at the reflection."
I looked closer.
At first, I saw nothing.
Then I noticed it.
A small reflection in the glass frame hanging on the hallway wall.
A clock.
The time displayed was 3:19 a.m.
Only a few minutes ago.
Someone was still there.
Inside my house.
With my family.
I turned toward my men.
"Call the house."
One of them immediately pulled out his phone.
The call connected.
Nobody answered.
Again.
Nothing.
My anger became something darker.
"Send everyone."
My men moved instantly.
But Elena suddenly grabbed my arm.
The entire room froze.
Nobody touched me.
Nobody.
Not even people who worked for me.
But she did.
And somehow, I didn't stop her.
"Don't go."
I looked down at her hand.
Then at her face.
"Excuse me?"
"If you go there angry, you'll lose."
My eyes narrowed.
"You think you know how this works?"
"No."
Her voice was quiet.
"But I know what desperate people do when they are cornered."
She looked at the photograph.
"Whoever did this wanted you to run home."
I said nothing.
"That's what they want."
Marco nodded slowly.
"She's right."
I looked at him.
"You're agreeing with her?"
"Because I know them."
The word bothered me.
Them.
Not him.
Them.
"Who are they?"
Marco looked away.
"People who have been waiting for you to become emotional."
I stepped closer.
"Start explaining."
He sighed.
"Your empire has enemies, Damian. But your biggest weakness has never been your enemies."
He looked at Leo.
"It's always been the people you love."
The words cut deeper than any weapon.
Because I knew he was right.
My entire life, I had built walls around myself.
Security.
Guards.
Weapons.
Rules.
But I never protected myself from betrayal.
Especially from family.
The doctor entered the room suddenly.
Everyone turned.
"Mr. Costa?"
I moved toward him.
"How is my son?"
The doctor hesitated.
That hesitation scared me.
"His condition is stable."
I waited.
"But?"
"He keeps waking up and asking for Elena."
I looked toward her.
She lowered her eyes.
The doctor continued.
"He seems calmer when she is nearby."
Something inside me shifted.
A stranger had been closer to my son in one night than I had been in months.
Because I had spent years protecting him from the world.
But Elena had protected him from me.
From my absence.
From the consequences of my life.
I walked toward the bed.
Leo's eyes opened slightly.
"Dad?"
"I'm here."
His small hand reached out.
I held it immediately.
"Did they hurt you?"
He shook his head weakly.
"No."
"Then what happened?"
He looked at Elena.
She nodded gently.
"It's okay."
Leo swallowed.
"There was a man."
My body became still.
"What man?"
"He came to my room."
The heart monitor beeped faster.
"What did he look like?"
Leo closed his eyes, trying to remember.
"He had Uncle Antonio's watch."
The room went silent.
Not because we didn't understand.
Because we understood too well.
Antonio.
My own brother.
Leo continued.
"He told the other man..."
His voice became smaller.
"He said..."
I leaned closer.
"What did he say?"
Leo opened his eyes.
"He said, 'After tonight, Damian won't have anyone left.'"
The words stayed in the room.
Nobody breathed.
Nobody moved.
Then Elena suddenly looked toward the window.
Her face changed.
"What?"
I followed her gaze.
"What did you see?"
She slowly stood.
"Nothing."
I didn't believe her.
"What is it?"
She walked closer to the glass.
Then whispered:
"We need to leave."
My men immediately moved.
"Why?"
She pointed outside.
A black vehicle was parked across the street.
The engine was running.
Lights off.
Waiting.
Marco looked at it.
And his face turned pale.
"That's impossible."
I stared at him.
"What?"
He didn't answer.
He was looking at the vehicle like he had seen something impossible.
Then the back door opened.
A man stepped out.
Even from a distance, I recognized him.
Because I had buried him myself.
Marco whispered one name.
"Luciano."
My blood froze.
Because Luciano Costa was not supposed to be alive.
The hospital lights suddenly flickered.
And Elena's phone began ringing.
She looked at the screen.
Then all the color disappeared from her face.
Because the caller ID showed a name I had never seen before.
But Elena recognized it immediately.
She answered.
May you like
And the first words she heard made her drop the phone...
"I know what really happened to your husband."
