Chapter 18 - THE CONFESSION
Victor confronted the oldest surviving member of his father's inner circle.
Antonio Romano.
His uncle.
The man who had controlled the organization before Victor.
Antonio was eighty-two.
He sat in a private room overlooking the city.
Victor placed the documents on the table.
“Did you know?”
Antonio stared at the papers.
Then he sighed.
“Yes.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“Did you know Richard Hart was innocent?”
“Yes.”
Victor stood.
“You let him die.”
Antonio looked at him.
“I let a war end.”
“There was no war.”
“There would have been.”
Victor's voice became colder.
“You sacrificed an innocent man to protect the organization.”
Antonio nodded.
“Yes.”
Lena stood in the doorway.
Antonio looked at her.
“I am sorry.”
Lena stepped forward.
“My father died believing everyone thought he was a criminal.”
Antonio lowered his eyes.
“He wasn't.”
“I know.”
She placed Richard's notebook on the table.
“He knew you were afraid.”
Antonio looked at her.
“He wrote that people who protect lies eventually become prisoners of them.”
Antonio's face collapsed.
Victor looked at his uncle.
“Your confession will go to the authorities.”
Antonio nodded.
“I expected that.”
Lena walked away.
She didn't feel victorious.
She felt tired.
Her father had finally been vindicated.
May you like
But the truth had arrived four years too late.
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