Chapter 2 – The Brother Who Died for the Wrong Truth
Enzo did not sleep.
Long after Harper retreated to the east wing guest bedroom—still insisting she did not deserve the master suite—he remained alone in his office with Nathan's case file spread across the desk.
For two years he had believed he understood his brother's murder.
Nathan had gone to collect money from Preston Whitcomb.
Nathan had been ambushed.
Three hired gunmen had confessed.
The money trail led to Whitcomb accounts.
The revenge had seemed simple.
Too simple.
Now Enzo looked at everything differently.
If Preston Whitcomb had spent nearly twenty years hiding the torture of his own daughter...
What else had he hidden?
At six-thirty the next morning, Luca Romano entered carrying fresh coffee.
"You've been here all night."
Enzo didn't answer.
Instead, he pushed Nathan's file across the desk.
"I want every interview reopened."
Luca frowned.
"Boss, the killers are dead."
"I know."
"The case is finished."
"No."
Enzo tapped a photograph of his younger brother.
"It was finished too quickly."
Luca studied him.
"This is because of Mrs. DeLuca?"
Enzo looked toward the office window.
Beyond the gardens, Harper walked slowly through the snow-covered greenhouse with Maria, unaware she was being watched.
"No," Enzo said quietly.
"This is because I suddenly realized my enemy has spent his whole life destroying weaker people."
"And men like that rarely commit only one crime."
Meanwhile...
Harper stood among the winter roses inside the heated greenhouse.
She had forgotten flowers could smell like anything except expensive centerpieces.
Maria handed her a pair of gardening gloves.
"Mr. DeLuca's mother loved this place."
Harper carefully touched a white rose.
"It's beautiful."
"It used to make him smile."
"And now?"
Maria sighed.
"Nothing has made him smile since Nathan died."
Harper lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Maria gently stopped her.
"There."
"You apologized again."
Harper blinked.
"I didn't realize."
"You apologize every few minutes."
Harper tried to answer.
She couldn't.
Because Maria was right.
She apologized for breathing.
For speaking.
For existing.
It had become as natural as blinking.
Breakfast was interrupted by a phone call.
Luca entered the dining room.
"Boss."
"It's Whitcomb."
Enzo stood immediately.
"Put him through."
Preston Whitcomb's face appeared on the large video screen.
He looked older than he had at the wedding.
His expensive suit hung loosely from his shoulders.
His eyes darted nervously.
"I want to speak to Harper."
"No."
"You have no right to keep my daughter from me."
Enzo almost laughed.
"You sold her."
Preston's face hardened.
"I made a difficult business decision."
Harper quietly stood from her chair.
"I'll leave."
Enzo looked at her.
"You'll stay."
She froze.
No one had ever told Preston Whitcomb "no" while Harper stood nearby.
Preston noticed.
His expression darkened.
"Harper."
She looked toward the screen automatically.
"You embarrassed your husband already?"
Her hands immediately folded together.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I..."
She searched desperately.
"I don't know."
Preston smiled.
Cold.
Cruel.
"There she is."
"My obedient girl."
Enzo's entire body went still.
He had heard enough.
"Call me again," Enzo said.
"And I'll destroy what's left of your company before lunch."
He ended the call.
The room fell silent.
Harper stared at the blank screen.
Her face had become almost colorless.
"Sit down," Enzo said.
"I've ruined breakfast."
"You didn't."
"I should have spoken better."
"You did nothing wrong."
Her eyes slowly lifted toward him.
The confusion in them was heartbreaking.
She genuinely did not understand what "doing nothing wrong" felt like.
That afternoon, Enzo visited the old church where Nathan was buried.
He came alone.
Snow covered the cemetery.
Nathan's headstone stood beneath a bare oak tree.
Enzo brushed away the fresh snow.
"I married her."
His voice echoed quietly.
"I thought I was hurting him."
"I think..."
He swallowed.
"I think I've been hurting the wrong person."
A second voice answered from behind him.
"You finally noticed."
Enzo turned sharply.
Father Michael stood several feet away.
The priest had buried Nathan.
He had known the DeLuca family for decades.
"What do you mean?"
The old priest looked toward the grave.
"Your brother visited me three days before he died."
Enzo frowned.
"He never mentioned it."
"He asked me a question."
"What question?"
Father Michael looked directly into Enzo's eyes.
"'Can someone spend their whole life pretending to be a good father?'"
Enzo's heartbeat quickened.
"Nathan was investigating Preston?"
"I believe so."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You never asked."
The answer struck like a hammer.
For two years...
Enzo had been so consumed by revenge...
He had never wondered what Nathan had actually discovered before he died.
Back at the mansion...
Harper unpacked the few belongings her father had allowed her to bring.
There wasn't much.
Three dresses.
Several books.
One old stuffed rabbit hidden beneath folded sweaters.
She quickly pushed it back into the suitcase when someone knocked.
"It-it's open."
Enzo entered.
His eyes immediately noticed the rabbit.
Harper looked embarrassed.
"I'm sorry."
He ignored the apology.
"Who gave it to you?"
She hesitated.
"My mother."
"When?"
"Before she died."
She picked it up carefully.
"It was the only thing my stepmother couldn't convince Father to throw away."
Enzo noticed something sewn inside one torn ear.
Initials.
E.W.
"Your mother's name?"
"Evelyn Whitcomb."
Enzo froze.
"Nathan mentioned Evelyn once."
Harper looked surprised.
"He knew my mother?"
"I don't know."
"He never explained."
A strange feeling settled over the room.
Two strangers.
Connected by two dead people.
Neither of them understanding how.
Late that night...
Luca burst into Enzo's office.
"We found something."
He placed a dusty storage box on the desk.
"It came from Nathan's apartment."
"It was hidden behind a false wall."
Enzo slowly opened it.
Inside were dozens of photographs.
Financial records.
Audio recordings.
Medical reports.
And one thick folder labeled in Nathan's handwriting.
PROJECT ANGEL
Enzo frowned.
"What the hell is this?"
Luca opened the folder.
The first page contained a single sentence.
Harper Whitcomb is not the enemy. She's the witness.
Enzo stopped breathing.
He turned the page.
There was a recent photograph of Harper.
Not dressed for charity events.
Not smiling beside her father.
She was standing alone outside a women's shelter.
Nathan's handwritten note underneath read:
She has been trying to escape for years.
Enzo looked up slowly.
His brother...
Had known the truth before he died.
And whatever Nathan had discovered...
Had gotten him killed.
The revenge Enzo had spent two years pursuing...
Was only the beginning.
May you like
The real war...
Had just started.
