He Lay Still, Pretending to Be Unconscious—Then the Maid Whispered Something That Changed Everything

Twenty minutes later, the grand library of the Costa estate was bathed in the warm light of a roaring fireplace.

Camila and Lorenzo stood near the center of the room, surrounded by six heavy-set guards with drawn weapons. Camila was pale, her silver evening dress rumpled, while Lorenzo sweated profusely through his silk shirt.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Camila demanded, glaring at Matteo. "Why are the gates locked? Who authorized this?!"

"I did."

The deep, resonant voice echoed from the shadows behind the mahogany desk.

Camila froze. Lorenzo gasped, taking an involuntary step back.

Vincent stepped out from the shadows, wearing a tailored black suit, holding a glass of scotch. Though his face was somewhat pale, his posture was imposing, his eyes burning with lethal clarity.

"Vincent..." Camila stammered, her face losing every drop of color. "You're... you're awake? It's a miracle!"

She took a step forward, putting on a tearful smile, but two guards immediately stepped into her path, crossing their rifles.

"Save it, Camila," Vincent said softly, taking a slow sip of his drink. "I heard everything you said in my room three nights ago. About the docks. About the Romanos. About how I was just a machine pumping air."

Camila’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Lorenzo fell to his knees, his hands raised in desperate supplication. "Vincent! Please! It was her idea! She threatened to tell the Romanos I was weak if I didn't go along with it!"

"You were my underboss, Lorenzo," Vincent said, walking around the desk. "You were supposed to guard my back, not haggle over my corpse."