Andrew Starts Connecting the Dots and Uncovers Matteo’s Real Plan
Andrew hadn’t slept.
He sat in his home office, the only light coming from the screen of his laptop. His mind was a whirlwind of doubt, anger, and confusion. He had spent the last few hours combing through everything he knew about Sophia, every conversation, every inconsistency. But now, the pieces of the puzzle were finally clicking into place.
Sophia was hiding something—he had known that much for weeks. But it wasn’t just about her past. It was about Matteo Russo.
About the way Dante had suddenly appeared in New York, circling their lives like a shark.
About the veiled warnings from his mother, the hints she had dropped about Sophia’s family.
And now, the way Sophia had looked at her phone earlier, right before shutting down. The fear in her eyes.
Something was happening. And he was going to find out what.
The First Clue
At dawn, Andrew made a call to Richard.
“I need everything you can get me on Matteo Russo’s operations,” he said, skipping the pleasantries.
Richard groaned on the other end. “Andrew, it’s six in the morning.”
“I don’t care.”
There was a pause. Then Richard sighed. “Alright. I’ll send what I have.”
Minutes later, a secure email hit Andrew’s inbox. He opened it, scanning through the documents Richard had compiled.
And what he saw made his stomach churn.
Matteo Russo wasn’t just a businessman with questionable dealings—he was a criminal empire architect. His business, Il Vero Lusso, was a carefully built front for money laundering, illegal trade networks, and worse.
But what caught Andrew’s eye was one document in particular.
A recent expansion plan.
Matteo wasn’t just running his operations in Italy anymore.
He was moving into New York.
And the timeline for his expansion?
Six months ago—the exact time Sophia entered his life.
Andrew leaned back in his chair, breathing heavily.
Matteo hadn’t just sent Sophia here for a fresh start.
He had sent her to him.
The Confrontation
By the time Sophia woke up, Andrew was waiting for her in the kitchen. His coffee sat untouched on the table, his hands clenched into fists.
She hesitated at the doorway, immediately sensing the tension in the air. “Andrew?”
He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. “Why didn’t you tell me your father was trying to take over New York?”
Sophia froze. “What?”
Andrew held up the document Richard had sent him. “Il Vero Lusso’s expansion into New York. Six months ago. The same time you showed up in my life.”
Sophia’s throat tightened. “It’s not what you think.”
“Then explain it to me,” Andrew said sharply. “Because right now, it looks like your father sent you here as part of his plan to infiltrate my family.”
Sophia flinched at his words. “Andrew, I love you. This—this was never about you.”
Andrew’s eyes burned with betrayal. “Then what was it about, Sophia? Because I’m looking at evidence that says otherwise.”
Sophia’s chest ached. She wanted to tell him the truth. That Matteo had forced her into this. That she had spent every moment trying to keep Andrew safe.
But the words refused to come.
“I didn’t want to hurt you,” she whispered.
Andrew’s jaw tightened. “But you did.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with tension.
Finally, Andrew exhaled sharply. “I need time to think.”
Sophia’s heart pounded. “Please, Andrew, you have to trust me.”
He shook his head, stepping back. “I don’t know if I can anymore.”
Then he turned and walked out the door.
And for the first time, Sophia felt the walls around her life beginning to crumble.
The Final Connection
Andrew didn’t go far. He drove aimlessly through the city, his thoughts racing. He needed more than just suspicions—he needed proof of what was really happening.
And he knew exactly where to get it.
An hour later, he sat across from an old friend in a private back room of an upscale club.
Detective Ian Carter, one of his longest and most trusted contacts.
“You look like hell,” Ian remarked, sipping his coffee.
Andrew exhaled. “I need information. On Matteo Russo.”
Ian’s expression darkened. “That’s a dangerous request, Andrew.”
“I don’t care.”
Ian studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. What do you need?”
Andrew leaned forward, his voice low. “I need to know what he’s planning. And I need to know where he’s weakest.”
Ian frowned. “You planning to take him down?”
Andrew’s gaze was cold. “I just need to protect my family.”
Ian sighed. “Alright. Give me a few days.”
Andrew shook his head. “I don’t have a few days.”
Ian hesitated, then finally nodded. “Fine. I’ll see what I can find.”
As Andrew walked out of the club, he felt the weight of the truth settling on his shoulders.
This wasn’t just about Sophia anymore.
This was about war.
And he had just stepped onto the battlefield.