Chapter 5 - The Villa of Secrets
By sunrise, the interceptor boat had rendezvoused with a private yacht off the coast of France, where a helicopter was waiting to fly them directly to the outskirts of Rome.
By noon, Evelyn found herself inside the Villa Vitelli—a sprawling, ancient stone estate nestled among the rolling hills of Tuscany, surrounded by olive groves and secured by thirty armed guards.
Unlike the cold manor in Ireland, the villa was breathtaking. Sunlight poured through vaulted archways, shedding light on Renaissance paintings, marble statues, and lush courtyard gardens. Yet to Evelyn, it was simply a larger, sunlit cage.
Antonio had provided her with a private suite, a wardrobe of elegant Italian clothes, and a medical team to tend to her feet. But she was forbidden from leaving the estate grounds, and her personal phone had been confiscated for security reasons.
"Miss Foster?"
Evelyn turned around from the terrace rail to see a older woman approaching. She had silver hair pulled back into an elegant bun and wore a tailored navy dress. Her eyes were sharp, analytical, and cold.
"I am Sofia Vitelli," the woman said, her voice smooth as velvet. "Antonio’s mother."
Evelyn stood up straight, feeling vulnerable despite the expensive silk blouse she was wearing. "Mrs. Vitelli."
Sofia walked over, her eyes assessing Evelyn from head to toe. "So you are the airline girl who saved my son."
"I was doing my job as a flight attendant," Evelyn replied evenly.
"A flight attendant who managed to spot a tampered syringe that my son's expensive security team missed," Sofia said, stepping closer. "Tell me, Miss Foster... why did you really look so closely at Antonio's coffee and medical kit? Was it professional duty? Or did you know who he was before you boarded that plane?"
Evelyn felt a flash of anger. "I had no idea who your son was. I saw a man choking to death while his bodyguards stood around like statues. I did my job because I value human life. Something your family doesn't seem to care much about."
Sofia’s eyes narrowed, but instead of anger, a slow, calculated smile touched her lips. "Insolent. Courageous. No wonder Antonio keeps you near his side."
"He keeps me here because his brother or uncle is trying to kill us both!" Evelyn snapped.
"My brother-in-law, Leo, is a rabid dog," Sofia said coldly. "He thinks he can take control of our shipping empire. But what Antonio hasn't told you, Miss Foster, is that Leo isn't working alone. He has a mole inside this very villa. Someone close to my son."
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Evelyn frowned, stepping back. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because Antonio trusts you," Sofia whispered, reaching out to touch Evelyn’s chin with a gloved hand. "He thinks you are pure. An innocent outsider. Which means people will drop their guard around you. Find out who the traitor is, Dr. Foster... before my son takes his next breath."
