They drove to the small town of Millbrook, a quiet place surrounded by forests and lakes. Enzo had tracked Marco to a garage on the edge of town. As they pulled up, a man with graying hair and tired eyes was working on a car. He looked up, and his eyes widened when he saw Clara.
"Clara," he whispered. "My baby girl."
Tears filled Clara's eyes as she walked toward him. "Dad," she said, throwing her arms around him. "I thought you were dead."
They sat in the garage's small office, drinking coffee and talking. Marco told them everything—how Salvatore had framed him for murder, how he'd escaped and gone into hiding to protect his family, how he'd spent years gathering evidence against Salvatore and his allies.
"I wanted to come back," he said, looking at Clara. "But I was afraid—afraid of what Salvatore would do to you and your mother. When I heard he was gone… and that you were leading the families… I couldn't believe it."
"You would be proud of her," Alessandro said. "She's changed everything—built something better than anyone thought possible."
Marco smiled, putting his hand on Clara's. "I always knew you had it in you. But there's something else you need to know. Salvatore wasn't working alone—there's a group of people behind him, powerful people who control crime across the country. They call themselves the Council."
Clara's blood ran cold. "The Council? Why haven't we heard of them?"
"Because they operate in the shadows," Marco said. "They pull the strings, let others do the dirty work. When they heard what you were doing here, they sent someone to stop you."
"The letter," Isabella said. "It was from them."
Marco nodded. "They'll be coming for you, Clara. But you're not alone. I have contacts—people who want to take down the Council as much as we do. Together, we can end this once and for all."