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I take a deep breath, readying myself. "What did Papa say about me in recent days? About my... disappearance?"
Leo's expression clouds. "He said you were kidnapped." His eyes flick briefly toward Alessio off-screen. "At first it was Raymond who put men out to search for you. When I asked Father why we weren't tearing the world apart looking for you, he just said Raymond was taking care of it."
My heart sinks. Just as I suspected. My own father, uncaring, barely lifting a finger.
"That caused a huge fight between us," Leo continues, anger flashing across his features. "I couldn't believe he was so... calm about it. His own daughter is missing and he's letting Raymond handle it? I've had my own men searching but we haven't found any leads."
"Did you ever wonder why I was running away from my own wedding?"
Leo's eyes stretch slightly. "What?"
"I wasn't kidnapped on my way to the wedding, Leo. I was running away," I inform him.
"Running away? Mel, what the hell is going on?"
"Leo, we don't have time for the full story right now. I need you to do something really important."
His expression shifts from confusion to concern. "What is it?"
"I need you to help me open Papa's safe." My voice sinks. "The one in his office. The one he never opens in front of us."
"Why?" Leo demands, his protective instincts flaring. "What's this about?"
"Raymond and Papa... they're involved in something terrible, Leo." My voice catches. "Really terrible. I left in order to buy myself the time to find evidence."
Leo's face hardens. "What kind of terrible?"
"The kind that would destroy our family name forever if it came out." I lean closer to the screen. "The kind that would make Mom turn in her grave."
His jaw clenches at the mention of our mother. "You're being cryptic, Mel. I need more than that."
"Please, Leo." My eyes fill with tears I don't have to fake. "I'm begging you to trust me. Like when we were kids and I coveredfor you with Papa when you snuck out to meet that girl from the Ricci family."
A muscle twitches in his cheek. "That was different."
"It's not. It was about family then and it's about family now." I press a fingertip to the screen as if I could reach through and touch him. "You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. You know me."
Leo goes quiet, his gaze searching mine through the digital connection. I can see the conflict in his eyes—loyalty to our father battling with his love for me.
"Leo, please," I whisper. "I've never needed your help more than I do right now."
He runs a hand through his hair, a gesture so familiar it makes my chest ache. "This could get me killed, you know that?"
"I know," I say softly. "But it could save countless lives."
His eyes sharpen at that. "What the hell has he gotten into?"
"Trust me," I plead. "Just this once, trust me completely."
Leo leans closer to the camera; "It's not like I have the combination, Mel. He never shared it with me."
"You don't need the combination," I say. "I just need you to give me some details about the safe—manufacturer, model number, any identifying marks. I can hack it from here."
Leo's eyebrows shoot up. "Hack it? Since when do you know how to hack anything?"
I press my lips together, frustration building in my chest. "Leo, asking a lot of questions, nothing's going to get solved anytime soon. Can you do this for me or not?"
He stares at me through the screen, studying my face with the same intensity he's had since we were children. I can see the conflict going on behind his eyes—loyalty to our father warring with his love for me.