The Dog’s Secret

Part 2 — The Secret Inside Argo

The veterinarian arrived twelve minutes later.

By then, Argo had allowed Ivy to dry his fur with a towel while Dante stood nearby, watching as if he were witnessing something impossible.

Dr. Bennett carefully examined the dog’s neck.

“Mr. Castellani, there’s something embedded beneath the skin. It looks like a miniature tracking device, but the casing is unusual.”

Dante’s expression darkened.

“Remove it.”

The veterinarian worked carefully for several minutes before extracting a tiny metal capsule.

The moment he saw its markings, Dante’s face turned pale.

“Where did you get that?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he ordered everyone out except his security chief, Marco.

I pulled Ivy closer.

“Sir, I want to know what’s happening. You mentioned my husband. You said his death wasn’t an accident.”

Dante looked at me.

“Two years ago, Daniel worked as an accountant for one of my shipping companies. He discovered that someone was using my business to move weapons without my authorization.”

My stomach tightened.

“Daniel told me he was going to report something. Three days later, he died in that warehouse fire.”

Dante lowered his eyes.

“I know.”

“How?”

“Because I was the one who ordered him to investigate.”

I stared at him.

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“You knew my husband?”

“He was a good man. Honest. Too honest for the people he was dealing with.”

My eyes filled with tears.

“Then why didn’t you protect him?”

Dante didn’t defend himself.

He simply said, “Because I trusted the wrong person.”

Marco entered carrying a laptop.

“We recovered the capsule’s data, boss. There’s a video file.”

Dante opened it.

The screen showed a warehouse at night. A familiar voice emerged from the recording.

Daniel.

My knees nearly gave way.

“Elise, if you’re watching this, something has happened to me. I need you to know that I didn’t abandon you or Ivy.”

I covered my mouth.

Daniel continued.

“The people responsible are inside Castellani’s organization. I discovered that someone close to Dante has been selling shipment information and arranging illegal deliveries. I hid the evidence where nobody would think to look.”

The video shifted.

Daniel was standing beside a younger Argo, gently attaching the capsule beneath his collar.

“Argo knows the scent of the man who betrayed us. If anything happens to me, Dante will understand.”

Then Daniel looked directly into the camera.

“Elise, take care of our little girl. And please, don’t trust anyone until you know the truth.”

The video ended.

I began crying.

For two years, I had believed my husband had died without knowing how much he loved us.

Now I knew he had thought about us until his final days.

Dante closed the laptop.

“Marco, nobody leaves this estate. Find out who had access to Argo fourteen months ago.”

Marco hesitated.

“Boss, there’s something else. The tracking device was activated yesterday.”

Dante looked up.

“Yesterday?”

“Someone has been monitoring the dog.”

A terrible silence filled the room.

Then Ivy tugged at Dante’s sleeve.

“Mr. Dante?”

He looked down.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Can Argo sleep inside tonight? It’s cold outside.”

Dante glanced at the enormous German Shepherd lying beside her.

For the first time, his expression softened.

“Of course.”

Ivy smiled.

“Thank you. He’s a good boy.”

Dante almost smiled.

Then his phone rang.

The caller’s name appeared on the screen.

Victor Castellani — His Older Brother.

Dante answered.

“What?”

Victor’s voice came through calmly.

“I heard about the little girl and the dog. You should send them away immediately.”

Dante’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

A pause.

Then Victor said something that made the room go silent.

“Because Daniel Novak should have taken that secret to his grave.”

Dante slowly ended the call.

He looked at Marco.

“Lock down the entire estate.”

Then he turned toward me.

“Elise, your daughter and you are in danger.”

I held Ivy tightly.

“Who is Victor?”

Dante’s answer chilled me.

“My brother. And the last person Daniel saw before he disappeared.”