Chapter 3 - The Secret in the Vicaro House
Alio didn’t react immediately.
Camille did.
“You see?”
Adeline looked at Alio.
“I never planned to hurt anyone.”
“Then what did you plan?”
“To find something.”
“What?”
“My mother’s letters.”
Alio frowned.
“What letters?”
Adeline sat carefully, protecting her wrist.
“My mother was Evelyn Mercer. She worked here twenty-seven years ago.”
Alio remembered the name.
Not clearly.
But enough.
“She was my mother’s assistant.”
“Yes.”
Adeline’s voice trembled.
“She disappeared from this house after being accused of stealing fifty thousand dollars.”
Alio nodded slowly.
“I heard that story.”
“It wasn’t true.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she spent the rest of her life trying to prove it.”
Camille stood.
“This is ridiculous.”
Alio looked at her.
“Sit.”
She sat again.
Adeline continued.
“My mother said someone inside the Vicaro organization used her name to move money. When she discovered it, she was threatened.”
“By my father?”
“She never knew.”
“Then why blame him?”
“Because he refused to listen.”
Alio looked toward the old portrait of his father.
That sounded possible.
Antonio Vicaro had built an empire through fear and loyalty.
Compassion had never been one of his strengths.
Adeline continued.
“Mom died two years ago.”
Alio’s gaze softened.
“She left me one thing. A key.”
“To what?”
“I don’t know.”
“And you thought the answer was here.”
“Yes.”
Camille laughed.
“So you lied your way into his home.”
“I applied for a cleaning job.”
“You concealed your identity.”
“My name really is Adeline Mercer.”
Alio raised a hand.
Camille stopped.
“Did you enter my father’s office?”
Adeline nodded.
“Once.”
“Did you take anything?”
“No.”
Alio studied her.
“I believe you.”
Camille shot to her feet.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I said sit down.”
“I will not!”
Alio turned toward her.
“Then leave.”
Camille stared at him.
“What?”
“Leave my house.”
“You’re choosing her?”
“This isn’t about choosing anyone.”
“You canceled our party. You interrogated me. Now you’re throwing me out because your maid told you a sad story?”
“No.”
Alio walked toward Camille.
“I’m throwing you out because you knowingly ordered an employee onto damaged equipment and then lied to me about it.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’ll regret humiliating me.”
Alio opened the door.
“Matteo.”
His security chief appeared almost instantly.
“Escort Miss Thorne home.”
Camille ripped the engagement ring from her finger.
She threw it.
It struck Alio’s chest and dropped onto the carpet.
“You’ll come crawling back.”
Alio looked at the ring.
Then at her.
“No.”
Camille left.
Adeline stood.
“I should go too.”
Alio closed the door.
“Not yet.”
She looked nervous.
“Why?”
“Because I want to see that key.”
An hour later, Matteo drove them to Adeline’s small apartment in Queens.
June opened the door before Adeline could knock.
“Mommy!”
The little girl rushed forward.
Adeline knelt awkwardly and hugged her.
“Careful with Mommy’s wrist.”
June stared at the bandage.
“You got hurt.”
“Just a little.”
Then she noticed Alio.
Her eyes widened.
“Who’s he?”
Adeline hesitated.
“My employer.”
June examined his black suit and tattoos.
“You look like a bad guy in a movie.”
Matteo coughed to hide a laugh.
Alio looked down at himself.
“I’ve been told worse.”
June extended her hand.
“I’m June.”
Alio shook it solemnly.
“Alio.”
“Do you have children?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“June,” Adeline warned.
“What? I’m asking.”
Alio almost smiled.
“I haven’t gotten around to it.”
June nodded thoughtfully.
“You’re pretty old.”
Matteo turned toward the hallway.
Alio stared after him.
“You enjoying yourself?”
“Immensely, boss.”
Adeline retrieved a small brass key from a jewelry box.
Alio studied it.
A number was engraved into the metal.
317.
Matteo’s smile vanished.
“What?” Adeline asked.
Alio and Matteo exchanged a look.
Alio said quietly, “My father had private deposit boxes beneath Vicaro First Bank.”
Adeline’s heart began pounding.
“What numbers?”
Alio held up the key.
May you like
“Three hundred through three hundred twenty.”
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