Chapter 4 - The Trap
For the next four days, Massimo became weaker.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
He dropped glasses.
Struggled transferring from his wheelchair.
Slept through meetings.
Complained that his hands were beginning to feel numb.
Dr. Hale seemed almost relieved.
“This can happen with severe neurological injuries.”
Massimo watched him prepare the evening medication.
“More pills?”
“They’ll help.”
Massimo took them.
Or appeared to.
Each tablet disappeared beneath his tongue and later went into a sealed evidence bag.
Meanwhile, Dr. Reeves entered the mansion through the service entrance every night.
Rehabilitation began at two in the morning.
The first night, Massimo managed to contract his thigh.
The second, he lifted his heel.
On the fourth night, Reeves and Carla helped him stand between parallel bars.
His entire body shook.
“Easy,” Reeves said.
Massimo gripped the bars.
“I am standing.”
“For four seconds.”
“Then make it five.”
His knees buckled.
Carla caught his shoulder.
Massimo cursed.
“Again.”
“You need rest.”
“Again.”
Carla stepped in front of him.
“No.”
Massimo looked up sharply.
Very few people spoke to him that way.
Carla did not move.
“You can frighten everyone else in this house. Not me.”
Reeves tried to hide a smile.
Carla continued.
“You’ve spent six months treating your body like it betrayed you. It didn’t. Someone betrayed you.”
Massimo stared at her.
“Rest for ten minutes,” she said.
“Five.”
“Ten.”
“Seven.”
Carla smiled.
“Deal.”
From the corner came a tiny clap.
Nina sat in her pajamas on a chair.
“You woke up!”
Massimo laughed quietly.
“Partly.”
Nina ran over.
“Walk.”
“I’m working on it.”
“You can do it.”
Massimo looked at Reeves.
“Apparently my medical team has spoken.”
The happiness lasted until Marco entered.
His face told Massimo something was wrong.
“What?”
Marco looked toward Nina.
“Privately.”
Carla immediately took Nina upstairs.
Marco locked the door.
“We found the money.”
“What money?”
“Payments to Hale.”
“From Dean?”
“No.”
Marco placed photographs on the table.
“Camille.”
Massimo studied them.
Camille had transferred hundreds of thousands through shell companies connected to Hale.
But another document was worse.
A life insurance policy.
Massimo Rinaldi.
Beneficiary: Camille Ashwood, once the marriage became legal.
Massimo looked up.
“The wedding is in three weeks.”
“Yes.”
“And Dean?”
“Dean gets control of the businesses. Camille gets your personal estate.”
Massimo understood.
“They split everything.”
Marco nodded.
Massimo looked at the photographs again.
“Then why keep me alive?”
Reeves answered.
“Because your death immediately after the ambush would have brought too much attention.”
Marco added, “But after months of medical decline?”
Massimo finished the thought.
“It looks natural.”
Nobody spoke.
Then the library door opened.
Nina ran inside.
“Mommy’s gone.”
Massimo turned.
“What?”
“She went downstairs and didn’t come back.”
Marco immediately reached for his phone.
Massimo’s face changed.
“Find Carla.”
They searched the mansion.
Kitchen.
Laundry room.
Staff quarters.
Garden.
Nothing.
Then Massimo’s phone rang.
Dean.
Massimo answered.
“Where is she?”
Dean was silent for several seconds.
“You always were fast.”
Massimo’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“If you hurt Carla—”
“I didn’t.”
“Where is she?”
“She saw Hale replacing your medication.”
Massimo closed his eyes.
“So you took her.”
“I’m trying to protect everyone.”
“By kidnapping my housekeeper?”
“You don’t understand what Camille has become.”
Massimo looked at Marco.
“Where?”
“Come to the old carriage house.”
“I’m coming.”
“Alone.”
Massimo looked down at his wheelchair.
Dean continued.
“And Massimo?”
“Yes?”
“Bring the transfer papers.”
The call ended.
Nina stood in the doorway.
“Where’s Mommy?”
Massimo wheeled toward her.
He took her tiny hands.
“I’m going to bring her home.”
“Promise?”
For years, Massimo had avoided promises.
Promises created weakness.
Promises gave people something to take from you.
May you like
But he looked into Nina’s frightened eyes.
“I promise.”
