Chapter 4 - The Man Inside the Family
The evidence created a new problem.
Vittorio Moretti was dead.
But someone had continued paying Thomas Vane for six years after Vittorio’s funeral.
Dante spread the payment records across his study.
Marco examined them.
“Same shell company.”
Salvatore nodded.
“Someone wanted Lucia’s case buried even after Vittorio died.”
Elena stood near the fireplace.
“Who had access to Vittorio’s accounts?”
Dante answered.
“Family.”
Marco frowned.
“Dante—”
“She asked a question.”
“Your wife shouldn’t be involved.”
Dante looked at him.
“My wife is the reason I’m alive.”
Marco stopped talking.
Elena pointed at a signature.
“Who is R.M.?”
Salvatore went pale.
Dante noticed.
“Salvatore?”
“Raffaele Moretti.”
Dante’s uncle.
His father’s younger brother.
And the man who had delivered the toast immediately after Dante at the wedding.
---
Raffaele arrived that evening smiling.
“Nephew.”
He kissed Dante’s cheek.
Then looked at Elena.
“Our mysterious bride.”
Elena said nothing.
Raffaele smiled.
“Still quiet.”
Dante watched him.
“Sit.”
Something in Dante’s voice erased the smile.
Raffaele sat.
Dante placed Lucia’s photograph on the table.
His uncle’s eyes flickered.
Only once.
But Elena saw it.
“You recognize her?” she asked.
“My niece.”
“And my mother?”
Raffaele looked closer.
“No.”
Elena leaned forward.
“That’s interesting.”
“Why?”
“Because you attended her funeral.”
Raffaele looked at Dante.
“Is this an interrogation?”
Dante placed the payment records beside the photograph.
“It is now.”
Raffaele’s expression changed.
“You’ve been digging through your father’s business.”
“I’ve been digging through my sister’s grave.”
“Careful.”
Dante smiled without warmth.
“You’re in my house warning me to be careful?”
Raffaele stood.
“Your father made difficult decisions.”
“Did one of them kill Lucia?”
Silence.
Marco moved toward the door.
Raffaele looked around.
Then laughed.
“You think Vittorio killed his own daughter?”
“I think someone sabotaged her car.”
Raffaele’s face hardened.
“You don’t understand what was happening then.”
Elena spoke.
“Explain it.”
Raffaele turned toward her.
“This has nothing to do with you.”
“My mother was there.”
That stopped him.
Elena continued.
“Lucia saved my life. Someone killed her. My mother spent the rest of her life terrified.”
She stepped closer.
“So it has everything to do with me.”
Raffaele looked at Dante.
“Control your wife.”
Dante’s chair moved backward.
He rose slowly.
“My wife is not something I control.”
Elena glanced at him.
Dante never took his eyes off Raffaele.
“Answer her.”
Raffaele’s composure finally cracked.
“Vittorio wanted Sofia frightened.”
Elena’s voice became quieter.
“Why?”
“She had records.”
“What records?”
“Financial books connecting judges, police officers, unions.”
Dante understood.
“My father’s network.”
“Yes.”
“And Lucia helped Sofia escape.”
Raffaele nodded.
“Vittorio ordered me to stop them.”
Dante stared at his uncle.
“You touched Lucia’s car.”
Raffaele looked away.
Dante crossed the room.
“LOOK AT ME.”
Raffaele did.
“I was supposed to disable it,” he said. “Keep Lucia from leaving.”
Elena whispered, “But she drove.”
“I didn’t know she would take that car.”
Dante’s face became empty.
“You killed my sister.”
“It was an accident.”
“You sabotaged a vehicle.”
“I followed orders!”
Dante grabbed him.
Raffaele shouted, “YOUR FATHER GAVE THE ORDER!”
Dante slammed him against the wall.
Marco moved forward.
Elena did too.
“Dante.”
He was shaking with rage.
Raffaele gasped.
“He would’ve ordered your death too eventually.”
Dante stopped.
“What?”
Raffaele laughed bitterly.
“You think you were special?”
He looked at Elena.
“Ask your quiet little wife what Sofia kept.”
Elena froze.
“My mother?”
“Vittorio never found the original ledger.”
“What original ledger?”
“The one Sofia stole.”
Raffaele smiled.
“And if Elena is anything like her mother…”
His eyes settled on her.
“…she already knows where it is.”
Everyone turned toward Elena.
Dante released his uncle.
“Elena?”
She remained silent.
Dante’s expression changed.
“You know something.”
Elena looked at Raffaele.
Then at Dante.
May you like
“Yes.”
---
