Chapter 3 - Someone Inside the Moretti Family Wanted Him Dead
The next morning, Dante found me asleep in a chair beside Matteo’s bassinet.
“You stayed awake all night?”
I opened one eye.
“Mostly.”
“You should sleep.”
“You should take your own advice.”
He had changed clothes, but not expression.
“Any news?”
“The nurse was killed before my men found her.”
“Police?”
“Not yet.”
“Dante.”
“Clara.”
“A woman is dead.”
“And if I call the wrong detective, whoever did this knows exactly what we know.”
I hated that his logic made sense.
Matteo stirred.
Dante immediately approached.
“You can pick him up.”
He hesitated.
I stared at him.
“You're his father.”
“I know.”
“You're acting like he's made of glass.”
“He weighs five pounds.”
“Five pounds, six ounces.”
Dante gave me a look.
I smiled.
“Pick up your son.”
He did.
Awkwardly.
Matteo settled almost immediately.
Dante stared down at him.
“He does that with you too,” I said.
“What?”
“Feels safe.”
Dante’s face tightened.
“Elena should be holding him.”
I didn't answer.
There was nothing useful to say.
A knock came.
Marco entered carrying a laptop.
“We found something.”
He placed it on the table.
Security footage appeared.
A hospital hallway.
Timestamp: two nights earlier.
Sofia Moretti entered Matteo’s room.
Then another person followed.
I leaned closer.
My blood went cold.
“No.”
Dante looked at me.
“You know him?”
The man turned toward the camera.
Eric.
My ex-boyfriend.
The man who had stolen my bakery money.
Dante’s eyes shifted to me.
“Clara?”
“That's Eric.”
“Eric who?”
“Eric Lawson.”
Marco typed.
His expression hardened.
“He worked for one of our shell companies.”
Dante looked at me.
“You never told me.”
“I didn't know!”
“Why was your boyfriend visiting my newborn son?”
“I don't know!”
Matteo startled.
Dante immediately lowered his voice.
I stood.
“Eric disappeared six days after Lucia died.”
“When?”
“Eight months ago.”
Marco continued searching.
Then he stopped.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“Eric Lawson received three payments from Sofia Moretti.”
Dante’s jaw tightened.
“Total?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
I sat down.
“This doesn't make sense.”
Dante stared at the screen.
“Maybe it does.”
He called Sofia.
She answered immediately.
“Dante.”
“Come to my study.”
“I’m busy.”
“Now.”
Twenty minutes later, Sofia entered.
She saw the frozen security footage.
Her face changed.
Dante pointed at Eric.
“Who is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Wrong answer.”
“Dante—”
“Who is he?”
Sofia looked at me.
Then something clicked.
“Oh.”
I stood.
“What does that mean?”
Sofia whispered, “You really don't know.”
“Know what?”
Dante stepped forward.
“Enough games.”
Sofia’s eyes stayed on me.
“Ask her what happened to her daughter.”
My heart stopped.
“Don't.”
“What hospital?”
“Don't talk about Lucia.”
“Same hospital Elena used.”
I couldn't breathe.
Dante looked between us.
“What are you saying?”
Sofia smiled bitterly.
“Your precious baker has been connected to this family longer than you realize.”
I crossed the room.
“What did Eric do?”
Sofia said nothing.
“What did he do to my daughter?”
Dante slammed his palm onto the desk.
“Answer her.”
Sofia flinched.
Then she whispered:
“Eric was stealing medication.”
Silence.
I stared at her.
“No.”
“He had gambling debts. He sold drugs from several private clinics.”
“No.”
“Lucia’s case raised questions. Eric panicked.”
My knees weakened.
Dante caught my arm.
I pulled away.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
“Lucia died because she was premature.”
Sofia’s expression shifted.
“That's what you were told.”
The room tilted.
I gripped the desk.
Dante spoke quietly.
“Marco.”
“I’m already calling Bennett.”
I looked at Sofia.
“And Matteo?”
She didn't answer.
Dante stepped toward her.
“You used the same man.”
Sofia finally snapped.
“I was protecting this family!”
“By killing my son?”
“He should never have been born!”
Dante froze.
So did everyone else.
Sofia realized too late what she had admitted.
Dante’s voice became almost inaudible.
“Why?”
Her eyes filled with fury.
“Because Elena wasn't who you thought she was.”
Dante stared at her.
“She was my wife.”
“She was going to destroy everything.”
“And Matteo?”
“He inherited her claim.”
“What claim?”
Sofia looked at Marco.
Then back at Dante.
“The controlling shares your grandfather secretly left to Elena’s bloodline.”
Dante went still.
“This wasn't about succession.”
Sofia laughed.
May you like
“It was always about succession.”
Then the lights went out.
