Chapter 7
The drive contained videos.
Matteo’s face appeared on the screen in my study.
Tired.
Bruised.
Alive in a way that hurt.
“Damiano,” he said, “if you are watching this, I failed.”
I sat down.
Rafael stood behind me.
Lena held Mia asleep in the next room.
The video continued.
“Silvio did not act alone. He paid for information, but someone inside our family gave it.”
My hand tightened.
“Father’s ledgers were altered after your wedding. Money moved through charity accounts. Shell companies. Political donations. The children’s hospital fund is dirty.”
I froze.
The fundraiser.
Tonight’s event.
The charity we had used for years to clean names and soften headlines.
Matteo swallowed.
“I found the route. The money ends with Councilman DeLuca and Judge Marino. But the authorization came from Uncle Vittorio.”
Rafael swore.
Vittorio Verrone.
My father’s older brother.
The man who had raised me after my parents died.
The man sitting at my right hand for fifteen years.
Matteo’s voice broke.
“Vittorio said Mia’s birth gave me leverage. He wanted Lena gone. He wanted the child controlled. I refused. If I die, protect them from our blood.”
The video ended.
I did not move.
Rafael whispered, “Boss.”
“Find Vittorio.”
“He left after Silvio was detained.”
Of course he did.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Vittorio’s voice came soft and amused.
“Your brother always talked too much.”
I closed my eyes.
“You killed Matteo.”
“I protected the house.”
“You threatened a child.”
“I removed weakness.”
My rage went quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
“Where are you?”
He laughed.
“Still asking questions like answers are given.”
Then his voice hardened.
“The girl performs tomorrow, yes? School auditorium. Ten in the morning.”
My blood turned cold.
“Touch her and no grave will hold you.”
“There he is,” Vittorio whispered. “The animal I raised.”
The line died.
I stood.
Rafael was already calling men.
I walked to the guest room.
Mia slept against Lena, one hand wrapped around her rabbit.
Tomorrow, she wanted me to wear a tie that was not scary black.
Tomorrow, powerful men planned to turn her school show into a battlefield.
May you like
I looked at Lena.
“We’re moving now.”
