Chapter 12 - THE MAN NOBODY WATCHED

His name was Samuel Price.

For twenty-three years, Samuel Price had represented the Costello family.

He prepared trusts.

Wills.

Corporate structures.

Inheritance documents.

And nobody had suspected him because lawyers were supposed to know everyone's secrets.

Nobody asked what happened when one decided to use them.

Victor found Price's office empty.

Computers wiped.

Files burned.

But one hard drive survived.

It contained everything.

Payments to Vale.

Payments to Dominic.

Payments to Evelyn.

Payments to Adrian.

Luca stared at the screen.

"They weren't running the conspiracy."

Victor shook his head.

"They were being paid."

"By Price."

"Yes."

Elena frowned.

"Why?"

Luca knew.

"The trust."

Samuel Price had drafted it.

He knew Maya would eventually control assets worth billions.

But he had discovered something else.

If Luca died without a legally recognized child, control transferred temporarily to the trust's executor.

Samuel Price.

For twelve years, he had manipulated everyone.

Evelyn believed she was protecting Luca's fortune.

Dominic believed he was stealing it.

Adrian believed he was paying debts.

Vale believed he was performing a medical fraud.

But Price had designed the entire board.

Now Maya existed.

Which meant his plan was collapsing.

Luca's phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

"Costello."

A man's voice replied.

"Congratulations on learning to walk."

Samuel Price.

Luca signaled Victor.

Trace it.

"What do you want?"

"The same thing everyone wants."

"Money?"

"Freedom."

"You tried to kidnap my daughter."

"No."

Luca froze.

"Then who did?"

Price laughed.

"You still think there's only one game being played."

"What does that mean?"

"Check Maya's room."

Luca ran.

Actually ran.

Poorly.

Painfully.

But ran.

He reached Maya's room.

Empty.

Elena screamed behind him.

"No."

The window was open.

Again.

But this time there was no broken glass.

No struggle.

Nothing.

Then Luca noticed a piece of paper on the bed.

Maya's handwriting.

DAD,

TOMMY GOT A MESSAGE SAYING HIS MOM IS HURT.

WE WENT TO HELP.

DON'T BE MAD.

May you like

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Luca closed his eyes.

Tommy and Maya were both gone.