Chapter 10 - THE FATHER’S SECRET
Vincent sat in silence for nearly a minute.
His father, Lorenzo Moretti, had died after a stroke fifteen years ago.
Vincent had been at the hospital.
He had seen the body.
There was no mystery.
At least there shouldn’t have been.
Sofia explained.
“I didn’t mean he was alive eleven years ago.”
Vincent frowned.
“Then what?”
“I found a recording Michael made before he died. Your father knew Anthony planned to take over the family.”
“Before his stroke?”
“Yes.”
Sofia paused.
“Lorenzo created the continuity trust himself.”
Vincent looked at the papers.
“That trust didn’t exist until last year.”
“The fake one didn’t.”
Vincent stood.
“There’s another trust.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. Michael knew.”
Vincent paced.
“What does it do?”
“It transfers controlling shares away from any family member who returns the businesses to organized crime.”
Dominic stared.
“My uncle knew?”
“Anthony knew enough to be scared of it.”
That explained everything.
Anthony did not merely want Vincent’s companies.
He needed the legitimate ownership structure changed before he resurfaced.
If Vincent remarried under Bellamy’s forged trust, Anthony could quietly seize control through Dominic and Isabella.
Then destroy whatever protections Lorenzo had created.
Vincent looked at Dominic.
“My father spent his last years trying to make sure Anthony couldn’t take everything back.”
Dominic nodded slowly.
“And Anthony killed my father because Michael knew where the original documents were.”
Sofia said, “That’s what I believe.”
Emily entered carrying a small wooden box.
“Sorry.”
Vincent turned.
“What is that?”
“I found it behind Mrs. Sofia’s books.”
Sofia heard her.
“Emily?”
Emily’s eyes widened.
“Mrs. Sofia?”
Sofia laughed softly.
“You got taller.”
Emily immediately cried.
Vincent looked away.
Emily held the box up.
“It has your name on it.”
Vincent opened it.
Inside was an old pocket watch.
His father’s.
He pressed the latch.
The back popped open.
Inside was a strip of microfilm.
Dominic stared.
“Are you kidding me?”
Vincent almost smiled.
“My father loved old spy movies.”
Sofia went silent.
“Vince.”
“What?”
“That may be it.”
Rafael called from Sofia’s end.
“We have movement.”
Everyone tensed.
“What kind?”
“A vehicle just left the medical center.”
Vincent said, “Grace?”
“Unknown.”
Then Emily’s phone rang.
Everyone stared at it.
Unknown number.
Vincent answered.
Anthony spoke.
“You’re running out of time.”
“Put Grace on.”
A muffled cry.
Then Grace’s voice.
“Emily?”
Emily covered her mouth.
“Mom!”
“Baby, listen to me—”
A slap sounded.
Vincent’s face went cold.
Anthony returned.
“You have ninety minutes.”
“For what?”
“Bring me the microfilm.”
Vincent looked at the pocket watch.
He hadn’t told anyone about it.
Anthony already knew.
Which meant somebody in the room had told him.
Vincent slowly looked around.
Dominic.
Emily.
Isabella.
Two guards.
Then his eyes landed on the only person holding a live communication device.
Emily’s cracked blue phone.
A tiny green light had appeared near the camera.
May you like
Sofia whispered through Vincent’s phone:
“Vince… somebody is listening through the blue phone.”
