Chapter 7 - THE MAN IN THE GRAVE
The grave was opened just before dawn.
Vincent did it quietly.
No ceremony.
No family announcement.
Only Rafael, Dominic, a private forensic examiner, and a judge who owed Vincent’s legitimate companies enough favors to move fast.
The remains were badly damaged.
But dental records gave them an answer within hours.
The man buried under Anthony Moretti’s name was Dominic’s father.
Michael Moretti.
Dominic stared at the report.
Then he punched the wall.
“You knew,” he said.
Vincent shook his head.
“Don’t lie to me!”
“I didn’t.”
“My father was buried under another man’s name for eleven years!”
Vincent grabbed his shoulder.
“And I’m going to find out why.”
Dominic shoved him away.
“You were running the family!”
“I was thirty-one years old and fighting Anthony every day!”
“That doesn’t bring my father back.”
“No.”
Vincent’s voice dropped.
“But blaming the wrong person won’t either.”
Dominic’s anger cracked.
He sat down.
“My mother died thinking he abandoned her.”
Vincent said nothing.
There was nothing to say.
Then Emily appeared at the doorway.
Grace was still missing, so Emily refused to leave the estate.
She carried Sofia’s phone.
“I found another recording.”
Vincent immediately stood.
Emily pressed Play.
Sofia’s voice came through.
“Dominic, if you’re hearing this, I’m sorry.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“Your father didn’t run away.”
His jaw tightened.
“He came to me because Anthony was stealing money using your access codes. Michael found out. He wanted to tell Vincent.”
A long pause.
“He never got the chance.”
Dominic covered his face.
Vincent stared at the floor.
Sofia continued.
“Anthony killed Michael. Bellamy changed the dental records. Then Anthony staged his own death using Michael’s body.”
Dominic whispered, “I’ll kill him.”
Vincent looked at him.
“No.”
Dominic stood.
“He murdered my father.”
“And he wants you angry.”
“I am angry!”
“That’s exactly what he’s used against this family for twenty years.”
Dominic’s eyes filled.
“So what am I supposed to do?”
Vincent stepped closer.
“Help me end it.”
The recording continued.
“There’s something else.”
Vincent looked at the phone.
“Anthony didn’t act alone.”
Static crackled.
“One person inside the house has been giving him access to Vincent for years.”
Vincent looked toward Dominic.
Dominic stared back.
Then Sofia said:
“It isn’t Isabella.”
Both men froze.
“The person you need to fear is the one Vincent trusts enough to never investigate.”
The recording ended.
Dominic swallowed.
“Rafael?”
Vincent looked toward the hallway.
His security chief had protected him for twelve years.
Then Emily whispered:
“Mr. Rafael left ten minutes ago.”
Vincent turned sharply.
“With who?”
May you like
Emily’s eyes widened.
“With Mr. Bellamy.”
