Chapter 3 - UNCLE VITTORIO
Vittorio answered on the third ring.
“Marco?”
I didn’t speak.
“Marco?”
“Wrong man.”
Silence.
Then Vittorio sighed.
“Dominic.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I sound tired.”
“Marco is dead.”
Another pause.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“You called him.”
“I call half your staff.”
“At midnight during an attack on my home?”
His voice hardened.
“Are Grace and you safe?”
That question made me colder.
“You asked about Grace first.”
“She’s my grandniece.”
“Come to the mansion.”
“No.”
Not hesitation.
No.
I looked at Evelyn.
She mouthed, Keep him talking.
“Why not?”
“Because if someone got through your security, I won’t walk blindly into the same trap.”
Grace almost smiled at the word blindly.
Vittorio continued.
“Take Grace and leave.”
“Where?”
“You know the old lake house.”
Evelyn shook her head hard.
I understood.
Trap.
“Why there?”
“Because nobody knows it exists.”
“Sofia knew.”
Vittorio went quiet.
That was enough.
“You knew about Sofia’s letter.”
“What letter?”
Bad answer.
Too fast.
I ended the call.
Grace listened to the silence.
“That was Uncle Vittorio?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t trust him.”
“I don’t trust anyone tonight.”
Evelyn looked at me.
“You finally sound intelligent.”
“Careful.”
“You can threaten me after your daughter is safe.”
We moved upstairs.
Emergency lights had come on in parts of the house.
Broken glass covered the main hallway.
Danny, one of my guards, was alive but unconscious.
Two others were missing.
I ordered every remaining man into the library.
Seven arrived.
There should have been nine.
“Phones on the table,” I said.
Nobody argued.
Grace sat near the fireplace while Evelyn stood beside her.
I checked the devices one by one.
Nothing.
Then Grace raised her hand.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“Someone is tapping.”
Everyone stopped.
I heard nothing.
Grace pointed toward the wall.
“There.”
Evelyn moved to the built-in bookcase.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
I heard it then.
We pulled the shelf away.
Behind it was a tiny listening device.
My own private library had been bugged.
One of my guards swore.
“How long?”
Evelyn examined it.
“Months, maybe.”
I looked at every man in the room.
“You all know what happens if I find out one of you helped put this here.”
Nobody spoke.
Grace turned toward a guard named Paul.
“Why is your heart beating so fast?”
Paul stared at her.
“I’m scared, Grace.”
“Of Dad?”
“Yes.”
She tilted her head.
“No, you’re not.”
Paul ran.
He made it three steps.
Evelyn swept his legs.
I had my gun on him before he hit the rug.
“Who paid you?”
Paul shook his head.
“Nobody.”
I cocked the weapon.
“Try again.”
He started crying.
“I didn’t know they would come tonight.”
“Who?”
“A lawyer.”
“What lawyer?”
“I never got his name.”
“What did you do?”
“Pictures. Schedules.”
Grace went quiet.
“You took the pictures?”
“No! I gave somebody access to the security feeds.”
Evelyn crouched beside him.
“What happens when Grace turns twelve?”
Paul shut his eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“What did they say?”
“They called her the key.”
I felt my chest tighten.
“The key to what?”
Paul looked toward Grace.
Then he whispered.
“To everything Antonio Caruso left behind.”
I stared at him.
“My father left everything to me.”
Paul swallowed.
“No, sir.”
May you like
He looked terrified.
“Your father left the real inheritance to Grace.”
