Chapter 13 - The Traitor at the Dinner Table
Alessandro looked at Bruno.
“Who?”
The old butler hesitated.
The shelter seemed to grow colder.
Behind them, Rosa settled Lily onto a narrow couch.
The child was exhausted.
She had stopped asking questions.
That frightened Rosa more than anything.
A three-year-old should have been thinking about toys, bedtime stories, and whether her stuffed rabbit needed a blanket.
Instead, Lily had spent the evening hiding from strangers who wanted to take her away.
Alessandro lowered his voice.
“Bruno, if you know something, tell me now.”
Bruno took a trembling breath.
“Three days ago, I found someone in the security office.”
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
Alessandro frowned.
“Daniel?”
“Yes, Boss.”
“My chief financial officer?”
Bruno nodded.
“He said he needed access to archived records.”
“That isn't unusual.”
“No.”
The old man's expression tightened.
“But he was copying the private residential schedule.”
Alessandro went still.
“Rosa's schedule?”
“And Lily's.”
Rosa looked up sharply.
Bruno continued.
“I asked him why.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me you had requested it.”
Alessandro's jaw hardened.
“I didn't.”
“I know that now.”
A terrible silence followed.
Daniel had worked for the Moretti organization for almost nine years.
He understood the company's legitimate businesses better than almost anyone.
He knew which properties belonged to which trusts.
He knew the names of the attorneys.
He had access to confidential financial records.
And he had been present when Alessandro discovered the trust.
“Where is he?” Alessandro asked.
Marco checked his phone.
“In the study.”
“Alone?”
“Two assistants are with him.”
Alessandro looked toward Rosa.
“Stay here with Bruno.”
Rosa caught his wrist.
“Alessandro.”
He stopped.
“Don't do something Lily will have to spend the rest of her life hearing about.”
He looked at her.
She continued.
“I know you're angry.”
“Angry doesn't begin to describe it.”
“Then don't let anger make the decision.”
For several seconds, he stood motionless.
Then he nodded.
“I'll bring him in alive.”
Rosa shook her head.
“Bring him to justice.”
Alessandro looked at her.
For years, those two sentences had meant very different things in his world.
Now he understood why she had chosen the second.
He turned toward Marco.
“Have security isolate Daniel from the financial systems.”
“Understood.”
“Preserve every access record.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“And tell Samuel what we've learned.”
Marco nodded.
Alessandro walked upstairs.
The mansion was unusually quiet.
The grand staircase, where Isabella had humiliated Lily that morning, stood beneath a chandelier that now seemed unbearably bright.
He passed the place where Rosa had knelt.
He could almost see her again.
The apron.
The fear.
The child holding a gold button.
His daughter had been standing in front of him for four years.
And he had never truly looked.
He reached the study.
Daniel was seated behind a table covered in financial papers.
When Alessandro entered, he stood.
“Boss.”
Alessandro closed the door.
“Sit down.”
Daniel hesitated.
“Is everything okay?”
“Sit.”
Daniel obeyed.
Alessandro took the chair opposite him.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he asked, “How much did Vincent pay you?”
Daniel blinked.
“What?”
“How much?”
“I don't understand.”
Alessandro placed a printed access log on the table.
Daniel looked down.
His face changed.
“Boss—”
“Three days ago, you accessed the residential schedules.”
“I needed to verify—”
“You copied Lily's movements.”
Daniel went pale.
Alessandro leaned forward.
“She's three years old.”
Daniel swallowed.
“I didn't know they were going to hurt her.”
The confession came so quickly that Alessandro almost missed it.
He stared at the man.
“You didn't know.”
Daniel began shaking.
“I swear.”
“Then tell me what you thought would happen.”
Daniel covered his face.
“I thought they were going to take the documents.”
“What documents?”
“The trust.”
“Why would Lily's location matter?”
Daniel looked up.
“Because Vincent wanted to know whether Rosa was telling you the truth.”
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
“Vincent thought Rosa might have another copy.”
“Of the letter?”
“Yes.”
“And you helped him search for it.”
Daniel nodded.
Alessandro felt sick.
“How long have you been working for him?”
Daniel began crying.
“Six months.”
“Since Isabella arrived.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked at his hands.
“My son.”
Alessandro paused.
“What about him?”
“He has a rare medical condition.”
Daniel's voice cracked.
“Treatment has been expensive.”
Alessandro watched him.
“Then why didn't you come to me?”
Daniel began crying harder.
“I did.”
Alessandro frowned.
“When?”
“Last winter.”
“You asked for an advance.”
“Yes.”
“I approved it.”
Daniel nodded.
“But it wasn't enough.”
Alessandro remained silent.
Daniel continued.
“Vincent offered to cover everything.”
“In exchange for information.”
“Yes.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was ashamed.”
Alessandro leaned back.
He had heard many excuses over the years.
Greed.
Fear.
Debt.
Family.
They all sounded different.
But eventually, they led to the same place.
Someone else paying the price.
“You sold information that endangered my daughter.”
Daniel sobbed.
“I didn't know what he intended.”
“Did you ask?”
Daniel said nothing.
“Did you ask, Daniel?”
“No.”
Alessandro stood.
Daniel flinched.
But Alessandro did not touch him.
He walked toward the window.
For a long moment, he stared into the darkness.
Then he turned.
“Security will escort you to another room.”
Daniel looked up.
“Boss?”
“You'll have access to an attorney.”
Daniel stared at him.
“And then?”
“You'll tell the authorities everything.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Vincent will kill me.”
“Then tell them that too.”
Daniel began shaking.
Alessandro approached.
“Listen carefully.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You have a chance to stop lying.”
He placed the access log on the table.
“Take it.”
Marco entered.
Daniel rose unsteadily.
As he reached the door, he turned back.
“Boss?”
Alessandro looked up.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Vincent isn't at Pier Seventeen.”
Alessandro went still.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Then what are you telling me?”
Daniel looked terrified.
“The pier is a diversion.”
Alessandro stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“He wants you away from the house.”
“Why?”
“Because the attack tonight was only supposed to test the security.”
Alessandro's expression hardened.
“Test it for what?”
Daniel looked toward the doorway.
Then whispered.
“For the real attack on Friday.”
Alessandro called Samuel immediately.
The attorney had already contacted federal investigators, who were assessing the recordings and coordinating with appropriate local authorities.
The attempted intrusion at the estate had changed the situation.
Alessandro shared the security footage, the threatening message, and Daniel's confession.
He also disclosed information that could expose parts of his own organization to investigation.
Samuel warned him of the consequences.
Alessandro did not argue.
For the first time in his adult life, he was willing to lose power in order to protect someone.
By eleven that night, Rosa and Lily had been moved to a confidential safe location arranged with assistance from authorities.
Bruno accompanied them.
Rosa refused to leave until Alessandro promised that he would not confront Vincent alone.
He made the promise.
This time, he intended to keep it.
Before she left, Lily reached into her pocket.
She pulled out the little gold button.
“Big man.”
Alessandro crouched.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
She placed the button in his palm.
“For luck.”
He stared at it.
Then closed his fingers around it.
“Thank you.”
Lily touched his cheek.
“Come tomorrow?”
He felt his throat tighten.
“I'll do everything I can.”
She nodded.
Then she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Alessandro held her tightly.
When she released him, he turned toward Rosa.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Finally, Rosa whispered, “Come back to us.”
Alessandro looked at her.
He had never heard her use the word us that way.
He nodded.
“I will.”
But as their vehicle disappeared down the driveway, Alessandro's phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
Vincent Romano's voice came through the speaker.
“You've disappointed me, son.”
Alessandro stared into the darkness.
“I'm not your son.”
Vincent laughed.
“Not yet.”
“It's over, Vincent.”
“No.”
A pause.
“It hasn't even started.”
Alessandro remained silent.
Vincent continued.
“Your little girl is safe for the moment.”
Alessandro felt his blood turn cold.
“How do you know where she is?”
“Because I know things you don't.”
“Then tell me.”
Vincent laughed softly.
“Ask your sister what happened in Chicago.”
Alessandro went still.
“Lucia?”
“Yes.”
“What about her?”
Vincent's voice changed.
“All these years, you've believed she disappeared because I wanted her hidden.”
“Didn't you?”
“Oh, Alessandro.”
The older man's laughter was cruel.
“Your sister didn't disappear because I was hunting her.”
May you like
A pause.
“She disappeared because she was carrying the one piece of evidence that could put your own father in prison.”
