Chapter 6 - The Threat That Finally Reached Emma

My hands went numb.

The phone slipped.

Luca caught it before it hit the floor.

He looked at the screen.

Then at me.

"Your father?"

I nodded.

My throat would not work.

Anthony stood.

"What is that?"

Luca turned the phone toward him.

Anthony's face changed.

"I didn't do this."

Vanessa looked at her father.

"Who is that man?"

Anthony stared.

"My driver."

"Name?"

"Victor Shaw."

Luca looked at his security chief.

"Find him."

The man left immediately.

I grabbed my phone.

Called the rehabilitation center.

No answer.

Again.

Then finally:

"Lakeview Rehabilitation."

"My father."

I gave his name.

"Is he safe?"

A pause.

"Yes, ma'am."

I could breathe again.

"Is anyone with him?"

"One visitor left five minutes ago."

"Name?"

"He signed in as Victor Shaw."

Luca listened.

I asked:

"Did he hurt my father?"

"No."

"He gave him flowers."

Flowers.

The threat was for me.

Not him.

Yet.

Luca looked at Anthony.

"Why would your driver care about this?"

Anthony shook his head.

"I don't know."

Teresa whispered:

"Shaw."

Everyone looked at her.

She frowned.

"Lucia knew a Victor Shaw."

Anthony went pale.

Luca noticed.

"Who?"

Anthony sat down.

"Victor was Marco's driver."

Silence.

"Before he worked for me."

Luca stared.

"You hired my father's old driver."

"Years later."

"Why?"

"He needed work."

Teresa shook her head.

"No."

Anthony looked at her.

She continued:

"Victor was there the night Lucia tried to leave the first time."

Luca's jaw tightened.

Anthony whispered:

"I didn't know that."

Teresa stared.

"I did."

Luca looked at her.

"Another thing."

She lowered her eyes.

"Yes."

"What did Victor do?"

"He followed Lucia."

"Why?"

"Marco ordered him."

Anthony stood.

"That doesn't mean—"

Teresa interrupted.

"Victor knew about the second escape."

Silence.

Anthony went pale.

Luca stared.

"How?"

Teresa answered:

"Because I told him."

Everyone turned.

Teresa began crying.

"I thought he would help."

Luca stared at his aunt.

"You told my father's driver my mother was leaving."

"I thought Victor hated Marco."

"Did he?"

"Yes."

"Then?"

"He told Marco anyway."

Luca looked at Anthony.

"Marco told you to stop the car."

Anthony nodded.

"But maybe Victor told him she was leaving."

Teresa whispered:

"Yes."

The chain was clearer now.

Lucia told Teresa.

Teresa told Victor.

Victor told Marco.

Marco told Anthony.

Anthony cut the brake line.

Lucia died.

Twenty-six years of silence came from four choices.

No one intended exactly what happened.

All of them helped make it possible.

Luca looked at the threatening message.

"Victor is still protecting the old secret."

Anthony said:

"Or protecting himself."

"From what?"

Teresa looked at him.

"The accident report."

Luca frowned.

Anthony stared at the table.

Then whispered:

"Victor was not just Marco's driver."

"What else?"

"He handled cash."

"Payments."

"Surveillance."

Luca's eyes narrowed.

"Did he pay you?"

Anthony looked ashamed.

"Yes."

"To cut the brake line."

"Yes."

Silence.

Vanessa covered her mouth.

Luca asked:

"Do records exist?"

Anthony nodded.

"Some."

"Where?"

"Victor kept them."

"Why?"

"Insurance."

Of course.

Luca looked at me.

"Emma."

I tried to steady my breathing.

"Yes?"

"You are not going home tonight."

I stared.

"I need to see my father."

"We'll bring him here."

"No."

My voice hardened.

"He is not another person who gets moved because powerful people are afraid."

Luca stopped.

Fair.

I continued:

"I'm going to him."

Luca nodded once.

"Then security goes with you."

I accepted.

Vanessa whispered:

"I'll go too."

I looked at her.

"No."

Her face fell.

I continued:

"Not because I hate you."

"Because this is my father."

She nodded.

I left with security.

Later, Luca told me what happened after.

Victor called.

Not the police.

Not Anthony.

Luca.

"You want the records?"

Victor asked.

"Yes."

"Then stop digging into the Bellini contracts."

Luca laughed.

"No."

Victor said:

"Your mother is dead."

"Correct."

"Let the dead stay dead."

Luca looked at the chipped plate.

Then answered:

"That advice has cost everyone enough."

Victor went silent.

Luca continued:

"Where are you?"

"Somewhere you won't come."

"Try me."

Victor gave an address.

Old Moretti restaurant.

Closed twenty years.

Teresa went pale when she heard.

"Lucia worked there."

Luca looked at her.

"Before she married Marco?"

"Yes."

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Victor had chosen the beginning.

Maybe because he knew they were finally reaching the end.