Chapter 4 - Belini Had Taken Matteo First

The west chapel door was locked from the inside.

Marco broke it.

Matteo was there.

Alive.

Untied.

Sitting beside a space heater with a plate of untouched food.

Alessandro reached him first.

The boy stood.

His father grabbed him.

Hard.

Matteo did not cry until then.

“Dad.”

Alessandro closed his eyes.

Luca watched the reunion.

Then looked at Belini.

“You put him here?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because Antonio’s men were taking him somewhere else.”

Antonio laughed.

“Nonsense.”

Belini turned.

“You sent them to Alessandro’s house yesterday.”

Antonio’s expression remained calm.

“Prove it.”

Belini reached into her red gown and removed a small memory card.

Marco took it.

“What is this?”

“Security footage.”

“From where?”

“My apartment.”

Luca stared.

“You recorded Antonio?”

“I recorded everyone.”

That sounded like Belini.

Marco loaded the card.

Video.

Two men entering Alessandro’s house.

Antonio meeting them in a parking garage.

A phone call.

Audio.

Antonio’s voice:

“Take the boy. The father will do anything afterward.”

Alessandro went pale.

Antonio stopped smiling.

Luca looked at Belini.

“You intercepted them.”

“Yes.”

“And hid Matteo here.”

“Yes.”

“Then why let Alessandro believe they still had him?”

Belini looked away.

That was the question.

Caterina answered for her.

“Because she needed Alessandro to put something in Luca’s wine too.”

Belini’s face tightened.

Emma stared.

“So Antonio wanted Luca unconscious.”

“Yes.”

“And Belini did too?”

Caterina nodded.

“For different reasons.”

Luca’s voice became very quiet.

“Explain.”

Belini did.

She had discovered Antonio planned to sedate Luca, remove Lily, and force Alessandro to sign over access to three Moretti accounts.

Belini wanted the accounts too.

But she wanted Luca alive.

So she let Antonio believe the plan was working.

Then she altered it.

The soprano.

The seating chart.

The timing.

Everything.

She expected Alessandro to use a sedative.

She did not know Caterina had already replaced Antonio’s vial.

Luca stared at her.

“You built a trap around my dinner table.”

“Yes.”

“Without telling me.”

“If I told you, Antonio would know.”

“How?”

Belini looked at Antonio.

“He has someone in your security office.”

Marco’s face changed.

Luca turned.

“Who?”

Belini smiled faintly.

“That is why I kept Matteo in the chapel.”

“That does not answer me.”

“No.”

She looked toward Marco.

“Because I still don’t know.”

Marco took that personally.

Good.

He should.

Luca turned to Antonio.

“You’ve been moving against me for how long?”

Antonio leaned back.

“Long enough to know you inherited your father’s worst flaw.”

“What?”

“You trust blood too much.”

Caterina’s expression changed.

“Careful.”

Antonio smiled.

“There she is.”

Luca noticed.

“What does that mean?”

Caterina looked away.

For the first time since entering the house, she looked uncertain.

Luca stepped closer.

“Mom.”

Nothing.

“Why did you stay dead for fourteen years?”

Silence.

Antonio answered.

“Because your father ordered it.”

The room froze.

Luca stared.

“My father died before she did.”

Antonio smiled.

“No, Luca.”

Caterina closed her eyes.

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Antonio finished:

“Your father is alive.”