Chapter 6 - The Fifth File Was About Luca

Marco recovered five contingency files from Vittorio’s old server.

Four concerned Emma and the boys.

The fifth concerned Luca.

It was older.

Created seven years earlier.

Before Emma vanished.

The title was simple.

SUCCESSION RISK.

Inside were reports on Luca’s relationships.

Friends.

Employees.

Women he dated.

Anyone Vittorio believed might influence him after he became head of the family.

Emma’s name appeared twenty-three times.

“She was being investigated before we were serious,” Luca said.

Marco nodded.

Belini stood beside the fireplace in a deep-red coat.

Vittorio sat across the room.

For the first time, he looked tired.

Luca turned a page.

One report described Emma helping an injured kitchen worker avoid dismissal.

Another described her refusing a gift Luca sent because it cost more than her monthly rent.

Another concluded:

SUBJECT INCREASES LUCA’S TENDENCY TO OVERRIDE FAMILY STRATEGY FOR PERSONAL LOYALTY.

Emma read it twice.

Then laughed softly.

“I was dangerous because you listened to me.”

Luca looked at his father.

Vittorio answered.

“You made different decisions around her.”

“Better ones?”

“Not always.”

“Human ones?”

Vittorio said nothing.

That was answer enough.

The final section concerned the Vescari alliance.

It proved something Belini had not known.

Vittorio never intended the marriage merely to secure shipping routes.

He intended Belini to become a stabilizing influence on Luca.

Predictable.

Family-trained.

Dependent on the alliance.

Belini looked at Vittorio.

“You used me too.”

He did not deny it.

She removed the Moretti access card from her purse.

Placed it on the table.

“Then we agree on something.”

Luca looked at her.

“What?”

“We were both chosen for you.”

Emma stood near the window.

“Except one of you agreed.”

Belini flinched.

“Yes.”

No defense.

That mattered.

Marco found one more note.

Dated five years earlier.

QUADRUPLETS HEALTHY. NO CONTACT REQUIRED. CONTINUE OBSERVATION.

Luca stared.

He had missed first words.

First steps.

Illnesses.

Birthdays.

Five Christmas mornings.

Not because Emma hid his sons.

Because his father had built a system that made both of them believe the other had chosen absence.

Luca closed the file.

“Marco.”

“Yes.”

“Remove Vittorio from every company, trust, security system, and family office where I have authority.”

Vittorio stood.

“You would strip your own father?”

Luca looked at him.

“You stripped me of four sons.”

The room went silent.

Vittorio’s face finally broke.

Not anger.

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Pain.

But Luca did not change the order.