Chapter 4 - Adrian’s Last Warning

Natasha could not move.

Her father on the screen took a breath.

“If Matteo Rossi is with you, do not trust him because I did.”

Matteo closed his eyes.

Natasha looked at him.

Adrian continued.

“Trust only what you can verify. Matteo helped me, but he has loyalties I do not understand, and some of those loyalties may be dangerous to you.”

“That sounds accurate,” Matteo said quietly.

“Stop talking.”

He did.

On-screen, Adrian rubbed his face.

“The Castellano Foundation is not what it claims to be. It launders money, yes, but that is the least terrible thing I found.”

Dev leaned closer.

Adrian held up several printed spreadsheets.

“They have been manipulating transplant priority records across three hospitals. Wealthy patients paid through shell charities. Poorer patients were displaced. Some medical records were altered after the fact.”

Natasha whispered, “Richard.”

The video continued.

“Richard Castellano was a resident when this started. His father brought him in later. I have files with Richard’s user credentials approving false clinical notes.”

Natasha’s stomach twisted.

Richard had built his public reputation as a transplant surgeon.

He gave speeches about fairness.

He cried on television beside donor families.

“Tasha, if he ever approaches you, leave.”

She covered her mouth.

Matteo’s jaw clenched.

“He approached me.”

Adrian’s voice trembled.

“The Rossis were involved in money movement, but I do not have proof that Matteo knew about the patient manipulation. Luca Rossi knew more. Luca is dead now.”

Matteo looked at the floor.

“I believe Vittorio Castellano had Luca killed because Luca wanted out.”

Natasha turned toward Matteo.

His face had gone gray.

“You never heard that?”

“No.”

Adrian leaned toward the camera.

“Matteo, if you see this, I’m sorry. I could not tell you without proof.”

For the first time, Matteo lost his composure. One hand gripped the back of a chair.

The video moved on.

“The evidence is split. This card contains financial records and audit trails, but one key file is missing: the access ledger tying individual record changes to specific Castellano accounts. I gave that ledger to someone I believed could keep it safe.”

Natasha leaned forward.

Adrian shook his head.

“I will not name that person here.”

“Of course,” she whispered.

“I left one clue with Tasha. She will not know it is a clue unless she remembers what I told her about buildings.”

The video ended.

Silence filled the office.

Dev removed his hands from the keyboard. “I’m going to make two forensic copies.”

“Three,” Natasha said.

He looked at her.

“One for a lawyer. One for federal investigators. One stays offline.”

Matteo looked at her with something like approval.

She ignored it.

“What did your father tell you about buildings?” Elena asked.

Natasha stared at the black screen.

A thousand things.

Her father had loved old buildings almost as much as she did. He taught her to identify limestone, load-bearing walls, hidden service corridors.

Then she remembered.

“Buildings don’t forget.”

Matteo looked at her.

“What?”

“My father used to say, ‘People lie. Buildings don’t. Every renovation leaves a scar.’”

Elena said, “Was there a building important to him?”

“The old Voss office.”

“Where?”

“Downtown. It was demolished.”

Matteo frowned. “When?”

“Seven years ago.”

“Who bought the property?”

She knew before he answered.

“Castellano Development.”

Matteo took out his phone.

Natasha pointed at him. “Do not call anyone yet.”

He stopped.

“You said not to trust you because my father did.”

“Yes.”

“So I need to know exactly why Luca’s name is in this.”

Matteo pulled out a chair and sat.

“My brother was older by eleven years. He ran our family’s legitimate businesses and most of the illegitimate ones. Ports, cash movement, protection, construction.”

“And you?”

“I was the lawyer.”

“You expect me to believe the mafia had in-house counsel?”

“We had several.”

Despite everything, Elena made a sound that might have been a laugh.

Matteo continued. “I cleaned contracts. I built corporations. I made bad things look ordinary on paper.”

“Did you hurt people?”

“Yes.”

The answer came.

“How?”

“I helped powerful men avoid consequences.”

Natasha held his gaze.

“That counts.”

“I know.”

“Did you kill anyone?”

Elena stiffened.

Matteo did not.

“Yes.”

Natasha’s pulse thudded.

“Who?”

“Men who were trying to kill me. One man who had killed Luca. None of that makes it lawful.”

She had expected denial. The truth was more frightening.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because if I ask you to walk into danger beside me, you should know what danger I am.”

“I’m not walking beside you.”

“No.”

“I’m walking toward my father.”

“Yes.”

“And if you’re in the same direction, that doesn’t make us allies.”

“No.”

Matteo almost smiled. “You sound like Adrian.”

“That is not a compliment you get to give me.”

His smile disappeared.

Dev printed an index of the files.

Elena pointed to a set of property records. “The old Voss office was not demolished completely.”

Natasha leaned over.

“What?”

“The façade was preserved. Historic district requirement. The interior became part of Castellano Tower.”

Her heart kicked.

“Every renovation leaves a scar.”

Matteo stood.

“You think Adrian hid the ledger in the building.”

“I think he left a clue there.”

Elena checked the time. “We do not go tonight.”

Natasha looked at her.

“Why not?”

“Because exhaustion makes brave people stupid.”

Matteo nodded.

Natasha hated that they were right.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She opened the message.

A photograph loaded.

Miriam’s front door.

Then a second photograph.

Miriam sitting inside her kitchen, unaware she was being photographed through the window.

The message read:

You should have come home.

Natasha’s blood went cold.

Matteo was already moving.

“Call her.”

Natasha dialed.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

Elena grabbed her keys.

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Matteo’s voice changed into something cold and lethal.

“Now we go.”