Chapter 4 - The Estate Was Never His Uncle’s

Vincent’s uncle was named Dominic Marchetti.

Sixty-four.

His father’s younger brother.

The man who raised Vincent after both parents disappeared from his life.

The man Vincent had called family.

Dominic looked at the locked ballroom doors.

Then at Vincent.

“Your father changed the family trust.”

“When?”

“Three weeks before he died.”

Vincent stared.

“To whom?”

Dominic looked toward Leonard.

The caretaker understood first.

“Isabella.”

Vincent turned.

“My mother owns the estate?”

Dominic laughed.

“Not only the estate.”

Silence.

Vincent’s expression hardened.

“Marchetti Holdings?”

“Yes.”

“Properties?”

“Yes.”

“Accounts?”

“Yes.”

“Then what have you controlled for nineteen years?”

Dominic leaned back.

“Assets I was authorized to manage while she was absent.”

Vincent stared.

“You weren’t the owner.”

“No.”

“You let me think you were.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you were easier to raise if you believed I saved the family.”

Leonard whispered:

“You stole it.”

Dominic shrugged.

“I preserved it.”

Vincent’s jaw tightened.

“What does my mother need to do?”

Dominic answered:

“Sign.”

“Sign what?”

“Confirmation of identity.”

“So the hidden ownership transfer activates.”

“Yes.”

“And without her?”

“The documents are vulnerable.”

Vincent looked at the message again.

Bring Isabella.

He understood.

Whoever had Sofia and Carlo wanted Isabella’s signature.

Leonard said:

“This isn’t about the old murder anymore.”

“No.”

Dominic looked tired.

“It’s about control.”

Vincent asked:

“Who knows about the trust?”

“Carlo.”

“Sofia’s father.”

“Yes.”

“Anyone else?”

Dominic hesitated.

That was enough.

Vincent stepped closer.

“Who?”

“Your father’s attorney.”

“Name.”

“Samuel Pike.”

Leonard’s face changed.

“He died fourteen years ago.”

Dominic looked at him.

“No.”

Silence.

Leonard stared.

“What?”

“He disappeared.”

Vincent laughed bitterly.

“Of course he did.”

Dominic continued.

“He lives under another name.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

Vincent looked at him.

“You expect me to believe that?”

“No.”

Dominic smiled faintly.

“I expect you to believe this.”

He pulled a small key from his pocket.

Old.

Silver.

Leonard recognized it.

“The chapel safe.”

Dominic tossed it to Vincent.

“The original trust amendment was never in the country house.”

Vincent caught it.

“Where?”

“The family chapel.”

“Why tell me?”

Dominic looked at the message on Vincent’s phone.

“Because whoever took Sofia thinks the box contains the original.”

“But it doesn’t.”

“No.”

“So they’ll force my mother to sign something worthless.”

“Unless they find the real document.”

Vincent stared at the key.

“You want me to protect it.”

“I want you to understand what your father died protecting.”

Vincent looked at him.

“You still haven’t answered whether you ordered his murder.”

Dominic’s eyes darkened.

“No.”

“Then who did?”

Dominic looked toward the ballroom entrance.

Someone stood there.

Isabella.

Vincent’s mother.

She had returned from the country house with one of his drivers.

She heard the question.

Dominic looked at her.

Isabella whispered:

“Carlo DeLuca.”

Silence.

Vincent turned.

“Sofia’s father killed mine?”

“No.”

Isabella stepped closer.

“He arranged the meeting.”

“What meeting?”

“The one where your father died.”

Leonard frowned.

“Carlo said he only covered it up.”

“He lied.”

Vincent looked at his mother.

“What happened?”

Isabella took a breath.

“Your father believed Carlo wanted to help expose Dominic.”

Dominic laughed without humor.

“He wanted my accounts.”

Isabella continued.

“Carlo arranged a meeting at an abandoned warehouse.”

“Your father went.”

“So did Dominic.”

Vincent turned.

“You were there.”

Dominic nodded.

“Yes.”

“And?”

“A fourth man arrived.”

“Who?”

Dominic looked at Isabella.

She whispered:

“Samuel Pike.”

The supposedly dead attorney.

Vincent stared.

“Why would my father’s attorney be there?”

“Because Samuel wrote the trust.”

“And?”

“And Samuel was working for Carlo.”

Silence.

Vincent looked at Isabella.

“Who pulled the trigger?”

She answered:

“Samuel.”

Dominic closed his eyes.

Leonard stared.

Vincent’s voice became cold.

“Then why did Carlo cover it up?”

“Because he ordered Samuel to frighten your father.”

“Not kill him.”

“Yes.”

Vincent looked at the hostage photograph.

Sofia.

Carlo.

Both tied.

“Then who took them?”

Isabella whispered:

“Samuel.”

The room went still.

Vincent looked at the chapel key in his hand.

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Samuel Pike was alive.

And he wanted Isabella.