Chapter 4 - The Original Agreement Was Never Missing

Luca looked at Sofia.

“My mother?”

Sofia’s face changed.

Celeste continued through the phone.

“My father says Sofia took the original before she disappeared.”

Luca stared at her.

“Is that true?”

Sofia did not answer.

That was enough.

Luca ended the call.

“Where is it?”

Sofia closed her eyes.

“Safe.”

“Where?”

“I cannot tell you.”

Luca laughed once.

“You came back after eighteen years and your first instinct is still to hide things.”

“That document can destroy both families.”

“So?”

“It can also destroy you.”

His expression hardened.

“I am thirty-three.”

“Yes.”

“You do not get to protect me by lying anymore.”

Sofia’s eyes filled.

Luca continued.

“That rule is over.”

Silence.

Finally she nodded.

“The original agreement is inside a bank vault.”

“Which bank?”

“Not here.”

“Where?”

“Geneva.”

Elias looked surprised.

Sofia continued.

“Marco placed it there.”

Luca frowned.

“You said you had it.”

“I do.”

“Then why is it in Marco’s vault?”

“Because we opened it together.”

Luca stared.

“You stayed in contact with him.”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“On and off for eighteen years.”

Luca turned away.

Every answer came with another betrayal.

Sofia whispered:

“I am sorry.”

He looked back.

“No.”

She froze.

“Stop saying that until I know what you are sorry for.”

Silence.

Luca picked up the contract copy.

“What is actually in the original?”

Sofia answered:

“One page missing from every copy.”

“What page?”

“The ownership schedule.”

Luca looked at her.

“What does it say?”

“That Moretti Maritime was never supposed to belong only to Dante.”

“I know Marco owned half.”

“No.”

She swallowed.

“Marco owned twenty-five percent.”

Luca frowned.

“And the other twenty-five?”

Sofia looked at him.

“Me.”

Silence.

Luca stopped moving.

“You owned Moretti Maritime.”

“One quarter.”

“Since when?”

“Before you were born.”

“How?”

“My father gave me shares.”

“Why was I never told?”

“Because Dante took control after we married.”

“Legally?”

“No.”

Luca stared.

“He stole your shares too.”

“Yes.”

“And Arthur knew.”

“Yes.”

“And Marco?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did neither help you?”

Sofia’s voice became quiet.

“Because both men wanted my shares.”

Luca looked at the locket.

Suddenly everything changed.

The locket was not only sentimental.

It had hidden proof.

Luca looked at her.

“The account number in the locket.”

“Yes.”

“What does it prove?”

“That Dante paid Arthur to help transfer my shares.”

Luca’s face hardened.

“So Father did not threaten Arthur into helping.”

“No.”

“He bought him.”

“Yes.”

“And Arthur later pretended to help you escape.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he wanted me alive long enough to sign away the shares.”

Luca looked at Elias.

The jeweler nodded slowly.

Sofia continued.

“I refused.”

“So he told Father where you were.”

“Yes.”

“And Father imprisoned you.”

“Yes.”

Luca’s hands tightened.

“What happened after eleven months?”

“Marco found me.”

Luca stared.

“Marco rescued you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because by then he realized Arthur and Dante had cheated him too.”

Luca laughed bitterly.

“So everyone helped everyone only after being cheated.”

No one answered.

His phone rang again.

Unknown number.

Luca answered.

A man’s voice.

Older.

Calm.

“Nephew.”

Luca froze.

“Marco.”

Sofia closed her eyes.

The voice continued.

“You sound like Dante.”

Luca’s expression hardened.

“Then you have not been paying attention.”

A quiet laugh.

“Good.”

“Where is Arthur?”

“With me.”

“Celeste said you left together.”

“We did.”

“Why?”

“Because he finally agreed to tell me where the original ownership records are.”

Luca looked at Sofia.

“He thinks Mother has them.”

“He is right.”

Marco was silent.

Then:

“Sofia is with you.”

“Yes.”

“Put me on speaker.”

Luca did.

Sofia looked at the phone.

“Marco.”

“Sofia.”

Twenty-two years of history sat between two words.

Marco continued.

“You should have told him.”

“I know.”

“About your shares.”

“I know.”

“About Dante.”

“I know.”

Luca interrupted.

“Where are you?”

Marco answered:

“Old Vane warehouse.”

“Why?”

“Because there is something here you need to see.”

“What?”

“Your father’s safe.”

Sofia went still.

Luca looked at her.

“You knew about that too?”

She shook her head.

Marco continued.

“Dante left instructions.”

“For whom?”

“For Luca.”

Silence.

Luca’s voice dropped.

“My father left something for me in Arthur’s warehouse?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“I have not opened it.”

“Why?”

“Because the lock uses a code.”

“What code?”

Marco laughed softly.

“You already have it.”

Luca looked down at the locket.

The account number.

Sofia saw it too.

Marco continued.

“Bring the locket.”

Luca’s expression hardened.

“And Arthur?”

“Alive.”

“Safe?”

“For now.”

“What does that mean?”

Marco’s voice changed.

“It means if Arthur lied to me for twenty-two years, he has one hour to explain why.”

The call ended.

Sofia grabbed Luca’s arm.

“Do not go alone.”

He looked at her.

“I won’t.”

She nodded.

“I’m coming.”

“No.”

“Luca.”

“No more disappearing.”

He looked at Elias.

“Stay with her.”

Then toward me.

“Emma.”

I straightened.

“Yes?”

“You saw Mr. Bennett at the ball.”

“Yes.”

“Did he speak to anyone besides Arthur?”

I thought.

Then remembered.

“Celeste.”

Luca froze.

“What did he say?”

“I couldn’t hear.”

“Did she know him?”

I pictured her face.

The way she had gone still.

“Yes.”

Luca’s eyes hardened.

“How well?”

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I swallowed.

“She hugged him.”