Chapter 4 - The Night Vanessa Met Marco Moretti

Luca stared at Vanessa.

"The night I proposed."

She nodded through tears.

"You left dinner early."

"Because you said you were sick."

"I lied."

Antonio whispered:

"Vanessa."

She ignored him.

Luca asked:

"Where did you meet him?"

"At my father's office."

"Why?"

"He called me."

"How did he get your number?"

"He had it."

"Of course."

Luca's voice stayed calm.

"What did he want?"

Vanessa wiped her face.

"He wanted me to give you something."

"What?"

"A letter."

Luca laughed softly.

Another letter.

"Where is it?"

"I burned it."

Silence.

Margaret closed her eyes.

Luca stared at Vanessa.

"You burned a letter from my father."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"My father told me it was dangerous."

Antonio said:

"It was."

Luca turned.

"Stop helping."

Antonio went quiet.

Luca looked back at Vanessa.

"What did it say?"

"I read it first."

"Of course."

She cried.

"Marco said he was alive."

"He said Elena's death was not natural."

"He said Vittorio had used Bellini Capital to move money."

"He told you not to sign any partnership with my family."

Luca looked at Antonio.

"Same warning as Mom."

Antonio nodded.

Luca asked Vanessa:

"Anything else?"

Her face changed.

"Yes."

"What?"

"He said if I loved you, I should tell you before accepting a ring."

Luca's expression went still.

Vanessa covered her mouth.

"I didn't know you were going to propose that night."

"But you knew after."

"Yes."

"And you said yes."

"Yes."

Silence.

Luca looked away.

Then back.

"What did my father say about you?"

Vanessa whispered:

"That I wasn't responsible for my father's crimes."

A tear fell.

"But I would be responsible for my own silence."

Luca closed his eyes.

Then opened them.

"Three years."

She nodded.

"I was afraid."

"I know."

"I thought if I told you, you'd destroy my father."

"Maybe."

"And leave me."

"Maybe."

Vanessa cried harder.

Luca continued:

"But you decided for me."

"Yes."

That was the part she could not escape.

Vittorio moved toward the exit.

Dominic blocked him.

Luca turned.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"No."

Vittorio stared.

"You do not control me."

Luca almost smiled.

"Apparently I control less than I thought."

Then his expression hardened.

"But you stay until security copies every device you brought into this house."

Vittorio laughed.

"You have no authority."

Antonio said quietly:

"He does tonight."

Vittorio turned.

Antonio continued:

"Because I already called federal investigators."

Silence.

Luca stared at him.

"When?"

"After Margaret entered the dining room."

"Why?"

Antonio looked at Elena's letter.

"Because I knew the second envelope would end the lie."

Luca shook his head.

"No."

"You could have ended it ten years ago."

Antonio accepted that.

"Yes."

Luca turned to Dominic.

"Secure the chapel."

Then to Margaret.

"Show me the safe before we leave."

The old chapel was behind the east garden.

Small.

Private.

Elena had prayed there during treatment.

Margaret used the brass key.

The safe opened.

Empty.

Just as Antonio said.

But there was one thing left.

A photograph taped to the back.

Marco Moretti.

Elena Moretti.

Antonio Bellini.

And Samuel Crane.

On the reverse:

IF THE LEDGER DISAPPEARS, ASK WHO PAID FOR VANESSA'S FIRST APARTMENT.

Vanessa went pale.

Luca looked at her.

"What?"

She shook her head.

"I don't know."

Antonio closed his eyes.

Luca turned.

"You do."

Antonio nodded.

"Vittorio."

Silence.

Vanessa stared at her father.

"What?"

Antonio continued:

"When you were twenty-two."

"He paid the lease."

"Why?"

"To keep me cooperative."

Vanessa laughed in disbelief.

"You let him pay for me."

"I thought it kept you outside the business."

"No."

Her voice broke.

"It put me inside it."

Luca watched her.

For the first time, Vanessa looked at her father the way Luca had been looking at everyone else.

Like the story she knew had disappeared.

Then Dominic entered the chapel.

"Luca."

"What?"

"We found something in Vittorio's phone."

Vittorio's face changed.

Dominic continued:

"A message sent tonight."

"To who?"

"Unknown number."

"What does it say?"

Dominic read:

MARGARET BROUGHT THE VEIL. MOVE MARCO BEFORE LUCA GETS THE ADDRESS.

Luca looked at the card in his hand.

Montreal.

Then at Vittorio.

"You know where my father is."

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Vittorio smiled.

"Not anymore."