Chapter 9 - The Second Funeral

Security blocked the exits.

Victor did not run.

Maybe he knew there was nowhere left.

Alessandro stared at him.

“How did Matteo die?”

Victor answered quietly:

“Overdose.”

Elena shook her head.

“He didn’t use drugs.”

Victor looked at her.

“He did at the end.”

Howard opened another document.

“Toxicology.”

Alessandro took it.

Sedatives.

Opioids.

Alcohol.

He looked at Victor.

“You drugged him.”

Victor laughed once.

“You think every death belongs to me.”

Alessandro’s voice stayed calm.

“Does this one?”

Silence.

Victor finally nodded.

“Yes.”

Isabella looked away.

Richard sat with his head in his hands.

Alessandro asked:

“Why?”

“Because Matteo wanted out.”

“He wanted to tell me.”

“Yes.”

“So you killed him too.”

Victor’s face hardened.

“I gave him a choice.”

“What choice?”

“Keep the life I built for him.”

“Or?”

“Lose everything.”

Alessandro stared.

“He chose to confess.”

“Yes.”

Victor shrugged.

“So I stopped him.”

Silence.

Alessandro looked at security.

“Call the police.”

Victor smiled.

“Police?”

Howard answered:

“Federal investigators too.”

Victor’s expression changed.

Howard lifted his phone.

“I sent copies before I entered the estate.”

Alessandro looked at him.

The old undertaker smiled faintly.

“I am seventy-nine.”

“I have learned not to bring only one copy.”

For the first time that night, Alessandro almost smiled.

Almost.

Victor was taken away.

Richard was not.

Not yet.

But he knew what was coming.

Fraud.

Obstruction.

Evidence tampering.

Financial crimes.

Isabella stood between her father and Alessandro.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

Split in half.

Richard looked at her.

“I’m sorry.”

She stared at him.

“You used that word before.”

He said nothing.

She continued.

“You told yourself hiding crimes protected people.”

Richard’s eyes filled.

“I know.”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“You know now.”

That was different.

Alessandro looked at Isabella.

She removed her engagement ring.

His face changed.

“You don’t have to do that tonight.”

She looked at him.

“Yes.”

“I do.”

She placed it on the table.

“I loved you while helping my father hide the truth from you.”

Alessandro said nothing.

“I don’t know what that makes our engagement.”

He looked at the ring.

“Neither do I.”

She nodded.

Then looked at Elena.

“I’m sorry.”

Elena answered:

“I know.”

No forgiveness.

Not yet.

No hatred either.

Just truth.

Police lights filled the windows.

Howard stood beside me.

I whispered:

“Is it over?”

He looked at the room.

At Richard.

At Isabella.

At Alessandro.

At Elena.

“No.”

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

Then:

“But the lying part might be.”