Chapter 8 - Belini Finally Told the Truth

Belini returned to the Moretti estate at noon.

Not voluntarily.

But not in handcuffs either.

Two black cars stopped beneath the front portico.

Dante opened the rear door.

Belini stepped out in a red coat.

Her face was pale.

Her posture was not.

She walked into the library and looked first at Luca.

Then Emma.

Then Isabella.

“You dragged me here for a dead man’s paperwork.”

Luca placed Carlo’s storage records on the table.

“You opened his Vescari account three months ago.”

Belini’s eyes changed.

Only once.

Enough.

“Yes.”

Emma watched her.

“What did you find?”

Belini looked at Isabella.

“The same thing she spent years hiding.”

Isabella flinched.

Luca spoke.

“Answer Emma.”

Belini’s mouth tightened.

“Carlo’s records proved my father and your uncle stole from Moretti companies.”

Emma waited.

“And my mother?”

Belini looked at her.

“Carlo had a surveillance report.”

Emma felt cold.

“What report?”

“Elena was followed.”

Isabella covered her mouth.

Belini continued.

“Carlo ordered it.”

“Did he order her death?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you believe he did?”

A pause.

“Yes.”

Emma closed her eyes.

There it was.

Not complete proof.

But truth at last.

Luca asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Belini laughed without humor.

“Because the second I found those files, I understood my father had spent my entire life building our family on stolen money.”

“That explains silence,” Luca said. “Not this.”

He looked at Isabella’s wrist.

Belini’s face hardened.

“She had the original amendment.”

“So you hurt her.”

“I needed to know where it was.”

“You needed?”

“My father told me if that amendment surfaced, the Vescari lenders would collapse. Every bank would run. Every partner would sue.”

Emma stared.

“So you chose him.”

Belini’s eyes flashed.

“You think choices are clean in families like ours?”

“No.”

Emma stepped closer.

“But this one was.”

Belini looked at her.

“You had no idea what was at stake.”

“I knew an old woman was afraid of you.”

Silence.

Belini looked away first.

Luca opened the red folder.

“Did your father order you to hurt my mother?”

“No.”

That surprised everyone.

Belini continued.

“He told me to find the documents.”

“Did he tell you how?”

“No.”

Isabella began to cry again.

Belini’s voice became smaller.

“That part was me.”

Luca stared at her.

For the first time, Belini looked ashamed.

Not innocent.

Not redeemed.

Ashamed.

Dante entered carrying a tablet.

“Boss.”

Luca took it.

His eyes moved across the screen.

“What?”

Dante looked at Belini.

“Vincent left Vescari Tower eleven minutes ago.”

“Where is he going?”

“Private airfield.”

Belini went still.

Emma understood.

“He’s running.”

Dante nodded.

Belini looked at Luca.

“My father has the original transfer ledgers.”

“Where?”

She hesitated.

Emma saw the decision happen.

Family.

Fear.

Self-preservation.

Then Belini answered.

“His plane.”

Luca handed the tablet back to Dante.

“Stop it from taking off.”

Belini closed her eyes.

Luca looked at her.

“You could have told the truth three months ago.”

“I know.”

“You could have told it tonight.”

“I know.”

“You chose to hurt my mother instead.”

Belini nodded once.

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Luca’s voice remained calm.

“Then whatever happens next belongs to you.”