Chapter 8 - The Box Grace Reed Never Opened

Emma’s apartment had been searched.

Not robbed.

Searched.

Drawers open.

Closet emptied.

Mattress moved.

Television untouched.

Laptop untouched.

Cash still inside a kitchen jar.

Luca stood in the doorway and looked once around the room.

“They were looking for paper.”

Emma’s hands went cold.

“The box.”

She crossed the apartment.

Matteo caught her arm.

“Wait.”

Two guards entered first.

Clear.

Emma went to the bedroom.

The metal box was gone.

She stared at the empty shelf.

“No.”

Luca entered behind her.

“When did you last see it?”

“Last month.”

“What was inside?”

“Letters. Photographs. Old hospital paperwork.”

“Anything from Maria?”

“I don’t know.”

“You never opened everything?”

Emma shook her head.

“My grandmother tied some bundles with string. I didn’t want to go through them after she died.”

Luca looked toward Matteo.

“Building cameras.”

“Already pulling them.”

Emma sat on the edge of the bed.

For the first time that night, her composure failed.

“My grandmother raised me.”

Luca said nothing.

“She gave up everything for me.”

Still nothing.

“I quit school for her.”

“I know.”

Emma looked up.

“How?”

“My mother told me.”

Of course.

Maria had interviewed her over bread and water before anyone knew danger was sitting inside the purse.

Emma laughed once.

It almost became a cry.

“I thought tonight was just another shift.”

Luca’s expression softened.

Barely.

“It stopped being that when you helped my mother.”

“No.”

“When Belini saw me.”

He considered that.

Then nodded.

“Possibly.”

Matteo entered.

“We have footage.”

On the screen, a man entered Emma’s building at 8:17 p.m.

Baseball cap.

Dark coat.

Face mostly hidden.

He left eighteen minutes later carrying a grocery bag.

Emma stared.

“I know that walk.”

Luca looked at her.

“Who?”

She replayed it.

The left shoulder dipped slightly.

A childhood injury.

Her grandmother used to complain about the same thing whenever he visited.

Emma’s mouth went dry.

“My uncle.”

“Name.”

“Daniel Reed.”

Maria’s voice came from behind them.

“He isn’t your uncle.”

Everyone turned.

Maria stood in the doorway with a guard.

Luca’s face hardened.

“Mama. You were supposed to stay at the restaurant.”

“I have ignored better men than you.”

Then she looked at Emma.

“Daniel was Grace’s nephew.”

Emma frowned.

“That makes him my cousin.”

“Distantly.”

“Why did I call him Uncle Daniel?”

“Because Grace wanted your family history simple.”

Emma stared.

“Simple?”

Maria stepped closer.

“Your mother died when you were a baby.”

“I know.”

“What Grace never told you was who your mother worked for.”

Luca watched both women.

Maria continued.

“She was a junior accountant at Vescari Holdings.”

Belini’s family.

Emma stopped moving.

“She discovered irregularities in the company pension accounts.”

Luca’s attention sharpened.

“What kind?”

“Transfers into shell companies.”

Emma whispered, “The merger.”

Maria nodded.

“The same debt they are trying to bury now began years ago.”

Everything connected.

Not neatly.

But enough.

Grace had the proxy.

Emma’s mother had financial evidence.

Belini’s family had reason to fear both.

Matteo’s phone buzzed.

“Found Daniel Reed.”

“Where?”

“Vescari hotel property near the river.”

Luca’s face became cold.

“Alive?”

“For now.”

Emma stood.

“I’m going.”

“No.”

She looked at Luca.

“He stole my grandmother’s box.”

“That is exactly why you are not going.”

Emma stepped closer.

“He may know why my mother died.”

Luca’s expression did not change.

Neither did hers.

Maria sighed.

“You two are exhausting.”

Luca looked at his mother.

She pointed at Emma.

“She has spent her whole life being protected by people who never told her the truth.”

Then she pointed at Luca.

“You know exactly how that feels.”

Silence.

Luca looked away first.

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...

Ten minutes later, they were in the car.

And inside the Vescari hotel, Daniel Reed was waiting with Grace’s metal box open on the table.