Chapter 5 - THE SECRET VALENTINA HID IN HER KITCHEN

Valentina Moretti was stronger than anyone expected.

The morning after her doctors stabilized her medication, she demanded pepper soup.

Not hospital broth.

Not bland oatmeal.

Pepper soup.

When I arrived with a container from the penthouse kitchen, she smiled.

"My girl."

I laughed.

"Good morning, Mrs. Moretti."

She reached for my hand.

Then studied my face.

"You're frightened."

I looked down.

"A little."

"Of Celeste?"

I hesitated.

Valentina's expression changed.

"So she's finally shown her teeth."

I stared.

"You knew?"

She sighed.

"I knew she wasn't trustworthy."

"Then why did you let her bring you medication?"

Valentina looked away.

"Because I thought the worst she would do was make me sleepy enough to keep me out of Dante's affairs."

My stomach tightened.

"Mrs. Moretti..."

She squeezed my hand.

"Serena, there's something I need you to do."

I waited.

"In my kitchen, beneath the old recipe cabinet, there's a loose panel."

My heart began pounding.

"What is inside?"

"A small envelope."

"What's in it?"

Valentina's eyes filled.

"Luca's final letter."

I stopped breathing.

"Why didn't you give it to Dante?"

She looked toward the window.

"Because the day Luca died, he begged me not to."

My chest tightened.

"Why?"

"He said the person who betrayed him was close enough to Dante that telling him without proof could destroy the family."

I swallowed.

"Who?"

Valentina closed her eyes.

"I don't know."

For a moment, the only sound was the hospital monitor.

Then she whispered:

"Serena, I don't think Luca died because he discovered the missing money."

I leaned closer.

"Then why?"

"Because he discovered who was moving the money."

My stomach tightened.

"Arthur Bowmont?"

She shook her head.

"Arthur wasn't working alone."

My thoughts raced.

Celeste.

Julian Price.

The medical facility.

The stolen charitable funds.

The wrong medication.

All of it seemed connected.

Then Valentina reached into her handbag.

She removed a small silver key.

"Take this."

I hesitated.

"Mrs. Moretti, shouldn't you give it to Dante?"

Her eyes filled.

"I will. But first, I need you to make sure the letter reaches someone who won't destroy it."

I looked at the key.

Then nodded.

"I'll give it to his attorney."

Valentina smiled.

"Good girl."

That afternoon, the letter was recovered from the kitchen cabinet and preserved.

Dante read it beside me.

His brother's handwriting covered three pages.

Dante,

If you're reading this, someone has made sure I can't tell you what I discovered.

Dante's hands trembled.

The letter described financial transfers from the charitable foundation into Northstar Health Management.

Then Luca wrote something that made my stomach turn.

The foundation beneficiaries aren't simply losing money.

Some are being charged for treatments that should already be covered.

I thought about Mom.

The bills.

The canceled assistance.

The years I'd spent working double shifts.

Then Dante reached the final paragraph.

His face changed.

"What?" I asked.

He looked at me.

"Luca says someone has been approving the transfers using my credentials."

My heart stopped.

Dante continued reading.

And I believe the person responsible is the woman Arthur Bowmont wants me to marry.

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