Chapter 3 - THE COUSIN WHO SMILED TOO MUCH
Luca arrived smiling.
That was his first mistake.
Men brought into Matteo Rossi’s private warehouse at three in the morning usually understood the atmosphere.
Luca walked in like he had been invited for cigars.
“Cousin.”
Matteo sat behind a steel table.
Arthur remained near the door.
“Sit.”
Luca’s smile thinned.
“What’s this about?”
“Raven.”
Nothing.
No visible reaction.
Too controlled.
Matteo watched him.
“You requested my estate files.”
“Accounting asked me to.”
“Who?”
Luca hesitated.
“Daniel.”
“Daniel says you asked him.”
Silence.
There.
The first crack.
Luca leaned back.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
“You disappear to Greece with your girlfriend, your wife runs away, and suddenly I’m the problem?”
Matteo’s face hardened.
“You know Norah left?”
“Everyone knows.”
“No.”
Matteo leaned forward.
“Five people know.”
Luca went still.
Arthur closed the warehouse door.
Luca recovered quickly.
“I heard from household staff.”
“Which one?”
No answer.
Matteo’s voice dropped.
“Which one?”
Luca’s jaw tightened.
“Maybe Arthur isn’t as good at containment as you think.”
Arthur showed no reaction.
Matteo did.
He stood.
Luca did too.
“I wouldn’t.”
Matteo stopped.
Something in Luca’s tone bothered him.
Not fear.
Confidence.
Then Luca smiled again.
“You’re distracted.”
“With what?”
“A wife who finally figured out you’re exactly the man everyone warned her about.”
Matteo’s hands tightened.
“You want to discuss my marriage?”
“No.”
Luca shrugged.
“I want you to notice what it did to you.”
Matteo said nothing.
“You used to see threats before they breathed. Now you spend nights fighting with Norah, days managing her moods, and apparently vacations chasing Harper.”
Arthur shifted.
Luca continued.
“Maybe family made you weak.”
Matteo understood.
This was not only financial.
Luca believed the empire needed different leadership.
His leadership.
“Did you create the trust?”
Luca smiled.
“You have proof?”
“Not yet.”
“Then we’re finished.”
He turned toward the door.
Matteo let him take three steps.
Then said:
“Norah has copies.”
Luca stopped.
There.
Not dramatic.
Just the smallest pause.
Enough.
He turned.
“What copies?”
Matteo almost smiled.
“Thank you.”
Luca’s face changed.
Matteo had not said what Norah possessed.
But Luca had immediately wanted specifics.
He knew there were documents worth fearing.
Arthur moved toward him.
Luca raised both hands.
“I’m leaving.”
“For now.”
Matteo let him go.
Arthur stared after him.
“You’re letting him walk?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because scared men run toward what they value.”
And Luca was scared now.
They would follow him.
Quietly.
Then Matteo’s private phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No voice.
Only breathing.
Then Norah.
“Matteo?”
Everything inside him stopped.
“Where are you?”
“That’s not important.”
“It is to me.”
“No.”
Her voice sounded exhausted.
He could hear traffic somewhere.
Maybe a hotel.
Maybe a street.
“How are you?”
“Pregnant.”
Despite himself, his eyes closed.
“Norah—”
“Did you open Raven?”
Silence.
So she knew.
“Yes.”
“Then listen carefully.”
Her tone changed.
Urgent.
“Luca isn’t working alone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Then come home.”
“No.”
“I can protect you.”
She laughed softly.
Not cruelly.
Sadly.
“You couldn’t even protect our marriage from yourself.”
That landed.
He had no answer.
Then she whispered:
“There’s something in Raven you haven’t found.”
“What?”
“A document dated before we married.”
His stomach tightened.
“About what?”
“Me.”
Matteo went completely still.
May you like
Norah continued.
“Someone was watching me before you ever met me.”
