Chapter 12 - LUCIA'S LAST MESSAGE
Elio had lied by omission for twelve years.
Janevra didn't forgive him immediately.
But she finally understood why.
Lucia had approached Elio because he was young enough to hate the old rules and powerful enough to someday change them.
Together, they had quietly documented the network growing inside both families.
Then Lucia was killed before they could expose it.
Elio had lived with the failure ever since.
"I thought if I kept you away from this world, I could keep my promise."
Janevra gave him a sad smile.
"You married me into it."
"I've noticed the flaw in the plan."
She almost laughed.
It was the first moment in months that felt normal.
Then they found something hidden in the ledger's leather spine.
A microcassette.
Old.
Damaged.
But playable.
Lucia's voice filled the library.
Janevra had forgotten exactly how it sounded.
Warm.
Steady.
Alive.
"If Jenny ever hears this, then I failed to leave with her."
Janevra covered her mouth.
Lucia explained the final piece.
Daario had not acted alone.
He was building a coalition designed to consume both the Moretti and Vieira families after their leaders eliminated each other.
But Lucia believed his weakness was vanity.
"He will always need people to know he won."
That gave Janevra an idea.
The annual Vieira Foundation art auction was three nights away.
Every important figure in Chicago society would attend.
So would federal investigators already reviewing financial records connected to the ledger.
They wouldn't chase Daario.
They would make Daario come to them.
Janevra announced publicly that Lucia's original painting would be auctioned for charity.
She also leaked one irresistible lie:
The evidence was still hidden inside it.
Hours later, the estate received a message.
Daario would attend.
May you like
But a second message arrived privately on Janevra's phone.
COME ALONE OR ELIO DIES BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
