Chapter 9 - THE BROTHER WHO HAD NEVER REALLY LEFT
Matteo Moretti arrived at the mansion that evening wearing a navy suit and a smile.
He hugged Teresa.
Shook Luca’s hand.
Looked at Adrian for five long seconds.
Then said, “Dead looks good on you.”
Adrian didn’t smile.
“Traitor looks expensive on you.”
Teresa whispered, “Please.”
Luca closed the study doors.
“No more secrets.”
Matteo glanced around.
“Then Hannah shouldn’t be here.”
I crossed my arms.
“My father’s ledger says otherwise.”
That got his attention.
“You found it.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“You knew about the ledger?”
Matteo realized his mistake.
Too late.
Adrian laughed softly.
“There he is.”
Matteo moved toward the bar.
“I knew Michael kept records.”
“You told Carlo,” Adrian said.
“No.”
“My tape says I trusted the wrong brother.”
Matteo poured whiskey.
“Michael was dramatic.”
“My father was murdered,” I said.
Matteo looked at me.
For a second, guilt flashed.
Then disappeared.
“I didn’t kill him.”
“Who did?”
“Carlo arranged the truck.”
My mother made a broken sound.
I felt Luca move closer to me.
Not touching.
Just there.
Matteo continued.
“I gave Carlo information. That’s all.”
Adrian lunged.
Luca caught him.
Teresa shouted.
“You gave him Michael!”
Matteo slammed the glass down.
“I was twenty-six! Dad treated Luca like the heir, Adrian like the genius, and me like the spare!”
Teresa recoiled.
“So you sold your family because you were jealous?”
“No. I built my own leverage.”
“You helped steal sixty million.”
“Carlo stole it.”
“You hid it.”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Matteo looked toward Luca.
“You think you became powerful because Dad chose you? No. You became powerful because men like me cleaned up what you never saw.”
Luca stared at him.
“I would rather have been poorer.”
Matteo laughed.
“That’s easy to say while standing in a twenty-eight-million-dollar house.”
Teresa slowly stood.
“This house isn’t Luca’s.”
Matteo smiled.
“I know.”
Everyone froze.
Teresa’s face changed.
“How?”
“Because I read Dad’s trust fifteen years ago.”
“You couldn’t have.”
“I had the combination.”
Luca stepped forward.
“You’ve been planning this longer than Vanessa.”
Matteo’s smile disappeared.
“No.”
“Then why come back now?”
Matteo looked toward me.
“Because Hannah opened Box 314.”
My skin prickled.
“How did you know?”
He didn’t answer.
Luca’s voice dropped.
“Who told you?”
Matteo finally looked toward the hallway.
The door opened.
Vanessa walked in.
No guards.
No restraints.
Nothing.
Marco immediately reached for his weapon.
Luca’s face became lethal.
“How did she get out?”
Vanessa smiled.
“Because your security chief isn’t the only person controlling your cameras.”
The mansion lights went black.
Teresa screamed.
May you like
Then came the unmistakable sound of a gunshot.
And when the emergency lights turned on, Teresa Moretti was gone.
