Chapter 10 - THE MAFIA BOSS WHO KEPT MY FATHER'S PROMISE
I wanted someone simple to blame.
Vincent would have been convenient.
A Mafia king with secrets.
A criminal family.
A cold face.
Easy.
Instead, my father had asked him to lie.
Julian explained that he contacted Vincent two years earlier after learning I worked at the Moretti mansion.
He panicked.
He believed the Whitmores might notice me again.
So he asked Vincent to keep my true connection to Aurelia hidden.
“Did you trust him?”
I asked.
Julian gave a sad smile.
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because I trusted how he looked at you.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
“He cared.”
My cheeks warmed.
I hated that.
“He was engaged.”
“I know.”
“To Vanessa.”
“I know.”
“And he still watched his maid?”
Julian laughed softly.
“Apparently subtlety is not a Moretti strength.”
I almost smiled.
Then remembered the lies.
“Caring doesn’t justify deciding what I’m allowed to know.”
“No.”
Good.
My father understood.
I called Vincent that evening.
He answered immediately.
“Grace?”
“You knew Julian was alive.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
My eyes closed.
“You promised him you wouldn’t tell me.”
“Yes.”
“Did you think that made it right?”
“No.”
I opened my eyes.
That answer stopped me.
Vincent continued.
“At the time, yes. Now? No.”
I sat down.
“What changed?”
“You.”
I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see.
“That sounds rehearsed.”
“It isn’t.”
He took a breath.
“You told me after the engagement party that you didn’t want gifts. You wanted people to stop deciding what you needed.”
I remembered.
The flowers.
The jewelry.
All refused.
Vincent continued.
“I realized I was doing exactly what everyone else had done.”
My throat tightened.
“Protecting me with lies.”
“Yes.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he said:
“I’m sorry.”
I believed him.
That didn’t mean trust returned automatically.
“Thank you.”
His breathing changed slightly.
Maybe he expected anger.
Maybe forgiveness.
He got neither.
Then Detective Bennett called me on the other line.
Charles Whitmore had been arrested.
Financial conspiracy.
Witness intimidation.
Evidence tampering.
Other charges still developing.
Vanessa was also under investigation for the sabotage and attempted harm at the engagement party.
My mother could finally stop hiding.
My father could return to public life.
Celeste could testify openly.
For the first time, the secret war around me seemed close to ending.
Then Bennett added:
“There’s one problem.”
I sighed.
“Of course there is.”
“The recovered ledger shows someone inside Moretti Holdings continued Whitmore shipments after Vincent took control.”
My chest tightened.
“Vincent?”
“No.”
Relief came too fast.
Then Bennett continued.
“His younger brother, Dominic.”
I had met Dominic Moretti twice.
Polite.
Charming.
Invisible compared with Vincent.
Then Bennett said:
“Dominic authorized the transfer that brought Vanessa’s sabotage equipment into the Moretti mansion before the engagement party.”
My blood turned cold.
May you like
Vanessa hadn’t acted alone.
Someone inside Vincent’s own family had helped her set the trap.
