Chapter 7 - The Woman Who Was Already Inside
When they returned to Chicago, Vivien was waiting in the Moretti library.
She was sitting peacefully with a cup of tea.
As though nothing had happened.
As though nobody had spent months hunting ghosts.
She looked up.
“You found him.”
Enzo stared.
“How long have you known?”
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
Vivien sighed.
“Long enough.”
Marco stood beside Enzo.
“You lied to us.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Enzo laughed.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Of whom?”
“My mother.”
Marco's face changed.
“Your mother?”
Vivien nodded.
“She built the network before she gave it to my grandfather.”
Enzo stepped closer.
“You've been inside my organization for years.”
“Yes.”
“You had access to my files.”
“Yes.”
“You planted the surveillance.”
“Yes.”
Elena stared at her.
“You tried to make Enzo think Marco betrayed him.”
Vivien looked at Marco.
“I needed him isolated.”
“Why?”
“Because he was close to the truth.”
Marco's fists tightened.
“What truth?”
“That Gabriel never betrayed your father.”
“You mean Arthur?”
“Yes.”
“Who did?”
Vivien looked at Elena.
“Your mother.”
Elena's face went white.
“No.”
“Lucia discovered the network.”
“And betrayed Arthur?”
“No.”
“She tried to expose it.”
“So why accuse her?”
“Because she left behind evidence that could destroy everyone.”
Vivien reached into a drawer.
She pulled out another photograph.
Lucia.
Arthur.
Gabriel.
And a fourth person.
An older man.
Enzo recognized him.
“Victor Moretti.”
His uncle.
The man everyone believed had died in a boating accident.
Vivien spoke quietly.
“Victor was the real architect.”
Enzo stared.
“My uncle.”
“He built the laundering network.”
“But he died.”
“No.”
Vivien smiled bitterly.
“He disappeared.”
“Where is he?”
Vivien looked at the ceiling.
“You already know.”
Enzo's expression changed.
“The photograph from Monaco.”
“What?”
“The man who called me.”
“The voice from your father's number.”
Vivien nodded.
“Victor.”
Elena stepped forward.
“He is alive.”
“Yes.”
“And he's behind everything.”
“Yes.”
“Then why involve Vivien?”
“Because I was his granddaughter.”
Vivien looked down.
“I didn't want any of this.”
Enzo's voice was cold.
“But you participated.”
“Yes.”
“Did you order the wedding poisoning?”
Vivien shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“Victor.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew the wedding would force the trust issue.”
Enzo understood.
If Enzo married someone inside the Bellini family, control of the trust could be contested.
The poisoning would eliminate him.
Then the inheritance would fall into legal chaos.
Elena was the second target because she could activate the Russo trust.
Marco was targeted because he carried old evidence.
Everything connected.
The jealousy.
The surveillance.
The attacks.
The missing photograph.
All part of the same plan.
Then the library doors opened.
An old man entered.
Arthur Moretti's brother.
Victor.
He looked frail.
But his eyes were sharp.
Enzo raised his weapon.
Victor smiled.
“You look so much like your father.”
“You killed him.”
“No.”
“You ordered it.”
“I ordered information extracted.”
“My father died.”
“That was not my order.”
“Who killed him?”
Victor looked at Vivien.
“Your grandmother.”
Vivien recoiled.
Victor continued.
“She believed Arthur would expose her.”
“You were working with her.”
“Yes.”
“You used Elena.”
“Yes.”
“You used Marco.”
“Yes.”
“And Matteo?”
Victor's expression changed.
“He was insurance.”
Elena stepped forward.
“You have spent twenty years treating people like pieces on a board.”
Victor looked at her.
“That is how power works.”
“No.”
Her voice steadied.
“That is how cowards work.”
Victor smiled.
“You sound like your mother.”
“Good.”
He raised his gun.
Marco moved first.
A shot rang out.
Victor fell.
But before anyone could reach him, he pressed a button.
The entire Moretti building went dark.
Security alarms screamed.
Emergency lights flickered red.
Then a message appeared on every monitor.
THE TRUST ACTIVATES AT MIDNIGHT.
Enzo looked at Elena.
“What happens at midnight?”
She answered:
“If both beneficiaries are alive, the assets transfer automatically.”
Marco frowned.
“And if one dies?”
“The surviving beneficiary gets nothing.”
Silence.
Victor had one final move.
Kill Elena before midnight.
They ran.
The building was already under attack.
Gunmen moved through the corridors.
Enzo and Marco fought their way toward Elena.
She reached the secure elevator.
The doors closed.
Then the lights inside went out.
Someone was already waiting.
A figure stepped from the darkness.
Matteo.
Elena stared.
“Who are you?”
May you like
He whispered:
“Your brother.”
