Chapter 3 - The Father Behind the Grave
Dominic spent the entire night staring at an old cemetery record.
His father, Carlo Moretti, had supposedly died in Naples eight years ago.
Funeral.
Burial.
Witnesses.
Everything documented.
Yet Lillian insisted he was alive.
Dominic did not believe her.
Not because he trusted his father.
Because he had seen the body.
At least he thought he had.
He returned to the hospital at dawn.
Lillian was asleep.
Emma sat by the window.
Dominic entered quietly.
She looked up.
"Are you going to find my grandfather?"
Dominic paused.
"Yes."
"Is he bad?"
Dominic considered his answer.
"He made choices I don't understand."
Emma nodded.
"Mom says bad people still get to choose."
Dominic looked at her.
"Your mother is right."
Emma smiled.
That smile looked like Matteo.
He turned away.
Vincenzo arrived.
"Boss."
Dominic stepped into the hallway.
"What?"
"We found a man matching Carlo Moretti's description."
"Where?"
"Montreal."
Dominic's heart slammed.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
"Get the plane."
They flew out that afternoon.
Carlo's location was an abandoned warehouse near the river.
Dominic entered with six men.
The door opened before they reached it.
His father stood inside.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
Dominic stared.
Carlo smiled.
"You look just like me."
Dominic raised his gun.
"You killed Matteo."
Carlo's expression did not change.
"No."
"Lillian says you did."
"Lillian never understood what happened."
"Then explain."
Carlo sat.
"Matteo discovered the trust."
"Which trust?"
"The Bell Foundation."
Dominic frowned.
"What is that?"
"The Moretti family had been hiding money for years."
"Why?"
"Protection."
"For whom?"
"Families who wanted to escape."
Dominic stared.
Carlo continued.
"Your grandfather created the fund."
"Then why was it secret?"
"Because criminals stole from it."
"Who?"
Carlo looked at him.
"People inside your organization."
Dominic went still.
"Someone betrayed Matteo."
"Yes."
"Who?"
Carlo said nothing.
Dominic stepped closer.
"Who?"
"Your uncle Vincent."
Dominic froze.
Vincent Moretti.
His father's younger brother.
He had died years earlier.
Supposedly.
Dominic sat down.
"How many people are alive who are supposed to be dead?"
Carlo gave a tired smile.
"More than you think."
Dominic stared.
"What happened to Matteo?"
"He found out children were listed as beneficiaries of the fund."
"Emma?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Vincent believed controlling the children meant controlling the money."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"So he ordered Matteo killed."
"No."
"Then who?"
Carlo looked away.
"Matteo was trying to disappear."
"And?"
"He was betrayed."
"By whom?"
"Someone you trust."
Dominic remembered the words from the anonymous message.
ONE OF THEM IS YOUR FAMILY.
He looked at his father.
"What about Lillian?"
"She knows where the trust key is."
"She gave it to me."
Carlo's face changed.
"Then she has made a serious mistake."
"Why?"
"Because Vincent will come for Emma."
Dominic stood.
"Vincent is dead."
Carlo shook his head.
"No."
"Where is he?"
"In Chicago."
Dominic felt cold.
The man he had believed buried for fifteen years was alive.
And hunting his niece.
He turned toward the door.
Then Carlo spoke.
"Dominic."
He stopped.
"I didn't kill Matteo."
"Who did?"
Carlo looked directly into his eyes.
"Your mother's brother."
Dominic froze.
"Uncle Rafael?"
"Yes."
"He died in prison."
Carlo shook his head.
"Another lie."
Dominic's phone rang.
Vincenzo.
"Boss?"
"Speak."
"The hospital was attacked."
Dominic's heart stopped.
"Who?"
"Three men."
"Emma?"
"Safe."
"Lillian?"
A pause.
"She's gone."
Dominic's expression changed.
"Find her."
"We're trying."
Dominic turned toward his father.
Carlo shook his head.
"You're too late."
Dominic raised his gun.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"Then who took her?"
Carlo looked at him.
"The man who knows the truth about Matteo."
"Who?"
"Vincent."
Dominic's phone rang again.
A message appeared.
YOU HAVE HER BROTHER'S DAUGHTER.
NOW BRING ME THE KEY.
Dominic stared at the screen.
Then looked at Emma.
She was standing in the doorway.
She had heard everything.
"Grandpa took my mom."
Dominic nodded.
"Yes."
"What are we going to do?"
Dominic looked down at the eleven-year-old girl.
"Bring her back."
May you like
Emma wiped her tears.
"Then let's go."
