Chapter 12 - The Ledger of Traitors
Valentina flipped pages while Tomas photographed each one.
Gerald’s name appeared dozens of times.
Charity accounts.
Shell companies.
Cash routes.
Beside several entries Domenico had written GREED - CONTAINABLE.
Marco appeared under initials.
MB.
Meeting dates.
Payments through cutouts.
One line was boxed in red.
MB ASKED AGAIN ABOUT SUCCESSION.
Valentina’s jaw tightened.
Then she saw Evelyn’s name.
Her hand stopped.
Evelyn CARBONE - SOURCE.
Not partner.
Source.
“She was helping him,” Valentina said.
Nico nodded.
“Before he died.”
Gerald looked sick.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“That’s why Marco threatened your son,” Valentina said.
Gerald closed his eyes.
A medic crossed the room from where Evelyn was being treated and whispered that she would survive the greenhouse wound.
Valentina kept reading.
One page had only a heading.
LILY CLAUSE - DO NOT DISCUSS WITH V.
Below it:
SEE FINAL ENVELOPE.
Nico opened a stitched pocket in the ledger cover.
A cream envelope slid out.
Valentina’s name was written across the front in Domenico’s hand.
She tore it open.
The first line stopped her breathing.
Valentina, Lily is not just your daughter.
Marco moved.
Nico slammed him back into the chair.
Valentina kept reading.
If she exists, then the agreement held longer than I expected. The child carries two claims. Two families. Two territories that men like Marco need divided.
Valentina looked up.
“What agreement?”
Nico said nothing.
She read faster.
Adrian Moretti.
The name burned through her.
Lily’s father.
Dead before Lily was born.
At least that was what Valentina had been told.
Domenico’s letter continued.
If Adrian is dead, verify the body. If there is no body, assume nothing.
Valentina looked at Nico.
“There was no body.”
Nico lowered his eyes.
“You knew?”
“No.”
Marco began laughing.
Valentina turned on him.
“What?”
He looked toward the ceiling, toward the floor above them, toward Lily.
“You finally understand why she mattered.”
Valentina walked across the room and put the muzzle of her pistol under his jaw.
“Is Adrian alive?”
Marco smiled.
“Ask the dead man yourself.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“You should.”
Valentina turned.
A man stood under the hall light.
Older.
Scar across his jaw.
Same eyes Lily had.
May you like
Adrian Moretti was alive.
