Chapter 10 - The Brother He Never Had
Vincent came to the house carrying pastries.
As if nothing had changed.
Rico met him in the dining room.
Clara was upstairs with Leo.
Dante stood outside the door.
“You look terrible,” Vincent said.
“Busy week.”
“I saw the nonsense about the girl. People are cruel.”
Rico said nothing.
Vincent set the box on the table.
“She won’t last. Women like that aren’t built for this family.”
“What kind of women?”
“Young. Frightened. Looking for a way up.”
Rico looked at the box.
“Elena liked those.”
“I remember.”
“Do you remember taking her folder?”
Vincent’s hand stopped on the lid.
Only for a second.
“Dante told you?”
“Yes.”
“Insurance papers. You were in no condition to handle practical matters.”
“Where are they?”
“I’d have to check.”
“Do that.”
Vincent sat.
“Listen to yourself. Six months of grief, and now a waitress has you questioning people who raised you.”
Rico had been fourteen when his father died.
Vincent had handled the funeral.
Paid the bills.
Taught him which men to trust.
Which debts mattered.
Which problems should never reach the police.
For eighteen years, Rico had mistaken dependence for loyalty.
“Clara didn’t ask me to question you.”
“Your wife used to do the same thing.”
Rico looked up.
Vincent seemed to hear his own mistake.
“She worried,” he added.
“About what?”
“Everything.”
“Was she worried about Mercer?”
The room went still.
Vincent leaned back.
“If lawyers are filling your head, remember whose signatures are on those accounts.”
“Some of them aren’t mine.”
“Good luck explaining which.”
Upstairs, a toy fell.
Both men glanced toward the ceiling.
Vincent lowered his voice.
“You have a little boy. Think carefully before you tear down everything supporting him.”
Rico stood.
“So do you.”
“What?”
“Think carefully.”
Dante opened the door.
Vincent looked from one man to the other.
Then he left the pastries untouched.
An hour later, Rico’s finance director called.
A transfer had been ordered from the family operating account.
A large one.
Approved using credentials assigned to Rico.
May you like
The destination was a company controlled by Vincent.
And the bank said the money was scheduled to leave before the end of the day.
