Chapter 6 - THE GRANDFATHER'S HIDDEN LETTER
The following afternoon, she went with Dominic to his downtown office.
Vittorio Moretti was already waiting.
He was seventy-one, impeccably dressed, his silver hair combed back from a face Dominic would probably resemble in thirty years.
He rose when Elena entered.
"Elena."
"Vittorio."
His eyes moved toward her abdomen.
"How are you recovering?"
"Better."
"And Luca?"
"Healthy."
"I'm pleased."
Dominic remained standing.
"You sent a bracelet to Matteo Russo."
Vittorio looked at his older son.
"Straight to business."
"Answer him," Elena said.
Vittorio's gaze shifted toward her.
Then, surprisingly, he smiled.
"Gabriel always said you were the brave one."
"I'm beginning to learn Gabriel said many things nobody bothered telling me."
The smile disappeared.
Vittorio sat again.
"Yes. I sent the bracelet."
"How did you know about Matteo?" Dominic asked.
"Gabriel told me."
Dominic went still.
"When?"
"Two days before he died."
That was not the answer anyone expected.
Dominic lowered himself slowly into the chair opposite his father.
"He told you?"
"He came to see me."
"Why?"
"Because he wanted me to know I was going to be a grandfather."
Vittorio's expression softened.
"He was happy."
Dominic stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Vittorio's eyes hardened.
"For the same reason you didn't tell Elena."
Elena felt Dominic tense.
"You don't get to compare us."
"Why not?"
"Because—"
"Because your reasons were noble?"
Vittorio shook his head.
"We Moretti men have always been extraordinarily talented at renaming fear."
The room became quiet.
Elena hadn't expected that insight from him.
Vittorio continued.
"Your grandfather called it discipline. I called it tradition. You call it protection."
Dominic said nothing.
"Gabriel came to me because he'd discovered what I was doing with the Heritage Initiative."
"So you admit it."
"I admit I funded people you wanted removed from family businesses."
"Behind my back."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I thought you were dismantling everything generations built."
Dominic's voice sharpened.
"I was dismantling corruption."
"You were changing too quickly."
"And Gabriel?"
Vittorio looked away.
"He said nearly the same thing you did."
A long silence followed.
"He told me the family could survive becoming respectable, but it wouldn't survive becoming divided."
Elena leaned forward.
"Did he threaten to expose the payments?"
"No."
"Then what did he want?"
Vittorio looked at her.
"He wanted me to help him convince Dominic."
"Convince me of what?" Dominic asked.
"To establish a legitimate family holding company. One transparent structure. No hidden money. No private agreements."
Dominic stared at his father.
"Gabriel never told me."
"He planned to."
"That morning?"
"Yes."
Elena remembered the voicemail.
Gabriel driving to meet someone.
"Was he driving to see you?"
Vittorio shook his head.
"No."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Dominic leaned back.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No. But it's the truth."
Elena studied Vittorio.
"Why send Matteo the bracelet now?"
His face changed.
"I received a letter."
"What letter?"
He reached inside his jacket and removed an envelope.
It had been mailed three weeks earlier.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
You have another grandson. Gabriel's son. He should have what belongs to him.
No signature.
No return address.
Dominic examined it.
"You didn't know Matteo had been born?"
"No."
"So Gabriel told you about the pregnancy but not where Valentina lived."
"Correct."
"Who sent this?"
"I assumed one of you."
"It wasn't."
Elena looked at the handwriting.
Printed block letters.
Impossible to identify.
Something occurred to her.
"Why did the person say 'another grandson'?"
Vittorio frowned.
"Because Luca had just been born."
"No."
Elena looked at Dominic.
"The letter was mailed three weeks ago."
Luca was only thirteen days old.
Dominic understood.
The room fell silent.
Three weeks ago, Elena had still been pregnant.
Yet the writer had referred to Vittorio's another grandson, implying knowledge that Luca would be a boy.
That alone was not impossible. The family knew the baby's sex.
But it suggested whoever sent the letter followed both pregnancies closely.
"Someone knew about Matteo before Luca was born," Elena said.
Dominic nodded.
Vittorio's expression darkened.
"Apparently."
Samuel, who had been sitting quietly near the end of the table, asked, "Who knew Valentina was pregnant before Gabriel died?"
Vittorio thought.
"Gabriel. Me."
"Anyone else?"
"He may have told his accountant."
Dominic looked up.
"Which accountant?"
Vittorio hesitated.
"Martin Hale."
The name meant something to Elena.
She had heard it before.
Dominic turned toward Samuel.
"Gabriel's missing files."
Samuel nodded.
Elena looked between them.
"Explain."
Samuel answered.
"After Gabriel died, several financial files disappeared from his office."
"You thought your father took them?"
"Initially," Dominic said.
"I didn't."
Vittorio sounded offended.
Samuel continued.
"Martin Hale was one of the few people with access."
"Where is he now?"
"Retired," Dominic said.
"Convenient."
"He moved to Wisconsin."
Elena looked at Samuel.
"Have you spoken to him?"
"We tried."
"Tried?"
"He refused."
Elena almost laughed.
"Your family controls half of Chicago, but one retired accountant can refuse a conversation?"
Dominic looked irritated.
"I am attempting to conduct this matter legally."
"Progress."
Vittorio gave an unexpected chuckle.
Dominic glared at him.
Elena turned to Samuel.
"Can I talk to Martin?"
Three men answered simultaneously.
"No."
She stared at them.
May you like
Vittorio cleared his throat.
"I see Gabriel chose the correct trustee."
