Chapter 8 - THE PRICE OF A FATHER'S LOVE
I wanted to destroy everything in my path.
But Elena grabbed my hand.
“Lorenzo, listen to me.”
I looked at her.
“They have Victor.”
“And Dominic wants you to react emotionally. That's how he's controlled everyone for years.”
My jaw tightened.
“He took my daughter twice.”
“I know.”
“He faked your death.”
“I know.”
“He wants Sophie.”
“And that's why we cannot let him decide what happens next.”
My mother placed a small black device on the table.
“I've been keeping this for five years.”
I looked at it.
“What is it?”
“A recording device. Your father used it during his private meetings. I took it from his office the night Elena escaped.”
“What's on it?”
“Everything.”
She pressed a button.
Dominic's voice emerged.
The girl must disappear before her third birthday. Once the trust becomes active, the shares cannot be redirected without her consent.
Another voice responded.
Anthony.
And Lorenzo?
Dominic laughed.
My son will do whatever I tell him. He always has.
My mother stopped the recording.
“There are several more files.”
I stared at the device.
“Why didn't you give this to me before?”
“Because Dominic had people watching you. I couldn't risk Sophie being taken.”
I looked at Elena.
“Can we use this to expose him?”
She nodded.
“But we need the original financial records too. The recording proves his intentions. The documents prove the crimes.”
My mother reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a small silver key.
“Your father keeps the original records in a safe at the old harbor.”
I looked at her.
“You know the combination?”
She shook her head.
“No. But Elena does.”
Elena took the key.
“I found it before the accident.”
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I needed to know who was still loyal to Dominic.”
She looked toward the door.
“And now I know.”
We arrived at the harbor shortly before midnight.
The warehouses stood against the dark water like enormous shadows.
A single building was illuminated.
I entered with Elena and my mother.
Sophie remained in the armored vehicle with two trusted guards.
I hated leaving her outside.
But she was safer there than inside a building filled with armed men.
Dominic stood near a metal table.
Victor was tied to a chair.
Anthony stood beside him, his face bruised.
My father smiled.
“Look at you. Bringing the entire family.”
I stepped forward.
“Release Victor.”
“Give me the girl.”
“No.”
Dominic sighed.
“You're making this difficult.”
“You made it difficult when you decided my daughter was disposable.”
He looked at Elena.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Elena's expression hardened.
“You should have stayed buried.”
For the first time, Dominic's composure cracked.
He pointed at a metal safe.
“Open it.”
Elena approached.
I watched every movement.
She inserted the key, entered a code, and opened the safe.
Inside were folders, bank records, and a small black notebook.
She pulled out the notebook.
Dominic smiled.
“Now we're getting somewhere.”
But Elena didn't hand it to him.
She opened it.
Her expression changed.
“What is it?” I asked.
She turned several pages.
“Lorenzo, these records aren't just about the money.”
“What else?”
“They contain the names of everyone involved in your mother's disappearance.”
My eyes moved toward my mother.
She looked confused.
“My disappearance?”
Elena nodded.
“Dominic didn't just fake his death. He arranged the deaths and disappearances of several people who knew about his financial crimes.”
My father raised his gun.
“Give me that notebook.”
I stepped between him and Elena.
“Put it down.”
He laughed.
“You still think you're in charge?”
Then he looked toward the harbor entrance.
A vehicle had just arrived.
Its headlights illuminated the warehouse.
The driver stepped out.
I recognized him immediately.
My father's personal attorney.
But he wasn't alone.
A second person emerged from the passenger seat.
A woman carrying a folder.
She looked directly at me.
“Mr. Moretti,” she said, “I'm a federal investigator.”
Dominic's smile disappeared.
The woman held up her identification.
“And I have a warrant for your father's arrest.”
For a moment, I thought it was over.
Then the investigator turned toward Elena.
“Mrs. Moretti, we need you to come with us as well.”
I stepped forward.
“She's the victim.”
The investigator opened the folder.
“Not according to the documents we recovered.”
She showed me a photograph of Elena standing beside a bank vault.
Then she pointed to a signature.
My wife's.
“Your wife authorized the transfer of $40 million into an offshore account six months ago.”
I turned toward Elena.
She looked at me.
May you like
And whispered:
“Lorenzo, I can explain.”
