Chapter 2 - The Uncle Who Knew Too Much
Vincent Moretti had been part of Luca's life since childhood.
He had taught Luca how to drive, helped him negotiate his first business deal, and stood beside him when Gabriel's coffin was lowered into the ground.
He was the brother Antonio had trusted most.
"Everyone needs to calm down," Vincent announced.
His voice carried the authority of a man accustomed to being obeyed.
"Antonio needs medical care. Luca, your wedding guests shouldn't be subjected to this."
Luca stepped between Vincent and his father.
"You can leave."
Vincent's jaw tightened.
"Don't be foolish. I'm your uncle."
"And he's my father."
For a moment, the two men stared at each other.
Then Vincent glanced toward the chapel doors.
Two men in dark suits stood outside. Both wore Sterling Security badges.
Luca noticed.
So did Clara.
She leaned toward Luca.
"Those aren't regular wedding guards."
"How can you tell?"
"One of them was outside your father's hospital room yesterday. He told the nurse I had no authorization to visit."
Luca looked at the guards again.
"Did you report it?"
"I did. Someone deleted the visitor log."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Clara has been feeding your father ridiculous stories. She was hired to clean rooms, not interfere in family affairs."
Clara's face reddened.
"I've been caring for him for six months. I know what he says when he thinks nobody is listening."
"You're a maid," Vanessa hissed. "You have no idea what this family has endured."
"You're right," Clara replied. "I don't know everything. But I know someone changed his medication schedule without the doctor's approval."
The guests murmured.
Luca turned sharply.
"What medication?"
Clara looked at Antonio.
His father gave a small nod.
"His sedative," she said. "He became unusually disoriented whenever he asked to see you. Then, two days ago, he was suddenly alert enough to tell me where he'd hidden the recording."
Vincent's expression darkened.
"That's a serious accusation."
"So is murder," Luca answered.
He took out his phone and called Marco Bellini, his head of security.
"Lock down the chapel. Nobody leaves until we know what happened."
Vanessa seized Luca's arm.
"You cannot turn our wedding into an interrogation!"
He looked at her hand until she released him.
"Our wedding?"
The words seemed to strike her harder than a slap.
Luca turned toward Marco as he entered the chapel.
"Take those Sterling guards away from my father. Don't let anyone near him without my approval. And call an ambulance to escort him back to the hospital if his doctor says he's stable enough."
Marco nodded.
Vincent began moving toward the exit.
Two of Luca's men blocked his path.
"You're making a mistake," Vincent said.
"Maybe," Luca replied. "But I'm done making it blindly."
Before Vincent could answer, Antonio started coughing violently.
Clara hurried to adjust his oxygen mask.
Luca knelt beside him.
"Dad, look at me."
Antonio's breathing steadied after several agonizing seconds.
He reached beneath the blanket and pulled out a small brass key.
"Gabriel's locker," he whispered.
Luca took it.
"Where?"
"Old Moretti warehouse. Basement."
Marco's expression changed.
"That building was sealed after Gabriel died."
Antonio shook his head.
"Not the main floor. The old records room."
Luca studied the key.
"What's inside?"
Antonio closed his eyes.
"The reason he died."
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"Don't go there."
Everyone turned toward her.
She appeared to realize what she'd said.
Luca rose slowly.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because it's dangerous. That building is unstable."
"Have you been there?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
Her silence answered more than words could.
Luca turned to Marco.
"Get a team ready."
Vincent laughed bitterly.
"You think a rusty key will solve a three-year-old murder? Gabriel was involved in things you never understood."
"Then you can explain them to the police."
Vincent's smile vanished.
For the first time, Luca saw fear in his uncle's eyes.
Not fear of being accused.
Fear of what the key might reveal.
As Luca's men escorted Vincent away, Clara noticed Vanessa quietly slipping something into her handbag.
A small black flash drive.
Clara caught her wrist.
"What is that?"
Vanessa jerked away.
"Let go of me!"
The drive fell to the floor.
Luca picked it up.
A label had been written across it in faded ink.
GABRIEL—FINAL COPY.
Vanessa began to cry in earnest.
Luca looked at her.
"You told me you never met my brother alone."
"I didn't."
"Then why do you have this?"
She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth.
"Because Gabriel gave it to me."
The room fell silent.
"When?" Luca asked.
"Two days before he died."
"And you never told me?"
Vanessa looked at the floor.
"I was afraid."
"Of my uncle?"
She didn't answer.
Luca closed his fist around the drive.
"Then you're going to tell me everything."
Vanessa's eyes lifted to his.
"Not here."
"Where?"
She swallowed.
"Somewhere your uncle can't hear us."
May you like
Luca stared at the woman he had planned to marry.
For the first time, he wondered whether she had ever loved him—or whether she had simply been waiting for the right moment to bury the truth.
