Chapter 3
The morning after the reception, Beatrice’s lawyer arrived at Victor’s house with a sealed folder.
Victor hated that she had a lawyer he did not know.
He hated more that the lawyer looked unsurprised by the chaos.
“Mrs. Bellacosta asked me to release this if Seraphina mentioned Enzo publicly,” the lawyer said.
Victor stared at Beatrice.
“You planned for this?”
Beatrice sat near the window, wearing dark glasses over the bruise.
“I hoped not to need it.”
The folder contained no romantic betrayal.
No secret mistress.
No second family.
It contained federal correspondence from thirty-four years earlier.
Enzo Bellacosta had not been murdered by rivals.
He had entered federal protection after giving evidence against his own father, two Bellacosta captains, and a network of companies used to launder money through construction contracts.
Victor read the first page twice.
Then threw it across the room.
“You lied.”
Beatrice did not move.
“Yes.”
“My father was an informant?”
“He was a witness.”
“That’s a prettier word.”
“It is the accurate word.”
Victor stepped toward her.
His lawyer immediately said:
“Careful.”
Victor stopped.
That one word mattered.
Careful.
Not because he would hit Beatrice.
Because anger from a man like Victor could become pressure, and Beatrice was now a potential witness in multiple investigations.
Beatrice looked up at him.
“Enzo found out your grandfather wanted you brought into the business early.”
“I was twelve.”
“Yes.”
“What does that mean?”
Her voice became thin.
“It means your father chose federal protection after refusing to let them use you to prove loyalty.”
Victor’s face went blank.
“He left me.”
“He tried to take you.”
“Then why didn’t he?”
“Because by the time the government moved him, your grandfather had already placed men around you, and Enzo believed an open custody fight would expose the cooperation before anyone was safe.”
Victor turned away.
He had spent decades hating unknown killers.
May you like
The first person he wanted to hate now was dead.
The second was the aunt who had raised him.
