Chapter 7: The Brother Who Knew Too Much
Anthony Bellini’s disappearance became the only thing anyone in the city talked about.
The news never mentioned the Moretti family directly.
They didn’t have to.
Everyone knew.
Powerful families didn’t stay private when secrets started becoming dangerous.
Luca spent the entire day making calls.
Rachel stayed with Ben.
And I sat in the mansion kitchen wondering how my life had somehow become connected to a murder investigation.
A week earlier, my biggest problem had been whether my rent check would clear.
Now I was holding evidence connected to a man whose name terrified entire rooms.
Ben found me there.
“You’re leaving?””
I looked up.
“What?””
He pointed toward my bag.
“You packed.””
I looked down.
He was right.
“I thought I should.””
“Why?””
I smiled sadly.
“Because this isn’t my world, Ben.””
He frowned.
“You helped my mom.””
“That doesn’t mean I belong here.””
He sat across from me.
“My dad said people who tell the truth always feel like they don’t belong.””
I looked at him.
“Your dad said that?””
“Yeah.””
“When?””
He shrugged.
“Before he died.””
That hurt.
Because Michael had never met me.
But somehow, he had understood me.
Before I could answer, Luca entered.
“You’re leaving?””
I stood.
“I think it’s better.””
“No.””
His answer came immediately.
I blinked.
“No?””
“No.””
“Luca—”
“Emma, Michael chose you.””
“That doesn’t mean I’m safe.””
His expression softened.
“I know.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I can’t promise you nothing will happen.””
He looked toward the window.
“But I can promise you I won’t let you face it alone.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Because nobody had ever said something like that to me.
Not without wanting something in return.
That evening, Luca showed me the evidence found in Anthony’s car.
Michael’s phone.
A flash drive.
And a photograph.
The photograph was old.
It showed three people.
Michael.
Anthony.
And someone else.
Someone I recognized.
My stomach dropped.
“Who is that?””
Luca looked at me.
“You know him?””
I nodded slowly.
“He was at the dinner.””
The third person in the photo was one of Luca’s closest advisors.
A man named Victor Romano.
Victor had worked with Luca for twelve years.
He had been the person organizing the engagement dinner.
The person who knew the seating arrangement.
The person who knew Rachel’s drinks.
The person who knew exactly how to make Vanessa’s accusation believable.
Luca stared at the photograph.
“No.””
I watched his face.
“You trusted him.””
“He saved my life.””
The words came quietly.
That made it worse.
Because betrayal only hurt when it came from someone close.
Rachel entered the room.
“What happened?””
Luca handed her the photo.
Her face changed.
“Victor?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Ben appeared behind her.
“I know him.””
Everyone turned.
“What?”” Luca asked.
Ben looked nervous.
“He talked to Dad before he died.””
Rachel froze.
“Ben.””
“I remember.””
The boy looked at the photograph.
“He told Dad he could fix everything.””
My skin went cold.
“What did Michael say?””
Ben looked at Luca.
“He said…”
The child swallowed.
“He said, ‘If anything happens to me, don’t let Victor near my family.’”
Nobody moved.
Because now we knew.
Michael wasn’t afraid of a stranger.
He was afraid of someone inside his own circle.
Then the mansion alarm started screaming.
Everyone froze.
Luca reached for his phone.
A security alert appeared.
Someone had entered the property.
“Who?”” Rachel asked.
Luca looked at the screen.
His face hardened.
“It says the person used an old access code.””
“Whose code?””
He stared at the name.
May you like
Then said:
“Michael’s.””
