Chapter 13 - The Last SignatureThe bullet struck the wall inches from Sofia.
Vincent pushed Luca behind him.
Dominic returned fire.
Charles's men flooded the tunnel.
Chaos exploded.
Isabella dragged Sofia toward the side passage.
Marco fired until his magazine emptied.
Vincent carried Luca.
The boy buried his face against his father's shoulder.
“Daddy…”
Vincent held him tighter.
“Don't look.”
They reached a narrow emergency tunnel.
But the exit was blocked by steel.
Sofia stared.
“There's another way.”
She pulled a small key from her pocket.
“Your father's old office.”
Vincent frowned.
“Where?”
“Under the estate.”
They reached the passage.
Suddenly Sofia stopped.
“Vince.”
He turned.
“What?”
She looked at his wrist.
“The watch.”
He removed it.
They opened the back.
Inside was a tiny data chip.
Dominic stared.
“The ledger.”
Sofia nodded.
Vincent connected it to her device.
Thousands of files appeared.
Names.
Accounts.
Payments.
Dates.
Photographs.
Video.
Everything.
Dominic's face turned pale.
“That's enough to destroy half the people in this city.”
“Exactly.”
Vincent looked at Sofia.
“Why didn't you release it?”
“Because the ledger also contained evidence against innocent people.”
“Then what do we do?”
Sofia pointed toward one file.
PROJECT MERCY.
Vincent opened it.
The screen showed a series of transactions.
One recipient stood out.
BELLAMY FOUNDATION.
Sofia shook her head.
“That isn't right.”
“What?”
“My brother told me Charles controlled the foundation.”
Vincent scrolled.
The final recipient was different.
VINCENT MORETTI.
Vincent stared.
“What?”
Sofia's eyes widened.
“No.”
He opened the attached document.
The payment was made twenty-two years earlier.
Before Vincent and Sofia met.
Before the Moretti trust was created.
Before Charles became attorney.
The source was Vincent's father.
The destination was an account under Vincent's name.
Dominic stared.
“You were the intended heir.”
Vincent shook his head.
“I was nineteen.”
Sofia looked at the documents.
“You weren't meant to inherit money.”
“What was I meant to inherit?”
She didn't answer.
A hidden file opened automatically.
A video.
Vincent's father appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Serious.
“My son…”
Vincent froze.
“If you're watching this, Sofia has failed to keep you out of this war.”
Vincent stared.
“I created the Moretti empire to protect my family.”
He paused.
“But I made a mistake.”
“I created a trust that could not be controlled by any man.”
“It could only be activated by Vincent and Sofia together.”
Vincent looked at Sofia.
“That means…”
“Yes.”
“We both have to sign.”
The screen continued.
“Never let anyone convince you that marriage is a contract.”
“It is a lock.”
“And only trust can open it.”
The video ended.
Vincent finally understood.
The engagement papers from the ballroom were not harmless.
Charles hadn't been preparing a normal marriage agreement.
He had altered the trust.
If Vincent signed without Sofia, control would transfer.
Sofia reached for his hand.
“The wedding wasn't the goal.”
Vincent nodded.
“The signature was.”
Behind them came footsteps.
Charles appeared at the end of the tunnel.
He held a pistol.
“You finally understand.”
Vincent stepped forward.
Charles smiled.
“Sign the papers.”
“No.”
“Then Luca dies.”
Vincent looked at his son.
Charles aimed.
Sofia stepped in front of Luca.
Charles fired.
Vincent froze.
Sofia dropped.
“Sofia!”
He caught her.
Blood spread across her side.
Dominic fired.
Charles disappeared into the darkness.
Vincent held Sofia.
“Stay with me.”
She looked at him.
“Go.”
“No.”
“Vince…”
She smiled weakly.
“Don't sign it.”
He shook his head.
“I won't.”
“Not unless…”
She struggled to breathe.
“…you know who wrote the final clause.”
Vincent stared.
“Who?”
Sofia whispered:
“Isabella.”
Then her eyes closed.
May you like
Vincent shouted her name.
The tunnel went silent.
