Chapter 10 - Under Lucy's BedVittorio returned home with Sofia.
Lucy was safe.
Emma had moved her to the panic room.
The house was surrounded by police.
For the first time, Vittorio believed they had a chance.
Then Sofia spoke.
“The code.”
“What about it?”
“Elena said it was hidden where Lucy sleeps.”
Vittorio thought of the bedroom.
They searched every drawer.
Every cabinet.
Every toy chest.
Nothing.
Then Lucy said:
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“Mommy used to hide things inside my bed.”
They lifted the mattress.
Nothing.
Vittorio checked the frame.
Still nothing.
Then he saw a screw that looked newer than the others.
He removed it.
A small metal plate opened.
Inside was a four-digit number.
Under it was another note.
7-1-9-3.
Vittorio entered it into the flash drive.
A hidden folder opened.
BANK ARCHIVE.
There were account numbers.
Transfers.
Offshore companies.
Shell corporations.
And a total balance.
$83.4 million.
Vittorio stared.
The money had been stolen from family companies over twelve years.
Ferraro had moved it.
Bianca had helped conceal it.
Marcus had protected the operation.
Marco had controlled all of them.
But there was more.
A file named ELENA INCIDENT.
Vittorio opened it.
Inside was a payment record.
To a hospital administrator.
To a private ambulance company.
To a police officer.
Then one more.
To a judge.
All dated within forty-eight hours of Elena's death.
Vittorio whispered:
“They bought everyone.”
Sofia looked at the screen.
“There is another file.”
It contained a voice recording.
Marco was speaking.
“Once Vittorio is declared unstable, Bianca takes temporary control.”
Ferraro answered.
“And Lucy?”
“Lucy goes to the facility.”
“For how long?”
“Until she stops asking questions.”
Vittorio felt sick.
They had planned to institutionalize his daughter.
Not because she was unstable.
Because she knew too much.
Then another voice appeared.
Bianca.
“And Vittorio?”
Marco replied calmly.
“He will disappear.”
Silence.
Bianca asked:
“Like Elena?”
Marco answered:
“Exactly.”
Emma began crying.
Vittorio stopped the recording.
Then Lucy spoke from the doorway.
“I knew it.”
He turned.
Lucy was holding a stuffed rabbit.
“Mommy gave me this before she died.”
She tore open the seam.
A tiny paper slipped out.
Vittorio unfolded it.
Elena had written a final message.
Don't trust the blood of this family.
Only trust the person who saved Lucy.
Vittorio looked at Emma.
Then at Sofia.
Then at Lucy.
“Saved her from what?” he whispered.
Lucy suddenly pointed toward the window.
A black SUV was parked outside.
Sofia gasped.
“That car.”
“What?”
“I saw it at the hospital.”
Vittorio reached for the phone.
“Police!”
But the SUV started moving.
It crashed through the gate.
Security scattered.
Vittorio pulled Lucy behind him.
The SUV stopped near the front steps.
The rear door opened.
A man stepped out.
He removed his gloves.
He looked directly at Vittorio.
Marco.
Vittorio had spent eight years believing this man was dead.
May you like
Marco smiled.
“Hello, nephew.”
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