Chapter 26 - The Shadow Investigation
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For the next two days, the mansion felt like a fortress on high alert. Security patrols were tripled. I didn't allow Grace to play in the yard, confining us to the interior rooms. The echo of Vivian’s threat hung over us like a dark cloud.
Luca barely slept. He utilized a network of private investigators, forensic accountants, and international fixers that he hadn't spoken to since he dismantled the criminal side of the Moretti empire.
On Wednesday evening, exactly four hours before Vivian’s deadline expired, Luca walked into the nursery where I was reading a book to Grace. He looked exhausted, but there was a dangerous, triumphant gleam in his eyes.
“We found it,” Luca said quietly.
I kissed Grace’s forehead, tucking her in, and followed Luca into the hallway, closing the door softly behind me.
“Found what?” I asked.
“Vivian didn't just live quietly in Switzerland,” Luca explained, handing me a thick, red-tabbed file. “She married into a prominent banking family. But five years ago, her husband was indicted for laundering money for an Eastern European cartel. He died in a suspicious prison riot before he could testify.”
I opened the file, scanning the dense financial documents.
“Vivian took over the accounts,” Luca continued. “She’s currently under investigation by Interpol for facilitating the movement of cartel funds through offshore shell companies. The reason she is so desperate for Antonio’s trust fund isn't just greed, Emma. She owes the cartel massive debts. If she doesn't secure this money, they will kill her.”
The puzzle pieces snapped violently into place.
“She’s a cornered animal,” I realized, a cold chill running down my spine.
“Exactly,” Luca nodded. “She isn't here to negotiate. She’s here to survive. And cornered animals are the most dangerous kind.”
“What do we do?” I asked, holding the file tightly.
“We don't sign the document,” Luca stated flatly. “We let the deadline expire. And when she comes back to threaten us, we show her this file. We tell her that if she ever comes near our family again, I will personally hand her exact location over to the cartel.”
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It was a ruthless strategy, a page pulled directly from the old Moretti playbook. But looking at the nursery door, knowing my daughter was sleeping safely inside, I didn't care.
“Let’s end this,” I agreed.
