Chapter 10 - THE INSIDE MAN
Carmine called Marco immediately.
“Do not enter the mansion.”
Marco’s voice came through the phone.
“Why?”
“Matteo said Vittorio has someone inside.”
Marco swore.
“Where are you?”
“Leaving now.”
“I have Leo.”
“Take him to Dr. Russo’s clinic.”
“Private entrance.”
“No one else.”
Marco agreed.
Carmine turned toward the warehouse.
Police were entering.
Vittorio had disappeared.
A hidden river exit had been found open.
He had escaped again.
But Carmine no longer cared about chasing him.
Leo came first.
Always.
Twenty minutes later, Carmine arrived at Dr. Russo’s clinic.
Leo was awake.
The sedative Helena had apparently given him was mild.
Dr. Russo said he would recover.
Carmine sat beside the examination bed.
Leo touched his father’s face.
“You came back.”
Carmine nearly broke.
“I told you I would.”
Leo looked around the room.
“Helena mad?”
“She cannot hurt you anymore.”
Leo stared at him.
“Promise?”
Carmine held his tiny hand.
“Promise.”
Marco entered.
“We found the music box.”
Carmine looked up.
“Already?”
“I sent Luca to Matteo’s apartment.”
“He found it exactly where Matteo said.”
Marco placed the old wooden box on the counter.
Carmine recognized it instantly.
Sofia used to wind it every night.
A soft lullaby played when the lid opened.
Carmine’s throat tightened.
He pressed the hidden latch beneath the base.
A small memory drive fell into his palm.
They connected it to an isolated laptop.
Folders appeared.
BANK RECORDS.
VERONA.
VITTORIO.
BOAT.
HELENA.
HOUSE.
Carmine clicked HOUSE.
A spreadsheet opened.
Names.
Payments.
Staff assignments.
One name stopped him cold.
MRS. ADA FERRARO.
Leo’s nanny.
The woman who had cared for him since infancy.
The woman Carmine trusted more than almost anyone.
Marco stared at the screen.
“No.”
Carmine opened another file.
A payment record showed monthly transfers to Ada’s brother.
The amount had increased after Sofia died.
Carmine called the mansion.
No answer.
He called the security room.
Nothing.
Marco was already moving.
“I’m going.”
Carmine stood.
“I’m coming.”
Dr. Russo blocked the door.
“No.”
Carmine stared at her.
“You stay with your son.”
“My house is compromised.”
“And your son has spent months wondering whether his father will choose him.”
That stopped Carmine.
Dr. Russo lowered her voice.
“Choose him now.”
Carmine looked toward Leo.
The boy was watching.
Carmine understood.
Marco left alone with six trusted men.
Carmine stayed.
It was one of the hardest decisions of his life.
Two hours later, Marco called.
“We found Ada.”
Carmine’s hand tightened around the phone.
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Was she working for Vittorio?”
Silence.
“Marco?”
“Not exactly.”
Carmine frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“She was being paid.”
“But she claims the payments were blackmail.”
“For what?”
Marco’s voice changed.
“She says she helped Sofia hide the evidence.”
Carmine stood.
“And Vittorio found out.”
“Yes.”
“What did he threaten?”
Marco hesitated.
“Her daughter.”
Carmine closed his eyes.
“Bring her here.”
An hour later, Ada entered the clinic.
She was sixty-three.
Gray-haired.
Usually calm.
Tonight she looked twenty years older.
She saw Leo.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
“Baby.”
Leo reached toward her.
Carmine stepped between them.
Ada stopped.
She understood.
“Tell me everything.”
She nodded.
“Sofia knew someone was watching her.”
“She asked me to hide copies.”
“Then the boat happened.”
“Vittorio contacted me a week later.”
“How?”
“A photograph of my daughter leaving work.”
Ada’s voice shook.
“He knew where she lived.”
“He knew where my grandchildren went to school.”
Carmine stared at her.
“So you helped him.”
“I gave information.”
“What information?”
“Your travel schedules.”
“Security rotations.”
“When Leo slept.”
Carmine’s expression became dangerous.
Ada began crying.
“I never told them to hurt him.”
“But you helped them reach him.”
“Yes.”
Carmine looked away.
Another betrayal.
Another person who had been afraid.
Then Ada whispered.
“There is one more thing.”
Carmine turned.
“Sofia did not die immediately.”
The room became silent.
Ada continued.
“She survived the boat explosion.”
Carmine could barely speak.
“How do you know?”
“Because she called me.”
Carmine stared at her.
“From where?”
May you like
Ada’s voice broke.
“From Vittorio’s car.”
