Chapter 6 - THE COUSIN
Matteo Bellucci was hosting a charity dinner at the Verona Grand Hotel when Carmine arrived.
Carmine did not bring an army.
He brought Marco.
Nothing else.
The ballroom was filled with judges, executives, donors, and people who smiled too easily around powerful men.
Matteo saw Carmine from across the room.
For one second, the smile disappeared.
Then it returned.
“Cousin.”
Matteo opened his arms.
“You’re back early.”
Carmine ignored the gesture.
“I need five minutes.”
Matteo glanced around the ballroom.
“Tonight?”
“Now.”
Something in Carmine’s tone made him nod.
They entered a private office behind the ballroom.
Marco remained outside.
Matteo poured himself whiskey.
“Helena called me.”
Carmine looked at him.
“When?”
Matteo stopped pouring.
That was another mistake.
Helena’s phone had been confiscated.
Nobody outside the estate was supposed to know.
Carmine smiled without humor.
“She called you?”
Matteo corrected himself.
“Earlier.”
“How much earlier?”
Matteo placed the bottle down.
“What is this?”
Carmine walked toward the desk.
“Twenty million.”
Matteo said nothing.
“Verona Foundation.”
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
“Sofia.”
The glass slipped slightly in Matteo’s hand.
Carmine watched everything.
“You knew she discovered it.”
Matteo drank.
“Carmine, grief is making you dangerous.”
“I’ve always been dangerous.”
“You know what I mean.”
Carmine stepped closer.
“Where is her music box?”
Matteo laughed.
“I have no idea.”
“Helena says you took it.”
Matteo stared at him.
Then he smiled.
“She finally broke.”
Carmine’s expression remained unchanged.
Matteo realized what he had admitted.
He set the glass down.
“She is unstable.”
“You selected her.”
“I introduced you.”
“You recruited her before Sofia died.”
Matteo remained silent.
Carmine walked to the window.
Below them, guests continued drinking champagne.
“You were at Sofia’s funeral.”
“Yes.”
“You hugged me.”
“Yes.”
“You held Leo.”
Matteo looked away.
Carmine’s voice became quieter.
“Were you involved in her death?”
Matteo slowly shook his head.
“No.”
“Then tell me who was.”
“I don’t know.”
Carmine studied him.
Matteo was lying.
But unlike Helena, Matteo was experienced.
He knew how to breathe through fear.
How to hold eye contact.
How to keep his hands still.
Carmine needed more.
So he changed direction.
“Leo is alive.”
Matteo blinked.
Carmine noticed.
“Did you expect something else?”
Matteo scoffed.
“What kind of question is that?”
“The kind you didn’t answer.”
Matteo walked closer.
“You think I would hurt that boy?”
“I think you already have.”
Matteo’s face hardened.
“Be careful.”
Carmine smiled faintly.
“There you are.”
Matteo turned away.
Carmine continued.
“You wanted Helena to make Leo look unstable.”
“You wanted guardianship.”
“You wanted access to the trust.”
Matteo spun around.
“You have no proof.”
Not denial.
Proof.
Carmine heard the difference.
“I’m going to find Sofia’s box.”
Matteo’s expression changed.
“And when I do, I’m going to find whatever you spent two years hiding.”
Carmine walked toward the door.
Matteo spoke behind him.
“If Sofia had minded her own business, she would still be alive.”
Carmine stopped.
The silence became enormous.
Matteo realized what he had said.
Carmine slowly turned.
Neither man moved.
Then Matteo smiled weakly.
“I meant the stress.”
Carmine stared at him.
“No.”
“You didn’t.”
Matteo reached toward his jacket.
Marco entered instantly.
His hand moved beneath his coat.
Matteo stopped.
Carmine walked closer until they were only inches apart.
“You just gave me the first honest thing you’ve said all night.”
Then Carmine left.
Matteo watched the door close.
His hands finally began to shake.
He pulled out a second phone.
He dialed one number.
“She knows too much.”
A voice answered.
May you like
Matteo looked toward the door Carmine had exited through.
“We move tonight.”
