Chapter 4 - The Man Enzo Called Family
Sebastian’s smile vanished.
“Enzo.”
“Surprised?”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“That sentence has become very popular lately.”
Tommaso and two trusted security men appeared behind Enzo.
Sebastian looked at Amelia.
“This woman is manipulating you.”
Amelia almost laughed.
“You tried to kill him yesterday.”
“You have no idea what you heard.”
“I heard my name.”
Sebastian’s expression hardened.
Enzo stepped between them.
“Look at me.”
Sebastian did.
“Why Duarte Maritime?”
“To frame dead men.”
The answer came from inside suite 1910.
Vittorio Salvi appeared in the doorway.
Amelia froze.
“You.”
Vittorio studied her.
“You’ve grown.”
Enzo moved slightly, blocking Amelia from him without touching her.
She immediately stepped sideways again.
“I don’t need you standing in front of me.”
Enzo looked at her.
“Bad time to argue.”
“There’s never a bad time.”
Despite everything, Tommaso almost smiled.
Vittorio sighed.
“Your father was stubborn, Amelia.”
“Don’t say his name.”
“He discovered money moving through his shipping company. He threatened to expose everyone involved.”
“So you killed him.”
“I offered him a choice.”
“No. You offered him obedience.”
Vittorio’s expression sharpened.
Amelia continued.
“And when he refused, you made sure he couldn’t speak.”
Sebastian interrupted.
“This sentimental history changes nothing.”
Enzo turned toward him.
“It changes quite a lot.”
“You think she saved you?”
“She did.”
“She has made you weak.”
Enzo’s voice became quieter.
“No. She made me notice how weak my organization had already become.”
That landed.
Sebastian glanced toward the elevator.
Tommaso moved to block him.
Enzo held up a hand.
“No one touches him.”
Sebastian frowned.
Enzo continued.
“The conversations from this suite have been recorded. The financial records have been preserved. The hotel security data has been copied.”
Sebastian’s confidence finally cracked.
“You would turn this over?”
“I’m not protecting men who tried to murder me.”
Vittorio stepped backward.
Tommaso moved between him and the stairwell.
Amelia looked at Enzo.
“What happens now?”
“The evidence goes to attorneys and federal investigators.”
Sebastian stared at him.
“You would destroy your own family.”
Enzo shook his head.
“You stopped being family when you decided betrayal was more valuable than loyalty.”
Minutes later, the corridor filled with hotel security and law enforcement responding to evidence Enzo’s attorneys had already provided.
Amelia stood beside her abandoned cleaning cart.
Enzo approached.
“It’s over.”
“No.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“Vittorio said my father discovered money moving through his company.”
“Yes.”
“I want the records.”
“Amelia—”
“You promised information concerning my safety.”
“This isn’t about your safety anymore.”
“No.”
Her voice softened.
“It’s about my father.”
Enzo understood.
The following morning, Tommaso arrived with a box.
Inside were copies of financial records, letters, and an old storage receipt.
Amelia picked it up.
“What’s this?”
“A safe-deposit box registered under your mother’s maiden name,” Tommaso said.
“Where?”
“Brooklyn.”
Enzo looked at Amelia.
May you like
“Apparently your father left something behind.”
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