Chapter 11 - THE ACCOUNT THAT CARRIED MY NAME|
I had never opened a private bank account.
I had never owned a business.
And I certainly had never authorized anyone to access a storage facility containing evidence connected to a mafia family.
Yet the report showed my full name, date of birth, and signature.
Luca placed the document before me.
"Do you recognize this?"
I shook my head.
"No."
"Look carefully."
I examined the signature.
It was almost identical to mine.
Almost.
The final letter was different.
"My father signed this."
Luca frowned.
"Your father?"
"He used to practice my name when I was little. He said one day I'd need to sign important documents."
Daniel looked at me.
"Emma, I remember that."
Luca immediately called the bank.
The account had been opened shortly after our father's death.
Its contents had never been withdrawn.
And someone had recently attempted to transfer ownership.
"Who?" Luca demanded.
The bank manager refused to provide information over the phone.
But he agreed to meet them privately.
The following afternoon, Luca, Dominic, Daniel, and I arrived at the bank.
The manager greeted us nervously.
He recognized Luca immediately.
"Mr. Russo."
"Show us the account."
The manager led us into a secure room.
A metal storage box was brought out.
Inside were old photographs, financial records, and a sealed envelope.
My father's handwriting appeared across the front.
For Emma and Daniel. Only open when both of you are ready to know the truth.
I opened it.
The letter explained that our father had discovered a conspiracy involving Anthony, Victor Costa, and several senior members of the organization.
But there was another revelation.
Our father had not simply been an employee.
He had been responsible for keeping the original financial records that proved how the criminal network operated.
He had copied everything before attempting to leave.
The evidence could bring down the entire organization.
But the letter ended with a warning.
Do not trust the person who tells you they are protecting you. Sometimes the person standing closest is the one holding the knife.
Luca read the sentence.
His expression became distant.
"What?" I asked.
He pointed to a photograph inside the box.
It showed my father with a younger Dominic.
I turned toward the security chief.
"Why are you in this photograph?"
Dominic looked uncomfortable.
"I knew your father."
"How?"
He hesitated.
"Before I worked for Luca, I was assigned to protect the Costa family's financial department."
"And my father?"
"He helped me after I was injured during a robbery."
I looked at Luca.
"Did you know?"
"No."
Dominic lowered his head.
"I should have told you."
Luca stood.
"Why didn't you?"
"Because your father made me promise not to expose the children to the organization."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Then you knew about the accident?"
Dominic shook his head.
"I knew someone wanted your father silenced. I didn't know Anthony had arranged it."
Luca remained silent.
Then the bank manager returned with another document.
"There is something else."
He placed a transfer request on the table.
The request was dated three days earlier.
It had been submitted under Luca Russo's authorization.
But Luca had never signed it.
Someone had been using his identity.
And the person had already transferred a substantial amount of money to an account in Switzerland.
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The account holder was listed as:
VICTOR COSTA.
