Chapter 8 - THE INHERITANCE BURIED IN A DEAD MAN'S WILLDominic spent the night reading his father's old documents.
The Moretti family business had been built on legitimate investments, shipping contracts, and several companies that operated beyond the reach of ordinary competition. Over time, Dominic had expanded the organization, but he had always believed his father had left him control through a conventional inheritance.
The documents from the chapel suggested otherwise.
A handwritten note mentioned a sealed trust.
It had been created shortly before his father's death and administered by an independent law firm.
Michael recognized the firm's name.
"Harper and Cole. They still operate in Manhattan."
"Contact them."
"I already did. The senior partner died years ago, but his daughter now runs the practice."
They arranged a meeting for the following morning.
Elena remained at the mansion with Noah. Dominic wanted them both protected, but Elena refused to leave while Maria's whereabouts remained unknown.
At breakfast, Noah approached him.
"Mr. Moretti?"
Dominic looked up.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why would someone hurt my sister just because she works here?"
Dominic considered the question.
"Sometimes people believe that having power means they can do whatever they want."
"Can you stop them?"
"I'm going to try."
Noah studied him.
"Then don't make promises you can't keep."
The boy's words stayed with Dominic throughout the morning.
At Harper and Cole, the managing partner, Margaret Cole, examined the old trust documents.
She looked increasingly concerned.
"Your father anticipated that someone might try to seize control of his estate."
"Who?"
"Your uncle."
She removed a sealed file from a locked cabinet.
"Your father instructed us to release this only if you presented the original family seal and evidence of the conspiracy."
Dominic placed the black envelope on the table.
Margaret opened the file.
Inside was a copy of the original will.
The document revealed that Anthony had never been the sole successor to the family holdings. Dominic's father had placed controlling shares into a protected trust, with Dominic as its beneficiary.
But there was another condition.
If Dominic died before reaching forty, control would pass to an independent trustee rather than Anthony.
"Why would my father arrange that?" Dominic asked.
Margaret looked directly at him.
"Because he believed your uncle might try to eliminate you."
Michael leaned forward.
"Does Anthony have access to the trust?"
"Not legally. But someone has been attempting to submit forged authorization documents."
She showed them the latest application.
It bore Dominic's signature.
A signature he had never written.
Margaret continued.
"There's another problem. Your father appointed a second trustee. A woman who was supposed to verify every major transfer."
"Who?"
"Maria Santos."
Dominic stared at her.
"The missing housemaid?"
Margaret nodded.
"Before she worked in your mansion, she was an accounting assistant at the company managing the trust. She left after reporting irregularities."
Elena had never mentioned this.
Dominic called her immediately.
When she answered, she sounded frightened.
"Mr. Moretti?"
"Did Maria ever tell you she worked in accounting?"
A long silence followed.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she asked me not to."
"Why?"
"She said if anyone knew she had access to those records, they would come after her."
Dominic closed his eyes.
Everything was beginning to connect.
Maria hadn't merely discovered the stolen invoices.
She had been protecting the legal ownership of the Moretti fortune.
Margaret turned another page.
"Mr. Moretti, there's one more thing."
"What?"
"Your father left a personal letter for you. But it was never delivered because Anthony reported that you had declined the inheritance."
Dominic stared at her.
"I never declined anything."
"I know."
She handed him the envelope.
His father's handwriting covered the front.
Dominic opened it with trembling fingers.
The first line read:
My son, if Anthony is still standing beside you when you read this, then I have failed to protect you from the man I once called my brother.
And the final paragraph contained a name.
Not Raymond Cross.
Not Victor Hail.
May you like
A name Dominic had never expected to see.
The person who helped Anthony arrange everything was someone your mother trusted with her life.
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