Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN VIVIENNE FEARED|
Vivienne Sterling had built her reputation on charity.
Her foundation funded hospital wings, sponsored scholarships, and hosted galas where donors competed to be photographed handing oversized checks to smiling children. She knew how to make generosity look effortless and how to make cruelty disappear behind a polished smile.
But the recording from the docks threatened more than her reputation.
It suggested that her husband’s company had been used to move money connected to the Ferrara shipping empire. If investigators traced those transfers, they might uncover years of financial fraud.
Vivienne summoned her husband, Richard, to their penthouse.
“Dante has the old recorder,” she said.
Richard removed his glasses.
“How do you know?”
“Because he has started asking questions about his father.”
Richard looked toward the windows.
“Salvatore said the evidence was destroyed.”
“Apparently, Salvatore was mistaken.”
“Then we need to make sure Dante understands what happens when people dig into the past.”
Vivienne’s expression tightened.
“I already tried to warn the maid.”
“You threatened her?”
“I mentioned her brother.”
Richard stared at her.
“Are you insane?”
“She needed to understand that she was out of her depth.”
“You have just given Dante a reason to protect her.”
Vivienne looked away.
For the first time, she wondered whether her own arrogance had made the situation worse.
Meanwhile, Sofia met with Lena and an attorney named Rachel Kim, who specialized in employment rights and financial misconduct. Rachel had reviewed the hospital privacy complaint and confirmed that someone had improperly accessed Mateo’s billing information.
The hospital had begun an internal investigation.
“We can’t yet prove Vivienne personally accessed the account,” Rachel explained. “But her threat, combined with the unauthorized access, is enough to justify a formal report.”
Sofia signed the necessary paperwork.
She felt nervous, but she no longer felt alone.
Dante offered to accompany her to the hospital, then accepted her refusal without argument.
“I want to talk to Mateo privately,” she told him. “He shouldn’t have to feel that our lives have become part of your family’s war.”
Dante’s expression softened.
“Tell him I’m sorry his name was dragged into this.”
“I will.”
At the hospital, Mateo listened carefully while Sofia explained the situation.
“You’re working for a mafia boss now?”
“Technically, I’m working with his mother.”
“That sounds like the kind of technicality people use right before a documentary comes out.”
Sofia laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Are you safe?”
“I think so.”
Mateo studied her.
“You always say that when you’re worried.”
She sat beside his bed.
“I’m trying to make sure you get your treatments without having to worry about money every day.”
“I don’t want you sacrificing your life for me.”
“You’re my brother. You’re not a sacrifice.”
He took her hand.
“Then promise me something.”
“What?”
“Don’t let powerful people convince you that you owe them your freedom because they helped you.”
Sofia thought of Dante’s employment offer, the security arrangements, and the way he had begun asking rather than ordering.
“I promise.”
When she returned to the townhouse, Eleanor was waiting in the sitting room.
She had a notebook open on her lap.
“I wrote something down,” she said.
Sofia sat beside her.
“What is it?”
Eleanor turned the page.
A name had been written in shaky handwriting:
JONAH BELL.
Below it was an address near the Brooklyn waterfront.
Dante entered the room and stared at the page.
“Jonah was my father’s driver,” he said. “He disappeared the week after the accident.”
Eleanor nodded.
“He was there when they took Marco away.”
Dante picked up his phone.
“Then we find him.”
Sofia looked at the address.
The evidence was finally becoming a trail.
But as Dante called Elias, an unknown number sent Sofia a photograph of Mateo asleep in his hospital bed.
May you like
The message beneath it contained only six words.
Your promise won’t protect him forever.
