Chapter 16 - The Last Night
Massimo did not sleep.
At one in the morning he walked through the estate.
Wedding flowers perfumed the foyer.
Boxes of champagne lined the pantry.
White garment bags hung from doorways.
Everything looked normal.
That was the strangest part.
Sophie found him in the kitchen.
“You look terrible.”
“I’ve heard.”
She opened the refrigerator.
“Eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“That wasn’t a question.”
She placed bread, cheese and fruit on the counter.
Massimo stared.
“You order billionaires around often?”
“Only the annoying ones.”
He ate.
For several minutes neither spoke.
Then Sophie asked, “Did you ever love her?”
Massimo knew exactly whom she meant.
“Yes.”
“Still?”
“No.”
“That fast?”
“The woman I loved existed because Vivian created her.”
Sophie considered.
“Some parts were probably real.”
“I don’t know which.”
“That will bother you.”
“Yes.”
“For a long time.”
Massimo looked at her.
“You are extremely comforting.”
“I charge extra for optimism.”
He almost laughed.
Then his expression darkened.
“I watched her hit my mother.”
Sophie stopped.
Massimo had never said it aloud to her this way.
“I could have ended it immediately.”
“Yes.”
“I chose evidence.”
“Yes.”
“If you hadn’t entered—”
“But I did.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“No.”
Massimo looked down.
“I became my father for twenty minutes.”
Sophie frowned.
“How?”
“I decided a larger objective justified what happened to someone else.”
She sat across from him.
“The difference is you recognized it.”
“Afterward.”
“That’s usually when people recognize mistakes.”
“Lucia could have died.”
“And then you would carry that.”
“I already carry enough.”
Sophie’s voice softened.
“Then don’t make carrying guilt your personality.”
Massimo looked at her.
“Rebecca taught you that?”
“My mother taught me many things by refusing to discuss them.”
They smiled sadly.
Upstairs Lucia was also awake.
She called Massimo at two.
He found her sitting beside the window wearing a robe.
“Tomorrow you were supposed to marry.”
“I’m aware.”
“Are you grieving?”
He almost denied it.
Then remembered Lucia’s demand for truth.
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“You should grieve things that mattered even when they were false in ways you did not understand.”
Massimo sat.
“I feel stupid.”
“You were deceived.”
“By someone Damian introduced.”
“You trusted Damian too.”
“That makes it better?”
“No.”
Lucia reached for his hand.
“You have always believed intelligence should protect you from betrayal.”
Massimo stared.
“Shouldn’t it?”
“No.”
“Then what does?”
“Nothing completely.”
He hated that answer because he knew it was true.
Lucia continued.
“Love requires accepting that another person can hurt you.”
“Vivian certainly proved that.”
“Do not let her teach you the wrong lesson.”
“What lesson should I learn?”
“That trust needs judgment.”
Lucia squeezed his hand.
“Not walls.”
Massimo thought of the hidden surveillance room.
Security doors.
Private investigators.
Monitors.
His entire method of protection.
At three thirty, Marco called.
Damian was missing from his guest suite.
They found him at the cemetery.
At Carlo Moretti’s grave.
Massimo drove there alone despite Marco’s objection.
Damian stood beneath a bare maple tree.
He did not seem surprised when Massimo approached.
“You’ve been following me.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Long enough.”
Damian laughed bitterly.
“So you know.”
“Most of it.”
“Harbor Point?”
“Yes.”
Damian looked at his father’s grave.
“And?”
“My father stole from yours.”
Damian turned sharply.
Massimo continued.
“He exploited Carlo’s illness. He manipulated valuations. Lucia helped conceal it.”
Damian’s face changed.
He had prepared for denial.
Not admission.
“You believe me.”
“The records are clear.”
“Then give it back.”
“I will.”
Damian stared.
“What?”
“I’m reopening the transfer. Independent auditors. Whatever belongs to Carlo’s estate gets restored.”
“Just like that?”
“No. It will probably cost hundreds of millions, fracture the board and expose my father’s misconduct publicly.”
Damian laughed.
“You expect me to believe you’re willing to do that?”
“I don’t need you to believe me.”
Massimo stepped closer.
“But tomorrow does not need to happen.”
Damian’s eyes hardened.
“You know about tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Enough to know Vivian changed your plan.”
Damian looked away.
“She won’t stop.”
“You can.”
“I’m already guilty.”
“So?”
“So what difference does it make?”
Massimo stared at him.
“That may be the weakest thing you’ve ever said.”
Damian flinched.
“You think because you crossed one line, every line afterward becomes free?”
“You sound righteous.”
“I’m not.”
Massimo thought of Lucia.
“I watched Vivian abuse my mother because I wanted more evidence. I have my own account to settle.”
Damian’s anger faded slightly.
Massimo continued.
“But tomorrow you still choose who you are next.”
Damian looked at Carlo’s grave.
“What happens if I help you?”
“You face consequences.”
“You won’t protect me?”
“No.”
A broken laugh escaped Damian.
“At least you’re consistent.”
“I’ll tell the truth about Harbor Point. I won’t trade justice for silence.”
Damian remained still.
Massimo walked away.
Behind him Damian called:
“Massimo.”
He turned.
Damian looked like the boy who once followed him through summer houses and begged to join older cousins.
“Vivian has someone inside the cathedral security team.”
Massimo’s blood chilled.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“What are they supposed to do?”
Damian hesitated.
“If the champagne plan fails, the cathedral screen still activates.”
Massimo frowned.
“What’s on it?”
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Damian shook his head.
“Something Vivian says will destroy you before you can destroy her.”
