Chapter 6 - The Father Beneath the EmpireVincent had spent his life believing his father died because of organized crime.
Antonio Moretti had been shot outside a restaurant when Vincent was thirteen.
Carlo told him it was retaliation from a rival family.
Vincent accepted the story because children accept the explanations adults give them when grief is too large to examine.
Now Anna’s evidence made that story impossible.
Vincent entered the old Moretti family house after midnight.
Carlo had kept Antonio’s study untouched for twenty-five years.
Vincent searched the desk, shelves and wall safe.
Nothing.
Then he remembered something from childhood.
His father used to hide Vincent’s birthday presents inside a loose floorboard beneath the window.
Vincent knelt.
The board still moved.
Underneath was a small cassette recorder.
One tape remained inside.
Vincent pressed play.
Static.
Then Antonio’s voice.
“If Carlo finds this, I am already dead.”
Vincent stopped breathing.
His father continued.
“Marcus believes Carlo has been stealing from our companies and laundering money through construction contracts. Raymond Carter is helping us document everything.”
Vincent sat on the floor.
Three men he had been taught were enemies had actually been allies.
“Carlo wants the criminal businesses preserved. I want Vincent to inherit something clean.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
His father had tried to escape the Mafia world.
Carlo had spent decades teaching Vincent that Antonio died defending it.
The recording continued.
“If anything happens to me, the Bennett-Moretti Trust must remain protected. Marcus’s children and mine will inherit equally.”
Vincent whispered, “Anna.”
A floorboard creaked behind him.
He turned.
Carlo stood in the doorway.
“How sentimental.”
Vincent rose slowly.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough.”
Vincent stopped the recorder.
Carlo smiled.
“You always did enjoy digging where you shouldn’t.”
“You lied about my father.”
“I simplified.”
“You told me the Carters killed him.”
“They contributed to his weakness.”
Vincent’s fists tightened.
“Did you kill him?”
Carlo looked genuinely offended.
“You think so little of me?”
“I’m beginning to think I never knew you.”
Carlo entered the room.
“Antonio wanted to dismantle everything our family built.”
“He wanted legitimate businesses.”
“He wanted to become respectable.”
Carlo spat the word.
“He forgot what made respect possible.”
“Fear?”
“Power.”
Vincent stared at the man who had raised him.
“Did you sabotage my plane?”
Carlo didn’t blink.
“No.”
“Someone from your office authorized the maintenance request.”
“Dominic’s credentials.”
“From your network.”
“Then perhaps Dominic is less loyal than you think.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“Why were your men searching the wreckage for Anna?”
Carlo’s expression shifted.
A fraction.
Vincent saw it.
“You knew she survived.”
“I knew there was a possibility.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From my wife?”
“From the Bennett claim.”
Vincent’s face hardened.
There.
Not a confession.
But close.
Carlo walked toward the window.
“Anna is not innocent.”
Vincent laughed bitterly.
“She was pregnant and nearly burned alive.”
“She vanished for three years.”
“Because she believed my family wanted her dead.”
“Perhaps she wanted leverage.”
Vincent grabbed Carlo by the jacket.
“Do not speak about her like that.”
Carlo looked down at Vincent’s hands.
“You chose Sophia over her.”
Vincent released him as if burned.
Carlo smiled.
“That truth bothers you because it cannot be blamed on me.”
Vincent’s breathing changed.
“You’re right.”
Carlo looked surprised.
Vincent continued.
“That was my failure.”
He picked up the recorder.
“But everything after it might be yours.”
Carlo’s smile vanished.
Vincent walked past him.
“Vincent.”
He stopped.
Carlo’s voice softened.
“I raised you.”
Vincent looked back.
“That may be the worst thing you ever did to me.”
Outside, Vincent called Anna.
She didn’t answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then Elias picked up.
“Vincent?”
“Where is Anna?”
“At the courthouse.”
“Why?”
Elias hesitated.
Vincent heard Gabriel crying in the background.
His blood went cold.
“What happened?”
“Carlo filed for emergency guardianship review.”
Vincent stopped walking.
“Of Gabriel?”
“He claims Anna concealed the child to manipulate the trust and that her years underground prove she’s unstable.”
Vincent’s face became murderous.
“Where’s Anna?”
“Inside with the judge.”
“I’m coming.”
When Vincent reached family court, reporters were already outside.
Carlo had leaked the case.
Anna emerged from the courtroom pale with fury.
Vincent approached.
“What happened?”
“They ordered temporary disclosure of Gabriel’s birth records.”
“I’ll stop it.”
Anna laughed sharply.
“With what? Another promise?”
Vincent took the blow.
Her attorney stepped out.
“Mrs. Moretti, there’s another issue.”
Anna turned.
The attorney handed her a document.
Carlo’s petition contained a sworn statement.
From Sophia Carter.
Anna read it.
Her face changed.
“What?”
Vincent took the page.
Sophia had testified that before the crash, Anna had discussed leaving Vincent permanently and taking their unborn child.
Vincent stared at the signature.
“This isn’t possible.”
Anna looked at him.
“Apparently everyone has a secret.”
Across the courthouse lobby, Sophia stood watching them.
Anna marched toward her.
“You testified against me?”
Sophia shook her head.
“No.”
“Your signature is here.”
Sophia looked at the document.
Then she whispered, “That isn’t my statement.”
Vincent examined it.
Sophia pointed to the date.
“The affidavit says I signed this yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“I was in Washington yesterday.”
Anna stared.
Sophia reached into her purse and removed a boarding pass.
“I was meeting a federal prosecutor.”
Vincent looked toward the courthouse elevators.
Carlo’s attorney had already disappeared.
Sophia lowered her voice.
“I told them about the plane.”
Anna’s anger cooled into alarm.
“What did they say?”
Sophia swallowed.
“They already knew.”
“From whom?”
Sophia looked directly at Vincent.
“Someone inside the Moretti family has been cooperating with federal investigators for seventeen years.”
Vincent went still.
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Sophia finished.
“And according to the prosecutor, that informant was your father.”
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