Part 7: Justice Finally Knocked Back
Part 7: Justice Finally Knocked Back
Vincent Romano spent the night in the estate's underground security office.
Not a prison.
Not yet.
But every phone had been removed.
Every computer disconnected.
Every guard outside his door answered only to Luca Ferri.
For the first time in eleven years, Vincent had no control over anyone.
At sunrise, Alessandro arrived at St. Gabriel Medical Center.
Emma was asleep across two waiting-room chairs, wrapped in one of his oversized suit jackets. One tiny hand still clutched Rosie, the worn stuffed rabbit a nurse had found in Sophia's cottage.
Sophia looked stronger than she had the day before.
Pale.
Weak.
But awake.
When she saw Alessandro enter, she immediately tried to apologize again.
"I'm sorry, sir..."
He gently raised a hand.
"No more apologies."
"You've done nothing wrong."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I should have told you."
"I thought no one would believe me."
Alessandro pulled a chair beside her bed.
"I believe you now."
Sophia reached beneath her pillow.
Her trembling fingers pulled out a small waterproof envelope.
"I hid these."
Inside were photocopies.
Payroll summaries.
Medical reimbursement requests.
Bank transfers.
Every page carried Alessandro's forged signature.
"I cleaned Mr. Vincent's office every Thursday."
"One afternoon he forgot to lock a drawer."
"I saw employees' names beside money they never received."
"So I copied everything."
"You made copies?"
She nodded.
"I was afraid."
"But I kept thinking..."
"If something happened to me..."
"...someone needed the truth."
Alessandro slowly opened the envelope.
The evidence was devastating.
Nearly four years of fraud.
Millions stolen.
Employees denied medical care while executives pocketed emergency funds.
And one name appeared on every transaction.
Vincent Romano.
"There was someone else," Sophia whispered.
Alessandro looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"He never worked alone."
She pointed toward one invoice.
"These approvals..."
"I watched him meet another person every month."
"Who?"
She hesitated.
"I never saw his face."
"Only..."
She closed her eyes, remembering.
"A silver ring."
"Black gloves."
"And a cane."
Alessandro froze.
Very few people inside the organization carried a cane.
Even fewer wore black leather gloves indoors.
Only one man fit both descriptions.
His longtime family attorney.
Edward Salazar.
The man who had managed Moretti finances for almost twenty years.
Back at the mansion...
Luca burst into Alessandro's office.
"Boss."
"You need to see this."
He connected another security recording.
It showed Vincent inside his office two nights before Sophia collapsed.
Edward Salazar entered carrying a briefcase.
The audio was faint.
But one sentence came through clearly.
"If she talks..."
"...we lose everything."
Vincent answered.
"She won't."
"I've already handled it."
The video ended.
The room fell silent.
Alessandro slowly stood.
His face revealed nothing.
That frightened Luca more than anger ever could.
"What are your orders?"
Alessandro buttoned his suit jacket.
"Prepare both cars."
"Notify every department head."
"For what?"
"A meeting."
Luca frowned.
"About the fraud?"
"No."
Alessandro's voice became deadly calm.
"About loyalty."
An hour later...
Thirty-seven senior employees filled the grand ballroom.
No music played.
No food waited on the tables.
Only silence.
Vincent, escorted by guards, stood at the front of the room in handcuffs.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Edward Salazar remained perfectly composed.
Until Alessandro placed Sophia's envelope on the podium.
"I built this organization on one promise."
"My people would never be abandoned."
He opened the file.
"Someone decided my promise was worth stealing."
One by one...
He displayed forged signatures.
Bank records.
Medical files.
Photos of neglected employee housing.
Every lie.
Every theft.
Every betrayal.
No one spoke.
Then Alessandro lifted one final document.
"This..."
"...is the list of every employee who was denied medical treatment."
He paused.
"Twenty-three names."
His voice lowered.
"One of them almost died."
Across the ballroom...
Edward Salazar quietly reached into his coat pocket.
Luca noticed first.
"Boss!"
Guards moved instantly.
But Alessandro never took his eyes off the old attorney.
Because after twenty years of absolute trust...
He suddenly realized Edward wasn't reaching for a weapon.
He was reaching for something even more dangerous.
A sealed envelope...
May you like
Addressed in handwriting Alessandro recognized immediately.
His mother's.
