Chapter 10 - The Night Chicago Turned Against Us|
Massimo took the phone from Adriana.
"Carlo."
The voice on the other end became amused.
"Massimo, my boy."
"You made a mistake threatening Sophie."
"Did I?"
"Yes."
Carlo chuckled.
"You always were emotional about women who needed rescuing."
Massimo's jaw tightened.
"Stay away from her."
"Then give me the records."
"Which records?"
"Don't insult my intelligence."
Massimo glanced at the emerald necklace in Isabella's hand.
"We don't have what you're looking for."
Carlo laughed.
"Of course you don't."
Then his voice hardened.
"Midnight tomorrow."
"Where?"
"The old freight terminal on the river."
"Why would I come?"
"Because if you don't, every newspaper in Chicago will receive enough evidence to destroy your reputation."
Massimo's eyes narrowed.
"Evidence of what?"
"Your family's businesses."
Carlo paused.
"And a very convincing story about a frightened young florist being manipulated by a dangerous man."
I felt sick.
He intended to turn our fake engagement into a scandal.
Massimo spoke calmly.
"You're threatening the wrong people."
Carlo's voice became icy.
"Then prove it."
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Adriana sat down heavily.
"My father has lost his mind."
Massimo looked at her.
"How long have you known?"
She covered her face.
"About the financial scheme?"
"Yes."
"Six months."
Isabella gasped.
"Adriana!"
She looked up angrily.
"Don't judge me."
"My father told me the marriage would protect both families."
She turned toward Massimo.
"I didn't know he planned to destroy you."
I studied her.
For the first time, I saw something beneath the diamonds and designer clothes.
Fear.
The same fear that had haunted me since midnight.
"Why are you helping us?" I asked.
Adriana looked at me.
"Because my father threatened my younger brother when I refused to cooperate."
My expression softened.
"Where is he?"
"At boarding school in Connecticut."
Massimo immediately called Marco.
"Have someone confirm the boy's safety."
Adriana's eyes filled with tears.
"Thank you."
Massimo nodded once.
Then he turned toward me.
"Sophie, I need you somewhere safe."
I almost argued.
But something in his face stopped me.
He wasn't ordering me around.
He was asking.
"Where?"
"With Detective Brooks."
I nodded.
"Okay."
His expression softened with surprise.
"Okay?"
"Don't make me regret being reasonable."
He almost smiled.
An hour later, I was sitting inside a police interview room while Detective Brooks examined copies of the records recovered from the greenhouse and necklace.
The original evidence remained in police custody.
A financial analyst named Rebecca Chen joined us.
She connected a secure workstation to the recovered files.
Numbers filled the screen.
Bank transfers.
Property deeds.
Corporate registrations.
Shell companies.
The financial trail stretched back nearly two decades.
Rebecca frowned.
"This is extensive."
Brooks leaned forward.
"How extensive?"
"Millions of dollars."
My stomach tightened.
Rebecca continued examining the files.
Then she stopped.
"Wait."
She enlarged a transaction.
A payment of two hundred thousand dollars appeared under my father's name.
I leaned forward.
"That's the money Vittorio mentioned."
Rebecca studied the record.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"This wasn't a payment to your father."
I blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"It was a transfer into an escrow account controlled by a medical foundation."
I stared.
"My mother's treatment."
Rebecca nodded.
"The money was used for hospital bills."
Tears filled my eyes.
Dad hadn't secretly become rich.
He hadn't betrayed us for money.
He had accepted help to keep Mom alive.
Then Rebecca opened another file.
Her expression changed.
"Oh, this is bad."
Brooks leaned closer.
"What?"
"Someone used Miller Blooms as a pass-through business for fraudulent transactions."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
Rebecca pointed to the screen.
"Several large transfers were recorded under your company's tax identification number."
I shook my head.
"That's impossible."
"Did you authorize any of these?"
"No!"
Brooks looked at me.
"Stay calm."
"Stay calm?"
I nearly stood.
"Someone is using my father's business to launder money!"
Rebecca continued typing.
Then she turned toward Brooks.
"These transactions were entered yesterday."
The room went silent.
Yesterday.
Before the mansion incident.
Before the threats.
Before my engagement to Massimo.
Someone had prepared to destroy my business before I even walked into his bedroom.
Brooks reached for her phone.
Then the lights flickered.
A loud alarm sounded.
An officer opened the door.
"Detective, we have a problem."
Brooks stood.
"What happened?"
The officer looked at me.
"There's a crowd outside."
I frowned.
"What crowd?"
He hesitated.
"Reporters."
My stomach dropped.
He continued.
"Someone leaked documents claiming Miss Miller is involved in a major financial investigation."
I covered my mouth.
Then my phone began vibrating.
Messages poured in.
Customers canceling orders.
Strangers calling me a criminal.
A local television station requesting an interview.
And one message from Hannah.
SOPHIE, THEY'RE SAYING YOU STOLE MONEY FROM YOUR OWN SHOP.
I looked at Massimo, who had just entered the room.
His expression was grim.
"They're trying to isolate you."
I swallowed.
"What do we do?"
He took my hand.
"We tell the truth."
For the first time, I realized something terrifying.
May you like
The most dangerous weapon in Chicago wasn't a gun.
It was a lie repeated loudly enough that everyone believed it.
