Chapter 13 - The Price of Revenge
The message arrived as a video.
Richard Bellini sat inside what appeared to be a private office.
Behind him was a window overlooking a dark stretch of water.
He wore a gray suit.
His expression was calm.
Almost amused.
“Luca,” he began, “if you're watching this, you've already made a mistake.”
Luca stood motionless.
Richard continued.
“Your father understood how business worked. He knew that alliances were built through favors, secrets, and leverage.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Your wife was an unfortunate complication,” Richard said.
Teresa gasped.
I felt sick.
Richard leaned toward the camera.
“She should have minded her own business.”
Luca's hand closed into a fist.
For one terrible second, I thought he might crush the phone.
But the recording continued.
“You can come after me if you want. You can spend the rest of your life chasing revenge.”
Richard smiled coldly.
“But while you're looking backward, you'll lose everything in front of you.”
The screen went black.
Nobody spoke.
Then Luca turned toward Marco.
“Find him.”
Marco nodded.
“We're working with federal investigators.”
“Find him,” Luca repeated.
His voice was different.
Colder.
I had heard rumors about Luca Moretti.
Stories about what happened when someone crossed his family.
Now, standing in the library, I understood why people feared him.
He wasn't shouting.
He wasn't threatening anyone.
But anger seemed to radiate from him.
Teresa rose unsteadily from her chair.
“Luca.”
He turned.
“Mom, sit down.”
“Come here.”
His expression softened slightly.
She held out her hand.
He approached.
Teresa looked up at him.
“Your father spent his life believing revenge made men strong.”
Luca said nothing.
“And do you know what it gave him?”
He looked away.
“Power.”
“No.”
Her voice trembled.
“It gave him enemies. Fear. And a family that never knew when the next terrible thing would happen.”
Luca swallowed.
“Richard murdered Catherine.”
“I know.”
“He took my wife from me.”
Tears filled Teresa's eyes.
“Yes.”
“He stole four years of my son's life with his mother.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
Luca's voice broke.
“What am I supposed to do with that?”
Teresa gently touched his face.
“Make sure he doesn't steal the rest.”
The room went silent.
Luca looked at her.
She continued.
“Catherine begged you not to let anger make you forget who you are.”
His eyes closed.
Then he stepped forward and embraced his mother.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Finally, Luca looked toward Marco.
“Give everything to the investigators.”
Marco nodded.
“And the company?”
“We're shutting down every compromised account. Every illegal contract. Every route connected to Richard.”
Marco hesitated.
“That could cost millions.”
Luca looked at him.
“Then we'll lose millions.”
I stared.
He continued.
“We'll audit the entire business. Anyone involved in the fraud is gone. Anyone who cooperates with investigators gets the chance to do the right thing.”
Marco nodded.
“I'll handle it.”
Luca looked toward the window.
“No more secrets.”
Three days later, Richard Bellini was arrested in Michigan while attempting to cross into Canada using false identification.
Federal agents had traced his movements through financial records and a rental vehicle.
His arrest made national headlines.
The investigation expanded.
Daniel Mercer agreed to testify.
Victoria Bellini faced charges related to fraud, witness intimidation, obstruction, and her role in Catherine's death.
Richard faced the most serious accusations.
For the first time in four years, Catherine's death was no longer being treated as a tragic accident.
It was a criminal investigation.
But the relief I expected didn't come immediately.
Because while the Moretti family began healing, my own life was falling apart.
My mother's care agency called on a Thursday morning.
Her condition had worsened.
She needed a higher level of medical support.
The cost would nearly double.
I sat alone in the laundry room, staring at the estimate.
My savings wouldn't cover even two months.
I cried quietly.
I thought nobody could hear.
Then Luca appeared in the doorway.
“Hannah?”
I wiped my face quickly.
“I'm sorry, sir. I'll get back to work.”
He looked at the papers in my lap.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Hannah.”
I swallowed.
“My mother's care is getting more expensive.”
He entered slowly.
“Can I see?”
I hesitated.
Then handed him the estimate.
He studied it.
His expression softened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because it's my responsibility.”
He sat across from me.
“Your mother spent her life taking care of you?”
I nodded.
“She raised me alone. Worked two jobs. Never complained.”
“And now you're taking care of her.”
“Yes.”
Luca folded the paper.
“Then let me help.”
I shook my head immediately.
“No.”
He looked surprised.
I took a breath.
“I don't want charity.”
He considered that.
Then nodded.
“Fair enough.”
I looked down.
He continued.
“But I have a position opening in the family foundation. We're expanding support services for elderly people who need home care. I need someone who understands what families actually go through.”
I stared at him.
“Mr. Moretti…”
“It's a real job, Hannah. With a real salary. Benefits. And an independent hiring process.”
My eyes filled.
“Why me?”
He smiled faintly.
“Because you stood beside my mother when standing beside her could have cost you everything.”
I couldn't speak.
Then he added:
“And because Catherine was right.”
I looked up.
“About what?”
He held my gaze.
“The strongest people aren't the ones who frighten everybody else.”
May you like
His voice softened.
“They're the ones who make other people feel safe.”
