Chapter 5 - The Brother Who Sold His Sister's Trust|
Michael Moretti had always been the charming one.
At least, that was what the household staff said.
Luca was disciplined.
Quiet.
Intimidating.
Michael was different.
He laughed easily.
Bought expensive gifts.
Remembered birthdays.
And somehow managed to make people feel important even when he barely knew them.
I'd served him breakfast dozens of times.
He always thanked me.
Sometimes he asked about my mother.
Once, he gave me a fifty-dollar tip because I'd stayed late to prepare a guest room.
I had never imagined he could be involved in something as terrible as separating Sofia from her child.
But by the following afternoon, Detective Ramirez had uncovered a connection nobody could ignore.
Michael held a financial interest in a private medical consulting company called Bellini-Moretti Healthcare Services.
Vanessa's father was listed among its investors.
And the company had managed administrative contracts for the clinic where Sofia delivered Isabella.
Luca stared at the documents.
“Michael told me he was investing in rehabilitation centers.”
Ramirez nodded.
“That may have been part of the business.”
He looked up.
“But these records show payments to the maternity clinic.”
“Correct.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“What were they paying for?”
“We're investigating.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Do you think my brother took Sofia's baby?”
Ramirez paused.
“We have evidence he was involved in the arrangements around the transfer. We don't yet know the full purpose.”
Luca looked toward Sofia's photograph.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then whispered, “He held her when she was born.”
I stood near the doorway.
He continued.
“Michael was twelve when Sofia came home from the hospital. He refused to let anyone else carry her.”
His voice broke.
“He used to call her his little princess.”
I looked down.
Some betrayals were so ugly because they came from people who knew exactly where love lived.
Luca turned toward Marco.
“Find Michael's financial records. Give investigators whatever they request.”
Marco nodded.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
His expression changed.
“Boss.”
Luca looked up.
“What?”
“Michael's vehicle has been located.”
“Where?”
“Near a private airfield outside Rockford.”
Luca stood.
“And the baby?”
Marco swallowed.
“The vehicle was empty.”
A terrible silence followed.
Then he continued.
“But investigators recovered a child's blanket and an infant car seat.”
Luca closed his eyes.
I felt my knees weaken.
An empty car seat.
An abandoned vehicle.
A baby who had been moved from one secret location to another.
It was almost unbearable.
Teresa appeared in the doorway.
She must have heard.
“Luca?”
He turned immediately.
“Mom.”
She looked frightened.
“Did they find Isabella?”
He crossed the room.
“Not yet.”
The old woman's face crumpled.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
He embraced her.
“I promise we're doing everything we can.”
She clung to him.
Then she whispered something that made him go still.
“Your father warned me about Michael.”
Luca slowly pulled back.
“What?”
Teresa looked down.
“Before he died.”
The room became silent.
Luca's father, Antonio Moretti, had died four years earlier.
He had built the family businesses from a small transportation company into an empire that reached across Chicago.
People whispered about his criminal connections.
But Teresa always spoke about him as a complicated man who loved his children.
Now she was saying he'd warned her about his own son.
“What did Dad say?” Luca asked.
Teresa swallowed.
“He told me Michael wanted control of the family's trusts.”
Luca frowned.
“What trusts?”
“The ones established for you, Sofia, and any children you might have.”
Ramirez leaned forward.
“Mrs. Moretti, do you remember the wording?”
Teresa nodded slowly.
“Your father said Sofia's children would inherit certain assets independently.”
Luca looked confused.
“And?”
She began trembling.
“He said Michael was angry because he couldn't control those funds.”
The room went silent.
I felt cold.
Isabella wasn't merely Sofia's daughter.
She might also be the beneficiary of a valuable trust.
Luca looked toward Ramirez.
“Could someone benefit financially from controlling Isabella's legal identity or guardianship?”
The detective's expression sharpened.
“Potentially. We would need to examine the trust documents and any filings.”
Teresa gripped Luca's sleeve.
“Sweetheart, I think your father hid something.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“A letter.”
“Where?”
She looked toward the west hallway.
“In his private study.”
Luca immediately stood.
The study had remained locked since Antonio died.
But Teresa still had the key.
She reached into her cardigan pocket.
Then placed it in his hand.
“Your father told me to give this to you if Michael ever began asking about Sofia's children.”
Luca stared at the key.
Then whispered, “Why didn't you tell me?”
Teresa began crying.
“Because I thought he was only worried about money.”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“I never imagined someone would take a baby.”
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