Chapter 9 - The Betrayal Inside the Moretti Empire|
Dominic spent the next forty-eight hours reviewing every contract connected to Michael Voss.
He barely slept.
He canceled meetings.
Refused calls.
And ordered an independent audit of the transportation division.
Claire found him in the library shortly after midnight.
Documents covered the desk.
A half-empty cup of coffee stood near his hand.
Bruno lay beside the fireplace.
Dominic looked up when she entered.
“You should be asleep.”
Claire gave a tired smile.
“So should you.”
He looked toward the documents.
“I can't.”
She approached.
“Have you found something?”
He nodded.
“Martin Vale has been moving money through companies connected to my family's old shipping operations.”
Claire frowned.
“Even after he disappeared?”
“Yes.”
Dominic leaned back.
“He changed his name, moved his business interests, and came back through intermediaries.”
Claire looked toward the folders.
“Did Vincent help him?”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“According to the records, Vincent approved several contracts.”
She sat across from him.
“So he was still working with Martin.”
“Yes.”
Dominic rubbed his forehead.
“My father tried to stop them. After Emily died, he started separating the family's legitimate operations from the old criminal network.”
Claire listened.
“But Vincent remained close to him.”
“He was his oldest friend.”
Dominic looked toward Antonio's photograph.
“And I trusted him because Dad did.”
Claire considered that.
“Maybe your father trusted him before he understood what Vincent had done.”
Dominic looked up.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then nodded.
“Maybe.”
A soft sound came from Bruno.
The old dog rose and walked toward Claire.
She crouched to stroke his ears.
“Easy, Captain.”
Dominic watched them.
“He trusts you.”
Claire smiled.
“He remembers my father.”
“He remembers you too.”
She shook her head.
“I hadn't seen him since I was sixteen.”
“Maybe he remembers the way you speak.”
Claire looked at the dog.
“Dad always said dogs remember how people make them feel.”
Dominic's expression softened.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel.
He answered.
“Talk.”
A pause.
His face changed.
“When?”
Another pause.
Then he stood.
“Keep everyone away from the warehouse until police arrive.”
Claire rose.
“What happened?”
Dominic looked at her.
“One of the old shipping warehouses caught fire.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Was anyone inside?”
“Security confirmed the building was empty.”
Relief washed over her.
Then Dominic continued.
“But the warehouse contained records connected to Martin's companies.”
Claire stared.
“Someone is destroying evidence.”
Dominic nodded.
“And they know we're looking.”
The next morning, investigators examined the fire scene.
The blaze had damaged much of the archive.
But digital backups stored elsewhere survived.
More importantly, financial auditors uncovered payments to a shell company controlled by Vincent Caruso.
The transfers began shortly before Emily died.
They continued for years afterward.
Dominic stared at the report.
The amounts were enormous.
Millions of dollars.
Money that should have supported the family's foundation.
Money that had been diverted while Antonio was trying to uncover the fraud.
Dominic felt sick.
His sister had discovered the theft.
Samuel had tried to protect her.
Vincent and Martin had concealed what happened.
And for nine years, Dominic had continued doing business with one of the men responsible.
That afternoon, Detective Ramirez contacted him.
“Dominic, we're preparing additional charges.”
“Against Vincent?”
“Yes. And Martin Vale.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“Have you located Martin?”
“We have reason to believe he's still in Michigan. We're working with federal authorities because of the interstate financial crimes.”
Dominic nodded.
Then Ramirez added, “There's something you should know before this becomes public.”
“What?”
“Your father's records suggest he tried to reopen Emily's case before he died.”
Dominic went still.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Did he succeed?”
“No. But he contacted an attorney and preserved documents.”
Dominic swallowed.
“Where are they?”
“Some were deposited with a legal firm in New York.”
For several seconds, Dominic couldn't speak.
Antonio Moretti had spent his final years quietly trying to expose the truth.
He had died before he could finish.
Dominic looked toward his father's portrait.
Then whispered, “He knew.”
Ramirez paused.
“He knew enough to question the official account.”
Dominic lowered his head.
After the call, he sat alone in the study.
For the first time, he understood why Antonio had become withdrawn after Emily's death.
Why he'd stopped trusting Vincent with certain business decisions.
Why he'd insisted Dominic review contracts independently.
His father had been trying to repair a terrible mistake.
But he had never told his son everything.
And that silence had cost the Bennett family nine years.
Dominic looked toward Bruno sleeping near the fireplace.
Then whispered, “No more secrets.”
At that moment, Daniel entered.
“Boss?”
Dominic looked up.
“What?”
“Vincent's attorney contacted investigators.”
Dominic stood.
“And?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Vincent wants to negotiate.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“About what?”
“He says he'll reveal where Martin Vale is hiding.”
May you like
A pause.
“But only if he can speak to you first.”
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