Chapter 10 - The Ledger Beneath the Floor
The address led back to the ruined Moretti estate.
Serafina understood immediately.
“The cellar.”
Nikolai nodded.
Marcus wanted the ledger.
Not for succession anymore.
For evidence.
The ledger documented decades of transactions, including crimes that could destroy living members of the organization.
Serafina drove there with Elena and Nikolai.
Dorian remained in surgery recovery under guard.
The cellar door was open.
Inside, Rosa sat tied to Salvatore's chair.
Marcus stood behind her.
“Give me the ledger.”
Serafina held it.
“Release Rosa.”
Marcus laughed.
“Everyone keeps making that trade.”
“Because hostages only matter while they're alive.”
Something changed in his eyes.
Serafina saw it.
He wanted legitimacy more than money.
“You want Father's name.”
Marcus flinched at the word.
Father.
Serafina continued.
“You want someone to say he chose you.”
“He should have.”
“Maybe.”
Everyone stared at her.
Marcus frowned.
“You think I'll argue with you?”
Serafina placed the ledger on the table.
“He failed you.”
Marcus's gun lowered slightly.
“He erased you. Whatever reasons he had, you paid for them.”
“You don't know anything.”
“I know what it feels like to have a father decide your life without asking.”
Marcus looked at the ledger.
Serafina pushed it toward him.
“But hurting Rosa won't make him claim you.”
His jaw tightened.
“Untie her.”
For one second, Serafina thought she had reached him.
Then Julian emerged behind Nikolai.
Gun pressed to his neck.
“No.”
Marcus looked surprised.
Julian smiled.
“You were never very bright.”
“You work for me.”
“I worked through you.”
Julian wanted the ledger because it proved his father had been framed.
Once he had it, he intended to release everything.
Names.
Accounts.
Officials.
Judges.
Police.
Families.
Chaos.
Serafina looked at him.
“Then release it.”
Julian blinked.
“What?”
“Release the truth about your father.”
Nikolai looked at her.
Serafina continued.
“But innocent families don't need to die for Salvatore's sins.”
Julian's hand trembled.
“You defend him.”
“No.”
That surprised everyone.
“My father was not a saint because I loved him.”
She opened the ledger.
“His mistakes don't become sacred because he's dead.”
Julian stared.
For decades, he had prepared to fight someone defending Salvatore Moretti.
He had never prepared for Salvatore's daughter to agree that the truth mattered.
Serafina removed the pages proving Julian's father innocent.
She placed them on the table.
“Take them.”
Julian stepped closer.
Marcus suddenly grabbed Rosa.
Gunfire exploded.
Nikolai tackled Julian.
Elena pulled Rosa down.
Marcus fled deeper into the cellar.
Serafina followed.
He disappeared behind Salvatore's desk.
She heard stone scrape.
A hidden passage.
Serafina moved the desk.
Beneath it was another floor panel.
The key Rosa had given her fit.
She opened it.
Inside was a second ledger.
And a recording device.
Serafina pressed PLAY.
Her father's voice filled the cellar.
“If Marcus ever hears this, tell my son that I knew.”
Serafina froze.
Footsteps stopped behind her.
Marcus had returned.
He had heard every word.
Then Salvatore's recording continued.
“Tell him the reason I abandoned him was…”
May you like
The tape clicked.
And stopped.
