Chapter 12 - The Cousin
Giulietta refused to believe it for exactly three seconds.
Then she remembered every system Nico had touched that day.
The garage footage.
The bank alerts.
Elena's flash drive.
Too much access.
"Evidence," she said.
Vittorio reached into his coat and handed her a printout.
The beneficiary name was hidden behind a trust.
Nicholas Marconi.
"Where is he now?"
Marco called.
Again.
Giulietta's stomach tightened.
"Elena's office."
The office was empty.
So was the blue folder.
A handwritten note on Elena's desk.
Marco punched the wall.
"He didn't run because we found him."
"Then why?"
"Because Warren told him to take Bellflower."
Her phone rang.
She answered.
"Where are you?"
Giulietta had never heard him cry.
"Gia, listen to me. Warren has my sister."
"Sofia?"
"He took her two months ago. Not physically. He has videos. Her rehab. The pills. Things that would destroy her custody case. He said he'd release everything and make sure her ex got the kids."
"So you helped him."
"At first just schedules. Then passwords. Then it kept getting worse."
"Where is the folder?"
Silence.
"Nico."
"I gave it to Preston."
Giulietta forced herself to stay calm.
"Where?"
"Pier Nine. Hale warehouse."
"Are you still there?"
"No. I left. But Gia... the folder wasn't what they wanted."
"What do you mean?"
"Warren tore it apart. He kept asking where the original Bellflower certificate was."
"There is no certificate in the folder."
"Exactly."
Nico's breathing quickened.
"Then Preston said your father hid it somewhere only you would look on your wedding day."
Wedding day.
Only she would look.
May you like
Her dress.
She ran.
