Chapter 15 - THE FORTUNE
Rocco told Audrey the truth at sunrise.
They sat in the hospital while Preston’s shoulder was treated down the hall.
“The Bellini fortune was not clean,” Rocco said.
Audrey almost laughed.
“You’re telling the daughter of Rocco Bellini that?”
“I’m not talking about reputation.”
He looked older than she had ever seen him.
“I’m talking about the legitimate companies.”
Years earlier, Rocco and his partners had bought distressed businesses through pressure, hidden debts, and shell investors.
Some owners were threatened into selling.
Sofia discovered the system after marrying him.
At first, she helped organize the books.
Then she learned where the money came from.
“She told me if I wanted Audrey to grow up in that house, I had to stop,” Rocco said.
“Did you?”
“Not fast enough.”
Thomas Hale and Sofia began documenting the worst deals so victims could eventually be repaid.
Carlo and Brenda wanted the scheme to continue.
The trust for Audrey’s child was Sofia’s final move.
Thirty-one percent of Bellini Holdings would be locked away from the old partners and used to fund restitution claims.
Audrey stared at him.
“So my baby was never inheriting a prize.”
Rocco shook his head.
“A responsibility.”
“And you hid that from me.”
“Yes.”
Audrey stood.
“Everyone keeps deciding what I can handle.”
Rocco did not stop her.
“You’re right.”
Gary entered with the ledger.
“We verified Sofia’s entries.”
He placed it on the table.
“There’s enough here to destroy Carlo’s network.”
Audrey opened to the final page.
A name was written there that she did not expect.
GARY MORETTI.
May you like
She looked up.
Gary went completely still.
