Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO INTRODUCED THEM
Carlo Venn had called Preston “a good kid from a respectable family.”
Audrey remembered the first dinner clearly now.
Carlo had seated Preston beside her.
He had arranged their second meeting too.
She had called it fate.
Now she felt sick.
Rocco called Carlo from the warehouse.
The attorney answered on the second ring.
“Rocco, it’s one in the morning.”
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
Gary checked a tracker tied to the estate’s security system.
Carlo’s car was moving south on the interstate.
Rocco’s voice stayed calm.
“You’re lying to me.”
The line went dead.
Gary swore.
Audrey stared at the laptop.
“Play the rest.”
Sofia’s recording resumed.
Carlo told her the Bellini family had grown too dependent on bloodline ownership.
He wanted voting control converted into instruments that could be purchased through shell companies.
Sofia refused.
Then Brenda’s voice appeared.
“You have a daughter.”
Sofia answered, “And that is exactly why you will never touch this company.”
The recording ended with a crash.
Rocco stood so still that Audrey became afraid of him.
Gary found another file.
It was a scanned letter dated eight years after Sofia’s death.
It had been written by Carlo to Brenda.
THE GIRL IS MARRIED.
THE HUSBAND IS IN POSITION.
WAIT FOR THE CHILD.
Audrey’s knees weakened.
“Preston.”
Rocco caught her elbow.
Gary kept reading.
IF HE GETS COLD FEET, REMIND HIM WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FATHER.
Audrey looked at Gary.
“What happened to Preston’s father?”
Gary’s face changed.
“Officially?”
“Yes.”
“A boating accident.”
Rocco turned toward him.
“And unofficially?”
May you like
Gary closed the file.
“He was the accountant who helped Sofia build the trust.”
