Chapter 3 - WHISPERS FROM THE CELLAR
By sunrise, the rain had stopped, leaving the estate wrapped in a thick, gray fog.
I walked down the long carpeted corridor of the east wing, past two guards who snapped to attention as I approached. I pushed the heavy mahogany door open and stepped into the guest bedroom.
The room smelled of antiseptic, warm tea, and rain.
Mia was propped up on three pillows. Her face was pale, her lips cracked, and thick white bandages wrapped both of her wrists where the zip-ties had bitten into her skin.
On the edge of the mattress sat little Lily, holding a cup of warm broth with both hands, carefully lifting a spoon to her mother’s mouth.
When the door clicked, Lily jumped, her small shoulders tensing. But when she saw it was me, she lowered the spoon and stood up straight.
"Mr. Moretti," Lily whispered, her small voice steady despite the shadows under her eyes.
"Hello, little one," I said, walking over and dropping to one knee beside the bed. I looked at the child. "You saved your mother's life. Do you know that?"
Lily swallowed hard, looking down at her bare feet—now tucked into a pair of warm woolen socks. "Nobody believed me except you."
"I know," I murmured. "And I'm sorry it took me so long."
I looked up at Mia. Her dark eyes were tired, filled with a deep, lingering horror, but her breath was steady.
"Lily," I said gently, pulling a gold pocket watch from my vest. "Can you go with Marcus outside? He has warm fresh pastries from the kitchen waiting for you."
Lily looked at her mother. Mia gave her a soft, reassuring nod. The little girl turned and walked out, closing the door behind her.
I sat down on the leather stool beside the bed. "Mia. You don't have to talk if it hurts."
Mia swallowed, her voice raspy like dry leaves scraping across concrete. "I have to talk, Leo. Before he finishes what he started."
My eyes narrowed. "He?"
Mia reached out with her bandaged hand, grasping my sleeve with surprising strength. "It wasn't Miss Elena."
My heart pounded against my chest. "Tell me everything."
Mia took a shaky breath, closing her eyes as if re-living the nightmare. "Three nights ago... I was cleaning the private study on the second floor. It was late—past midnight. I thought everyone was asleep."
"Go on," I whispered.
"I heard the safe behind the painting click open," Mia continued, tears welling in her dark eyes. "I thought it was you. I walked in to ask if you needed tea. But it wasn't you. It was Mr. Julian."
The room seemed to drop ten degrees.
"Julian," I repeated.
"He had a flash drive plugged into your private ledger computer," Mia said, her voice trembling. "He was printing bank account numbers. When he saw me, he didn't scream. He didn't even jump. He just smiled."
"What did he do?"
"He grabbed me from behind. He held a rag over my face... it smelled sweet, like chemicals. Everything went black. When I woke up, I was in the cellar, tied to the copper pipe."
"Did he speak to you while you were down there?" I asked, my fists clenching so hard my knuckles turned white.
"Once," Mia whispered. "On the second night. He came down to check the lock. I begged him to think of Lily. I begged him to let me go."
"What did he say?"
Mia looked straight into my eyes, her expression filled with pure terror. "He laughed. He said, 'Don't worry, Mia. You aren't dying for nothing. You're going to help me destroy the Moretti legacy. Once Elena takes the fall for your death, Leo will break. And when he breaks, I take the crown.'"
A cold, lethal silence settled over the room.
It wasn't just embezzlement. It wasn't just framing Elena. Julian was planning a full takeover of the Moretti estate, using Mia's murder to shatter my sanity and drive a wedge between my family and our allies.
"Did he mention anyone else?" I asked, my voice deadly calm.
"He had a phone call outside the cellar door before he left," Mia added. "He said a name. Vance. He said, 'The shipments at Pier 19 are cleared. Once Moretti is isolated, we move.'"
Vance. The rival syndicate operating out of New Jersey. Julian wasn't just stealing—he had sold out our entire network to our bitterest enemies.
I leaned forward, taking Mia’s bandaged hand in mine.
"You are safe now, Mia," I said softly. "Nobody is going to hurt you or Lily ever again. I give you my word as a Moretti."
I stood up and walked toward the door.
"Leo?" Mia called out softly.
I stopped, my hand on the brass handle. "Yes?"
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"Miss Elena," Mia said, her voice filled with quiet sadness. "She cried when Julian told her you wanted her gone. She loves you, Leo. Don't let him win."
I didn't answer. I just opened the door and walked out into the fog.
