Chapter 5 - Flames of Betrayal
I returned to the Moretti estate at 4:00 PM. The rain was pouring over the gray limestone mansion, matching the icy terror in my chest.
I hid the laboratory report inside the lining of my leather tote bag and walked straight to the west wing.
Before I could reach Alessandro’s study, I heard low, urgent voices coming from the library down the hall. The door was cracked an inch open.
"He’s asking too many questions about his leg reflexes, Sterling," a harsh, familiar voice growled from inside.
I stopped in the shadows of the corridor, pulling Emma close against my leg, shushing her gently.
Through the crack, I saw Matteo Moretti—Alessandro’s thirty-five-year-old cousin and the head of the syndicate's financial operations. Standing across from him was Dr. Julian Sterling.
"I gave him the increased dose today, Matteo," Dr. Sterling said nervously, wiping sweat from his forehead. "The toxin is doing its job. But his new attendant—that girl Nora—she’s been doing physical therapy exercises with him. I saw twitching in his quadriceps yesterday."
Matteo’s face turned vicious. "Get rid of her. Hire a new attendant from our payroll."
"I can't just fire her! Alessandro ordered her to stay," Sterling argued. "He’s attached to her little kid. If we push too hard, Alessandro will suspect something."
Matteo poured himself two fingers of dark whiskey. "Then increase the dosage to a lethal level by Friday. We announce his death as heart failure caused by long-term mobility complications. Once Alessandro is buried, the board passes full voting control of the shipping terminals to me."
My blood ran cold.
It was Matteo. Alessandro’s own cousin, the man who handled his business, had orchestrated the ambush two years ago and kept Alessandro crippled ever since to seize control of the Moretti empire.
Suddenly, Emma’s red crayon slipped from her tiny coat pocket, dropping onto the hardwood floor with a sharp clack.
Inside the library, the voices abruptly stopped.
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"Who’s out there?!" Matteo roared.
I didn't wait. I scooped Emma up in my arms, sprinted down the velvet-carpeted hallway, and burst into Alessandro’s private study, slamming the heavy mahogany door shut and locking it from the inside!
