Chapter 6: The Voice They Couldn’t Burn
Thomas clicked the file.
A recording began with Daniel’s voice.
“Transfer the money at six fourteen.
Put the drive in her locker during dinner.”
Vanessa’s voice followed.
“And if she stays quiet?”
“Remove it tomorrow.”
“And if she talks?”
Daniel answered with a laugh.
“Then Luca will think his maid sold his passwords.”
Nobody moved.
Thomas played the recording again.
Daniel reached for the laptop, but Marco blocked him.
“You’re finished touching evidence.”
Daniel raised both hands.
“That recording is fabricated.”
Thomas checked the file details.
“It was created yesterday on your phone.”
“My phone was copied.”
Rosa pointed toward his pocket.
“The same phone you turned over when I asked who was calling?”
Daniel stepped back.
One of Luca’s security staff held out his hand.
“Sir, place the phone on the table.”
“No.”
Vanessa moved toward the side door.
Luca’s voice stopped her.
“Where are you going?”
“To call my attorney.”
“You can call from here.”
“I will not be held prisoner in this house.”
Celia stood between Vanessa and the door.
“You told me the same thing when I found the first ledger.”
Vanessa stared at her.
“You have no proof.”
Celia reached beneath her shawl and removed a small red notebook.
“I gave security the duplicate key.
I never said the ledger was still in your desk.”
Daniel swore under his breath.
Vanessa turned on him.
“You told me she only saw it once.”
“She lied to both of us.”
Celia placed the notebook before Luca.
“You learned that from Vanessa,” she said.
“I learned it from surviving her.”
Luca opened the ledger.
Dates, company names and payment amounts filled every page.
Marco leaned over his shoulder.
“These are vendors from all three restaurants.”
“And these initials?” Luca asked.
Celia pointed to one entry.
“D.V.
is Daniel.
V.B.
is Vanessa.
M.S.
was supposed to be Marco after they forced him to accept blame.”
Marco looked at Vanessa.
“You planned to put my initials beside your payment?”
“You would have received a generous severance.”
“You threatened my daughter.”
“I gave you a choice.”
“No,” I said.
“You gave him fear and called it a choice.”
Vanessa stepped close enough for me to smell her perfume.
“You think sitting beside Luca makes you important?”
“No.
Speaking while you wanted me silent makes me important.”
Her hand came up, but Luca caught her wrist before it reached me.
“Never again.”
Vanessa pulled free.
“You still need me.
Half the people in this room came because of my family.”
Chairs scraped behind her.
Rosa stood first, then three restaurant investors and two of Luca’s oldest suppliers.
Celia removed the Bellini family brooch from her dress and placed it beside Vanessa’s ring.
“Do not use our name to excuse what you did.”
Vanessa’s face cracked for one second.
Then Daniel grabbed the red ledger and ran toward the fireplace.
Marco tackled the book from his hands.
Pages scattered across the carpet as security restrained Daniel.
Thomas began gathering them.
“Every page is photographed,” Celia said.
Daniel stopped struggling.
Luca looked at her.
“Where are the photographs?”
“My attorney has them.”
Vanessa laughed, but the sound shook.
“You think a few numbers will prove anything?”
Celia took out her phone.
“No.
But the recording from your meeting with Daniel will.”
She pressed play.
Vanessa’s recorded voice filled the room:
“After Marco resigns, we move to Luca’s restaurant accounts.
The engagement gives me access.”
Luca stared at her.
Vanessa whispered, “That is not the whole recording.”
Celia’s thumb hovered over the screen.
May you like
“You’re right.
The worst part comes next.”
