Chapter 11 - Proof of Decline
The plan had been disgustingly simple.
Make Alessia weak slowly.
Document falls.
Create medical notes.
Stage one public collapse in front of wealthy witnesses.
Then file the competency petition and transfer temporary control of her shares before anyone could question the timeline.
Veronica pulling the chair had not been a burst of cruelty.
It had been scheduled.
Alessia sat in the clinic hallway and stared at her hands.
Valerio crouched in front of her.
“Say something.”
“I’m trying not to scream.”
“You can scream.”
“I don’t want them to have that too.”
He understood.
Marco brought another piece of evidence from Heller’s recovered phone: messages between Veronica and an unknown contact saved only as C.
C: She must be seen falling.
Veronica: She is stronger than expected.
C: Then increase the dose.
Veronica: Cole is watching.
C: Remove Cole if necessary.
Nathan read the last line and went quiet.
Valerio said, “You’re not leaving alone.”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “I’m a doctor, not a hostage.”
“Tonight you’re both.”
Alessia looked at the initial.
“C could be Cesare.”
Marco nodded. “Could be.”
But the metadata showed the phone receiving messages through an encrypted service registered to a server inside Rinaldi headquarters.
Only executive terminals had access.
Cesare had one.
So did Valerio.
So did Sofia.
And so did Carlo Rinaldi, Valerio’s younger brother.
Alessia looked at Valerio.
“Where’s Carlo?”
Valerio frowned.
“He left the wedding before dessert.”
“Why?”
“He said his daughter was sick.”
Marco checked the security log.
Carlo had not gone home.
His car had driven to Rinaldi headquarters at 10:14 p.m.
Fifteen minutes after Alessia fell.
Valerio called him.
No answer.
Then Alessia’s stolen phone suddenly powered on.
Marco’s tracker caught the location.
Rinaldi headquarters.
Penthouse floor.
Carlo’s office.
Valerio stood.
Alessia did too, balancing on her cane.
“Don’t even start.”
He stared at her.
“You can barely walk.”
“And someone has spent five months making sure of that.”
May you like
She took one painful step toward the door.
“I’m done staying where they put me.”
