Chapter 7 – THE NECKLACE IN THE DRIVEWAY

I picked up the necklace. The diamonds were completely fake—cheap glass imitations. But the heavy pendant at the center felt unusually thick.

“Twist the clasp,” Marcus panted from outside.

I twisted the heavy metal backing. It clicked and popped open. Inside was a tiny USB flash drive.

“Audio recordings,” Marcus said. “Vanessa paying off the driver who hit your sister. Vanessa ordering the hit on the diner owner who helped her.”

Vanessa lunged at me, tearing her arm free from Luca’s grip. Her nails dug into my cheek, burning like fire, as she clawed for the necklace.

I shoved her back hard. She tumbled down two steps, landing awkwardly.

“You’re done, Vanessa,” Luca said, his voice entirely devoid of emotion. He nodded to his guards. “Take her to the basement.”

Two massive men grabbed Vanessa by the arms, dragging her screaming across the marble floor.

I stood there, gasping for breath, clutching the necklace. It was over. The truth was out.

“Grace,” Luca said softly, walking down the stairs toward me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lied, wiping a drop of blood from my scratched cheek. “We need to check on Leo.”

“I’ll go,” a deep voice said from the top of the stairs.

I looked up. It was Silvio, Luca’s most trusted capo, the man who had been running security for the estate for twenty years.

“Thank you, Silvio,” Luca said, rubbing his eyes.

Silvio didn’t move toward the East Wing. He began walking slowly down the stairs, pulling a suppressed pistol from his jacket.

“It’s a shame, really,” Silvio said, leveling the gun at Luca’s chest. “Vanessa was greedy, but she was easy to control. I told her hiring that driver was sloppy.”

My blood ran cold.

“Silvio,” Luca said, perfectly still. “You?”

“The Bellini family is weak. The Moretti family is rich. I just needed to merge them under my control,” Silvio said, his eyes dead. “Vanessa takes the fall, you die tragically defending your home from her brother, and I take over the syndicate to ‘avenge’ you.”

Silvio aimed the gun.

He was standing right behind me.

“Drop the necklace, Grace,” Silvio ordered.

I looked at the heavy iron poker I had dropped on the floor. It was three feet away.

Share