Chapter 3 - The Hospital Receipt
Enzo stepped into the kitchen area of the cottage, spreading out a series of printed documents on the wooden table. Alessandro joined him, leaving Elena to comfort Emma in the other room.
"Look at this," Enzo said, pointing to a scanned document from the Ospedale Civico in Palermo. "Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 2:00 PM—right about the time Elena was being accused of theft at the estate—a woman named Sofia Varga was admitted to the VIP wing."
"Sofia Varga," Alessandro murmured. "Marco’s wife."
"Exactly," Enzo said. "The official diagnosis on the admission sheet is 'severe acute anemia due to chronic illness.' But I paid off a clerk in the billing department to get the actual medical files and the financial ledger. Look at the treatment she received."
Alessandro scanned the medical jargon. His eyes narrowed. "This isn't a treatment for anemia. This is a highly specialized, experimental gene-therapy treatment for a rare aggressive leukemia. A treatment that is only available in three clinics in Switzerland and the United States."
"And it costs a fortune," Enzo added. "Specifically, five hundred thousand euros per cycle. The first installment was paid yesterday afternoon. In cash. Brought to the hospital in a secure briefcase by one of Marco’s personal couriers."
Alessandro leaned over the table, his mind working with cold precision. "Marco doesn't have that kind of liquidity. Not unless he’s been skimming from the family’s transport accounts. But my auditors sweep those accounts every month."
"He didn't skim from your accounts, boss," Enzo said, his voice dropping. "He didn't have to. I tracked the serial numbers on the cash used for the hospital payment. They match a series of dummy accounts tied to a Russian holding company. A holding company owned by Victor Volkov."
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place with a sickening click.
The $200 million deal in Milan wasn't just a business expansion. It was a trap. Marco had been bribed by Volkov to set up the deal, likely providing the Russians with backdoors into the Moretti shipping routes and ports. But to make sure Alessandro was distracted and desperate enough to sign without asking too many questions, Marco had to create a crisis at home.
By framing Elena, the head housekeeper and the woman who practically ran the domestic side of Alessandro's life, Marco hoped to create a chaotic environment. He wanted Alessandro focused on domestic betrayal, making him reckless and eager to wrap up the Milan negotiations quickly.
"He sold me out to save his wife," Alessandro said, his voice devoid of emotion.
"It seems so," Enzo said. "But there’s more. The diamond bracelet that Marco accused Elena of stealing? It wasn't in the family vault. I checked the digital inventory logs. It was checked out by Marco himself three weeks ago."
Alessandro stood up, straightening his jacket. The cold fury that had been simmering in his chest had now solidified into an icy, unbreakable resolve.
"Gianni," Alessandro called out.
The big Calabrian stepped into the kitchen. "Yes, boss?"
"Assemble the men. We are going home."
Alessandro walked back into the living room. He knelt in front of Emma, who was now sleepily rubbing her eyes. He reached out and gently touched her soft cheek.
"Emma," he said. "Do you remember what I told you about your tower?"
May you like
She nodded sleepily. "You build it again."
"That's right," Alessandro smiled, a rare, genuine expression. "We are going to rebuild it tonight. You and your mom are coming back to the estate. And nobody is ever going to make you leave again."
