Chapter 5
Natalie had discovered a private faction inside Moretti.
Not large.
Not enough to overthrow me.
Enough to shape information.
Damian’s men controlled estate security.
Vivienne controlled access to household schedules.
A senior captain named Matteo Greco controlled two northern routes and hated how much authority I had consolidated after my father died.
Matteo was the first name Mrs. Keller remembered Natalie mentioning.
I called him to the estate.
He arrived calm.
Too calm.
I placed Natalie’s bracelet on the table.
His face changed.
That was all I needed.
“You knew.”
He looked at Damian.
Wrong move.
I noticed.
“How much?”
Matteo sighed.
“Natalie misunderstood internal planning.”
I almost laughed.
“Try language meant for adults.”
His jaw tightened.
“She found reserve crews.”
There it was.
Damian had been building parallel security assignments.
Officially for emergencies.
Unofficially loyal to men, not command.
Natalie found payment records.
She confronted Damian.
Then Vivienne.
Then disappeared.
“What did you want?”
Matteo looked at me.
“Balance.”
Of course.
Every power grab eventually calls itself balance.
“You thought I controlled too much.”
“Yes.”
“Then say it.”
“You didn’t listen.”
“So you imprisoned my wife?”
Matteo’s face hardened.
“That was never agreed.”
Interesting.
He turned toward Vivienne.
She looked away.
There.
The faction did not agree on method.
Good.
Cracks.
I leaned forward.
“Who ordered the hidden room?”
Damian spoke.
“No one.”
I looked at him.
“I used it for security emergencies. Vivienne moved Natalie there after she panicked.”
Vivienne snapped:
“You told me to keep her contained.”
“Contained. Not locked underground.”
Their alliance began eating itself.
May you like
I stayed quiet.
The truth becomes easier when guilty people start deciding whose version is less damning.
