He moved through the house.
Then he found Elena in the kitchen, holding the telephone.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"Where's Luca?"
"He's outside."
Adrian checked her quickly.
"Did anyone come in?"
"Samuel called."
Adrian stopped.
"What did he say?"
She told him.
When she mentioned Matteo returning for her after her birth, Adrian looked toward Marco.
"Find Samuel."
Marco nodded.
Adrian turned back.
"Did he say where Matteo is?"
"No."
"Did he mention Dominic?"
"Yes."
Adrian looked toward the window.
His uncle had known they were at the villa.
That meant someone had given him information.
Someone close.
Possibly someone inside Adrian's own security network.
He took Elena to the study.
"Listen carefully. I need you to stay here until I know who's compromised."
She looked at him.
"You think someone working for you is helping Dominic?"
"I know it."
"Then how can you trust anyone?"
Adrian gave a small, tired smile.
"I can't."
He opened a drawer and removed a small photograph.
It showed a younger version of himself standing beside Vittorio.
"Do you know what my father used to say?"
Elena shook her head.
"He said loyalty was the only thing money couldn't buy."
"Do you believe that?"
Adrian looked at the photograph.
"I used to."
He put it away.
"Now I think loyalty is what people choose when they have a reason to walk away."
Elena watched him.
"And what would make you walk away?"
He looked at her.
"Nothing that matters."
Before she could answer, Marco entered.
"Boss. We found something."
He handed Adrian a phone.
It contained a recording.
The audio began with Dominic's voice.
Then another man spoke.
Lorenzo Vescari.
"We have the girl. Once Adrian learns who her father is, he'll come looking for him."
Dominic answered.
"Good."
"And if he discovers the original agreement?"
There was a pause.
Then Dominic said something that made Adrian's expression turn cold.
"Then we'll give him the truth."
"What truth?"
"The truth that Vittorio didn't die naturally."
The recording ended.
Elena looked at Adrian.
"What does that mean?"
He stared at the phone.
His father had not died of a medical emergency.
Someone had killed him.
And the people responsible were still sitting inside the Moretti family.
***
Adrian spent the next hour listening to every available recording.
Marco had recovered the phone from a man who worked for Dominic.
The device contained conversations dating back several months.
Most were ordinary.
Business arrangements.
Private meetings.
Financial discussions.
But one recording was different.
It had been made three weeks before Vittorio died.
Dominic's voice was unmistakable.
"He's becoming difficult."
Lorenzo replied.
"He always was."
"Adrian is worse."
"Adrian can be managed."
"Not if Vittorio tells him what happened."
A pause.
Then Lorenzo spoke.
"Your brother won't tell him."
"How can you be certain?"
"Because he knows what it would cost."
The recording ended.
Adrian listened again.
Then he looked at Marco.
"Find out what Vittorio was planning to tell me."
Marco nodded.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"The original medical report."
"From the hospital?"
"Yes. The doctor who signed it was paid by a company connected to Dominic."
Adrian closed his eyes.
For years, he had believed his father died because his body finally failed him.
Now he was learning that the death might have been arranged.
He remembered the last time he had spoken to Vittorio.
It had been a rainy evening.
His father sat in the library, wearing a dark blue robe.
Adrian had been preparing to leave for Switzerland.
Vittorio poured two glasses of wine.
"You're too trusting," he said.
Adrian had laughed.
"That's an unusual accusation from you."
"One day, you'll understand."
"Understand what?"
"That the people closest to you are the ones who know exactly where to place the knife."
Adrian had dismissed the words.
He wished he had asked another question.
***
The following morning, Samuel was found.
He was alive, but injured.
Marco brought him to the villa.
Elena rushed toward him.
"Samuel!"
The old man smiled weakly.
"You're beginning to sound like your mother."
She knelt beside him.
"Who did this?"
"Men who don't like old stories."
Adrian stood nearby.
"Where is Matteo?"
Samuel looked at him.
"He's in the northern district."
"Give me the address."
"I will."
Samuel reached into his coat and removed a small photograph.
It showed a man standing beside a boat.
On the back was a handwritten location.
Adrian studied it.
"Why didn't you give us this before?"
"Because I wanted to be certain."
"Certain of what?"
"That Matteo would want to see her."
Elena looked at Samuel.
"Why wouldn't he?"
The old man hesitated.
"Because he believes you're safer without him."
She looked away.
"Everyone keeps deciding that for me."
Samuel nodded.
"You're right."
He closed his eyes.
"Your mother would be proud."
***
The northern coast was quiet in November.
Small fishing boats moved slowly across the gray water.
The roads were narrow.
The houses were old.
Adrian's car stopped outside a white cottage surrounded by pine trees.
A man stood on the porch.
He was wearing a dark sweater and work trousers.
His hair had turned almost entirely gray.
He looked older than the photographs.
But his posture was unmistakable.
Matteo Bellandi.
Elena stepped out of the car.
The man looked at her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Matteo took one step forward.
"Elena?"
She nodded.
He looked at her face as if searching for something.