"Your father kept this hidden."
Adrian opened it.
The first pages contained ordinary notes.
Then the writing changed.
Daniel had begun recording dates, meetings, and payments.
Near the end, one sentence had been underlined several times:
"Salvatore does not know what Vincent is doing."
Adrian looked up.
"Vincent?"
Evelyn nodded slowly.
"Your father was afraid of him."
Adrian turned another page.
A name appeared beside a date.
Carlo Vescari.
Adrian remembered hearing Salvatore mention Carlo once.
A former associate.
A man who had disappeared years earlier.
Adrian closed the notebook.
"We need to show this to Salvatore."
Evelyn gripped his arm.
"Are you sure?"
"No. But Dad trusted him once. And if these documents are real, Salvatore deserves to know what happened."
Chapter 14: A Visit to the Mansion
Adrian arrived at the Moretti mansion the following afternoon.
He carried the metal case.
The guards recognized him and allowed him inside.
Salvatore was sitting in the garden, reading a newspaper.
When he saw Adrian's face, he set the paper aside.
"What happened?"
Adrian placed the case on the table.
"My father left something behind."
Salvatore looked at the case.
Then at Adrian.
"May I?"
Adrian nodded.
Salvatore opened the folders.
He read the first document.
Then the second.
His expression grew darker with every page.
At last, he reached the notebook.
He saw Carlo Vescari's name.
His hand tightened around the paper.
"Where did you find this?"
"In my mother's closet. Dad hid it before he died."
Salvatore looked toward the garden wall.
"Daniel was investigating the organization."
"Why?"
Salvatore closed the notebook.
"Because he believed people were being hurt."
Adrian's voice became firm.
"Was he right?"
Salvatore looked at him.
"Yes."
The answer was immediate.
Adrian felt anger rise in his chest.
"Then why didn't anyone protect him?"
Salvatore did not look away.
"Because I failed to see what was happening inside my own organization."
Adrian stood.
"My father died because he tried to do the right thing."
Salvatore's eyes filled with sorrow.
"I believe he did."
"Believing isn't enough."
"No," Salvatore said. "It isn't."
Chapter 15: The Name Carlo Vescari
Salvatore called Marco Bellini into the garden.
Marco had been his adviser for nearly thirty years.
When he saw the documents, his face changed.
"Where did these come from?"
"Daniel Cole," Salvatore answered.
Marco studied the notebook.
"Carlo."
Salvatore nodded.
"Tell me what you know."
Marco hesitated.
"Carlo was responsible for several operations years ago. He believed the organization should expand aggressively. You disagreed with him."
"What happened?"
"Carlo left. At least, that was what we were told."
Salvatore looked at the documents.
"Apparently, he never stopped working."
Marco lowered his voice.
"These records suggest someone was using the organization to move money through legitimate businesses. Daniel may have discovered it."
Adrian looked between them.
"Who was involved?"
Marco did not answer.
Salvatore's voice became cold.
"We will find out."
He turned to Adrian.
"But I need you to understand something. This investigation could be dangerous."
Adrian nodded.
"I understand."
Salvatore shook his head.
"No. You understand that danger exists. You don't yet understand what it can take from you."
Adrian looked at the metal case.
"My father understood. He still chose to tell the truth."
Salvatore was silent.
Then he nodded.
"Then we will honor that choice."
Chapter 16: Vincent's Secret
Vincent had not visited the mansion since his suspension.
He spent his days working at the Belladonna Club under the supervision of Thomas Reed. He had begun learning the jobs he once considered beneath him.
But he had not forgotten his humiliation.
When Salvatore summoned him, Vincent arrived angry.
"What is this about?"
Salvatore placed Daniel's notebook on the table.
Vincent's face changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"From Daniel Cole's family."
Vincent stared at the notebook.
Salvatore watched him carefully.
"Do you know what it contains?"
Vincent hesitated.
"No."
Salvatore opened the notebook to the page with Carlo's name.
"Then explain why your name appears beside his."
Vincent went pale.
"I can explain."
"Then do so."
Vincent sat down.
He admitted that years earlier, Carlo had approached him with a business proposal. Vincent had been young and eager to prove himself. He had agreed to help move money through a series of companies.
He claimed he had not understood the full purpose.
Salvatore listened without interrupting.
When Vincent finished, the Don asked:
"Did you know Daniel was investigating?"
Vincent looked down.
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
Salvatore's voice was almost a whisper.
"Did you know he died?"
Vincent nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian stood near the window.
He felt as if the floor had disappeared beneath him.
"You knew my father was in danger?"
Vincent looked at him.
"I didn't know he would die."
"But you knew he was in danger."
Vincent could not answer.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Why didn't you warn him?"
Vincent's eyes filled with shame.
"Because I was afraid."
Adrian shook his head.
"My father was afraid too. He still did the right thing."
Chapter 17: The Truth Is Not an Apology
Salvatore stood.
"Vincent, you will tell the authorities everything you know."
Vincent looked up.
"Father—"
"This is no longer a family matter."
Vincent's voice trembled.
"They'll destroy everything."
Salvatore looked at him.
"Then let the truth destroy what deserves to fall."
Vincent stared at his father.
For the first time, he seemed to understand that the Don was not trying to protect the family name.
He was trying to stop the family from using its name as a shield.
Adrian looked at Vincent.
"I don't know if I can forgive you."
Vincent nodded.
"I understand."
"But I want you to tell the truth."
"I will."