She Found Who Was Robbing the Don’s Syndicate—Then He Claimed Her Before Everyone
Chapter 7
The beginning was a name.
Matteo’s late father.
Antonio Belladonna.
Years earlier, Antonio had built the trading empire his son now controlled.
He had also made enemies.
According to Matteo, one of those enemies had been a wealthy merchant named Gabriel Rinaldi.
Rinaldi had wanted control of the river trade.
Antonio refused.
A year later, Antonio died.
Officially, it was fever.
Matteo never believed it.
Neither did Elena’s father.
That was the secret in the missing account book.
Her father had discovered payments linking Rinaldi to several Belladonna officials.
He had intended to expose them.
Instead, he died in what everyone called a riding accident.
Elena stared at Matteo.
“You think my father was murdered?”
“I think he discovered something dangerous.”
“And you knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you were innocent.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“Not anymore.”
Matteo looked at her.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“Not anymore.”
They spent the next several days searching old records.
Elena discovered that Rinaldi had died years ago.
But his network had survived.
Someone had inherited it.
Someone with access to Belladonna shipments.
Someone who could manipulate the books.
The answer appeared in an old letter.
It was signed by Antonio Belladonna.
Trust no man simply because he carries our family name.
Elena read it twice.
Then she saw the second page.
A list of names.
At the bottom was Lorenzo.
But beside his name was a note.
If anything happens to me, watch the boy.
Matteo closed his eyes.
“My father suspected Lorenzo.”
“And you?”
“I suspected everyone.”
Elena studied him.
“You trusted no one.”
“No.”
“Not even yourself?”
Matteo looked away.
“That is the only person a man in my position cannot afford to distrust.”
That night, Elena and Matteo stayed in the archive until the candles burned low.
A storm battered the windows.
At some point, Elena fell asleep over the books.
When she woke, a blanket covered her shoulders.
Matteo sat across the room.
“You should rest.”
“So should you.”
“I’ve forgotten how.”
Elena smiled faintly.
Then a servant burst through the door.
“Don Matteo.”
Matteo stood.
“What?”
“There has been an attack at the north warehouse.”
“Who?”
The servant’s face was pale.
“Your cousin Lorenzo.”
Matteo’s expression hardened.
“He says he has proof Miss Moretti is the thief.”
