Chapter 7 - The Cleaning of the House
By dawn, the Moretti estate had been purged.
Dominic’s teams had swept every square inch of the sprawling thirty-acre property with thermal and RF detectors. Three additional listening devices were found—one in the formal living room chandelier, one in the garage office, and another inside an antique clock in the main foyer. All had been planted by Victoria over the preceding six months.
In the nursery on the second floor, the morning sun broke through the curtains, casting warm golden light across the hardwood floor.
Allesandro opened the door softly.
Lily was sitting on a plush sheepskin rug, playing quietly with a set of wooden building blocks. Elena sat nearby on a rocking chair, knitting a wool scarf, her face filled with anxiety and relief.
When Allesandro entered, Elena stood up immediately, bowing her head. "Don Moretti... I don't know how to apologize... if I had known that doll was..."
"Sit down, Elena," Allesandro said gently, raising a hand. "You did nothing wrong. You have served this family with absolute loyalty for thirty years. You are not responsible for the treacherous heart of another woman."
He walked over and knelt down beside the four-year-old girl.
Lily looked up at him with her large, innocent eyes. "Mr. Moretti... is Daisy gone forever?"
Allesandro reached behind his back and produced a brand-new, beautifully crafted stuffed teddy bear. It was made of soft, cream-colored velvet, with hand-stitched eyes made of simple black thread—no glass, no metal, no hidden secrets.
"Daisy had to go away on a long trip, Lily," Allesandro said softly, placing the bear gently into her small arms. "This is Barnaby. He doesn't have glass eyes, and he doesn't make clicking sounds at night. He only knows how to keep you safe."
Lily pulled the soft bear close to her chest, pressing her cheek against its warm fur. A bright, radiant smile broke across her small face.
"He's soft," she whispered happily. "Thank you, Mr. Moretti."
Allesandro smiled—a real, genuine smile that hadn't touched his lips in years. He patted the little girl gently on the head before standing up and turning to Elena.
"Your brother in Sicily," Allesandro said quietly. "The seaside estate near Taormina."
Elena blinked, surprised. "Yes, Don Moretti?"
"I have purchased the neighboring vineyard for you and Lily," Allesandro revealed smoothly. "A private plane will fly you both there tomorrow morning. You will have a pension, full security, and a life away from the blood and darkness of this city."
May you like
Elena covered her mouth with both hands, tears spilling over her cheeks as she dropped to her knees. "Don Moretti... I... I cannot accept such generosity!"
"You saved my life, Elena," Allesandro said, helping the old woman to her feet. "If your daughter had not noticed the blinking light in that doll, I would have been dead within a week from ricin poisoning. You gave me back my life. It is I who am in your debt."
