Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH IN THE DARK
The Vescari family lake house in Saranac Lake was a secluded timber fortress surrounded by dense forest.
Matteo carried Vivien inside, laying her gently on the long leather sofa in front of the massive stone fireplace. Within minutes, he had built a roaring fire, fetched a medical kit, and pulled up a stool beside her.
His hands, usually so steady when holding a weapon, were trembling as he carefully cut away the blood-soaked wool of her sleeve.
"It’s just a graze," Vivien said faintly, her voice weak but firm. "The bullet didn't stay in."
"Hold still," Matteo said softly. He cleaned the wound with antiseptic, applied a thick layer of ointment, and wrapped it in clean gauze with expert precision.
Vivien watched him quietly. The black case sat on the coffee table between them, untouched.
"Why didn't you open it?" she asked softly into the quiet room, the crackle of the fireplace filling the silence.
Matteo finished tying the bandage. He didn't look at the case. He looked up, meeting her gaze. "Open what?"
"The ledger," she said. "The thirty shell accounts. The bribed judges. The Moretti evidence. It’s right there, Matteo. You can take it back. You can burn it, and your empire stays safe."
Matteo let out a bitter, quiet laugh. He sat back, running a hand over his face.
"Do you really think I came all the way up here for that fucking book, Vivien?"
"It’s your life's work," she said.
"It's trash!" Matteo shouted, his voice echoing off the high wood-beamed ceiling. He stood up, pacing back and forth in front of the fire like a caged animal. "I didn't give a damn about the money! I didn't give a damn about the docks! When I walked into that bedroom this morning and saw your ring on the table... I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest with a rusty blade!"
Vivien stared at him, her lips slightly parted. "You had your hand on Lena Marik’s back, Matteo. You were looking at her the way you used to look at me."
Matteo stopped pacing. He stared at her, shock flickering across his features, followed quickly by a devastating wave of shame.
"Lena Marik is the daughter of Senator Marik," Matteo said quietly, his voice dropping to an agonized whisper. "She was acting as an intermediary for a federal wiretap investigation. I was trying to bribe her father to drop the grand jury indictment against our legal team. I put my hand on her back to guide her away from the microphones in the main room."
He walked back to the sofa and fell to his knees in front of her again, taking her cold hands in his own.
"I didn't touch her because I wanted her, Vivien. I don't want anyone. I have never wanted anyone but you. But I was arrogant. I thought you would always be there. I thought you were safe in the tower, away from the blood, while I played my disgusting games."
May you like
"I wasn't safe," Vivien whispered, tears finally slipping down her pale cheeks for the first time in twenty-four hours. "I was invisible, Matteo. I spent seven years invisible in your house."
"I know," Matteo sobbed, burying his face in her lap, his large frame shaking with absolute remorse. "I know. And I’m so sorry. I’m so damn sorry, Viv."
