Chapter 3 - Twenty Percent
Matteo stared at the word until the letters stopped making sense.
Husband.
“She remarried?”
Arthur shook his head.
“Impossible. You're still legally married.”
“Then who is Samuel Carter?”
“We don't know.”
Matteo crushed the paper in his fist.
Within three hours, he was driving north.
Arthur sat beside him.
Two vehicles followed.
Matteo had ordered the men to keep their distance.
He didn't want Norah frightened.
That realization itself disturbed him.
For years, fear had been useful.
Now he hated the possibility of seeing it in his wife's eyes.
They reached the clinic shortly before sunset.
Matteo went inside alone.
The receptionist looked up.
“Can I help you?”
“Nora Bennett.”
“I'm sorry, we can't provide patient information.”
Matteo placed his hands on the counter.
Months earlier, he would have threatened her.
Instead, he took a breath.
“She's my wife.”
The receptionist's expression changed.
“Sir—”
“She's seven months pregnant.”
A doctor emerged from the hallway.
“Mr. Rossi?”
Matteo turned.
Dr. Helen Warren approached.
“Norah told me you might eventually come.”
His heart jumped.
“You've spoken to her?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“I won't tell you.”
Matteo's old instincts surfaced.
Then he remembered Arthur's words.
She looked afraid.
He stepped backward.
“Is she healthy?”
The doctor's expression softened slightly.
“Yes.”
“The baby?”
“Healthy.”
Matteo closed his eyes.
For twelve days, he hadn't realized how desperately he needed that answer.
“Is Samuel Carter with her?”
The doctor frowned.
“Who?”
Matteo showed her the document.
Dr. Warren studied it.
Then laughed softly.
“This isn't our intake form.”
Matteo stared.
“What?”
“Someone created this.”
A trap.
Matteo turned toward the windows.
Norah had known he would trace the medical payment.
She had deliberately created a false trail.
For him.
Arthur entered minutes later.
“We've got a problem.”
“What?”
“The twenty percent.”
Matteo looked at him.
“What about it?”
“It moved again.”
“To where?”
Arthur handed him a tablet.
Matteo studied the transaction map.
The money had been divided across dozens of accounts.
Then portions had begun returning.
Not to Matteo.
To businesses.
Legitimate businesses.
Companies whose ownership Matteo had concealed behind layers of intermediaries.
“What is she doing?”
Arthur looked grim.
“She's mapping your entire financial structure.”
Matteo felt cold.
Norah wasn't merely escaping.
She was ensuring he could never use his money to control her again.
That night, Matteo returned to Boston.
Harper was waiting at the penthouse.
“You abandoned me in Greece.”
Matteo walked past.
“Go home.”
“Excuse me?”
“We're finished.”
Harper laughed.
“You think Norah is coming back?”
Matteo stopped.
“No.”
The answer surprised them both.
Harper stared.
“Then why?”
Matteo looked toward the kitchen where Norah had sat that final night.
“Because she should never have needed to leave.”
Harper's expression hardened.
“You weren't exactly complaining when you were with me.”
“No.”
Matteo met her eyes.
“That was my failure.”
He didn't blame Harper.
That would have been easy.
Matteo was beginning to understand that easy explanations were how he had avoided accountability his entire life.
Harper left.
Two months passed.
Norah vanished completely.
Matteo stopped searching aggressively.
Instead, through Arthur, he sent one message to every location she might eventually check.
I won't bring you back. I won't follow you. Tell me only that you and the baby are safe.
No response came.
Then November arrived.
The first snow covered Boston.
At 3:14 one morning, Matteo woke suddenly.
He didn't know why.
He walked downstairs.
Norah's wedding ring remained in the safe.
He took it out sometimes.
Tonight, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Matteo answered immediately.
Silence.
Then breathing.
A woman's breathing.
“Norah?”
Nothing.
His heart pounded.
“Norah, please.”
A tiny sound came through the phone.
A newborn crying.
Matteo stopped breathing.
His knees nearly failed.
The cry came again.
Small.
Alive.
His child.
“Norah?”
Her voice finally came.
“He's healthy.”
Matteo gripped the counter.
A son.
“What's his name?”
Long silence.
“Daniel.”
After her father.
Matteo closed his eyes.
“Can I see him?”
“No.”
The answer was gentle.
That made it hurt worse.
“I understand.”
Norah seemed surprised.
Matteo continued.
“I won't ask where you are.”
Silence.
“I just needed to know you're both okay.”
“We are.”
Matteo wiped his face.
He hadn't realized he was crying.
“Norah?”
“Yes?”
“I'm sorry.”
She said nothing.
“I know that doesn't fix anything.”
“No.”
“I know.”
The baby cried again.
Matteo smiled despite himself.
“Does he look like you?”
Norah's voice softened.
“He has your eyes.”
Something inside Matteo broke.
Then Norah whispered:
“There's something else you need to know.”
Matteo straightened.
“What?”
“The money I took wasn't for me.”
Silence.
“Then who was it for?”
Norah took a breath.
“For the people your empire hurt.”
May you like
And before Matteo could respond, the line went dead.
---
