Chapter 13 - Valentina Sets Her Own Trap
Victor denied knowing the purpose of the surveillance.
Valentina didn't believe or disbelieve him.
She demanded proof.
“Then hear the whole recording,” he said.
The public had heard thirty seconds.
Victor provided seventeen minutes.
In it, a younger Victor argued with Salvatore.
He had been ordered to track Valentina's father.
Victor asked why.
Salvatore refused to answer.
Later Victor said:
“If you're planning to hurt him, find somebody else.”
Valentina listened silently.
Victor had participated.
That fact remained.
But he had not knowingly ordered her father's death.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Cowardice.”
Victor looked at her.
“I thought if you knew I'd been involved at all, you'd leave.”
“You were right.”
“I know.”
That answer hurt more because it contained no manipulation.
Valentina gave the full recording to investigators.
Arthur's edited version lost its power.
Then Valentina realized something.
Arthur wasn't cooperating honestly.
He was still shaping evidence.
Still trying to control the story.
So she set a trap.
Through Daniel, she allowed a rumor to circulate that she possessed one final ledger capable of destroying Michael's defense.
No such ledger existed.
Forty-eight hours later, someone broke into Daniel's office looking for it.
The intruder was arrested.
He worked for Arthur.
That gave investigators evidence Arthur had continued directing obstruction even while claiming cooperation.
His deal collapsed.
Valentina visited him once.
Through thick glass, Arthur smiled.
“You became exactly what Salvatore wanted.”
“No.”
“You manipulate information. Set traps. Move people.”
Valentina shook her head.
“The difference is purpose.”
“Everyone says that.”
“My purpose is to make sure men like you never touch my child again.”
Arthur's smile weakened.
“You think you won?”
“I think Owen had swimming class today.”
Arthur frowned.
“He laughed the entire time.”
Valentina stood.
“That's winning.”
She left.
Outside, Victor waited.
“You didn't need to come.”
“I know.”
They walked silently.
Finally he said, “Owen asked about me.”
Valentina stopped.
“How do you know?”
“He sent me a voice message.”
She hadn't known.
Victor showed her.
Owen's little voice filled the phone.
“Daddy, I can swim with the floaty now.”
Victor's eyes filled.
“I don't deserve him.”
“No parent deserves a child automatically.”
Valentina looked at him.
“We earn their trust by what we do.”
Victor nodded.
“What do I do?”
“Start with patience.”
“For how long?”
“As long as Owen needs.”
Victor accepted it.
That was another small change.
Weeks earlier he would have demanded a deadline.
Now he simply waited.
But the biggest confrontation was still ahead.
Salvatore's preliminary hearing was approaching.
The prosecution wanted Valentina to testify.
So did the defense.
Her father.
The surveillance.
The pond.
Victor.
Arthur.
Everything was converging.
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The private nightmare was about to become public record.
And someone inside the Morello family was determined to stop her before she reached the witness stand.
