Chapter 14 - The Night the Entire Coast Watched
Carlo expected Gio to arrive secretly.
Instead, Isadora arranged a charity gala.
At La Corona.
Livestreamed.
Politicians.
Journalists.
Business leaders.
Victims of Carlo’s financial schemes.
Sofia.
Elena.
Marco.
Chiara.
Even Emilio.
The invitation read:
THE VITTORIO ROSSI FOUNDATION FOR TRANSPARENCY AND RESTITUTION.
Gio hated the name.
Isadora chose it partly because of that.
At 9:00 p.m., Giovanni walked onto the stage.
“I spent most of my adult life believing privacy was power.”
Cameras flashed.
“My father believed the same thing.”
He looked toward Isadora.
“We were both wrong.”
He announced that independent investigators would receive access to the Rossi records.
Any company proven to have benefited from illegal activity would repay funds.
Victims would be compensated.
Reporters exploded with questions.
Then Isadora joined him.
Carlo called.
Gio answered on speaker.
“You think cameras protect you?”
“No,” Gio said.
“I think truth inconveniences you.”
Carlo laughed.
“You’re becoming sentimental.”
“Apparently it’s genetic.”
Carlo’s voice hardened.
“Chiara’s husband dies if you continue.”
Isadora nodded toward Marco.
A screen turned on.
Chiara’s husband appeared live.
Safe.
Police beside him.
Carlo went silent.
Marco had found him hours earlier.
The hotel had been empty.
Carlo had expected secrecy.
Instead, Gio had notified investigators.
Carlo said quietly:
“You think you won?”
Isadora stepped toward the microphone.
“No.”
Carlo recognized her voice.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“You should have taken the train.”
“You should have let me keep my backpack.”
Laughter rippled through the room.
Carlo hung up.
The clip went viral before midnight.
WAITRESS MOCKS CRIME BOSS DURING LIVE GALA.
But the celebration ended quickly.
At 12:13 a.m., the lights failed.
When emergency power returned, Sofia Rossi was gone.
A single note sat on her chair.
YOUR FATHER TOOK MY BROTHER.
NOW I’VE TAKEN HIS WIFE.
May you like
COME HOME, GIOVANNI.
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