Chapter 8 - THE PIER THAT HELD THE TRUTH
Investigators went to Pier 14.
I stayed home.
The operation uncovered a storage unit containing financial records, company seals, forged identity documents, and several encrypted drives.
The evidence linked Marcus to a wider fraud network.
But he wasn't there.
Neither was Adrian.
The next morning, Elena called.
“Mia, we need to talk.”
I sat down.
“Did they find Marcus?”
“Not yet.”
My stomach tightened.
“What happened?”
“They found evidence suggesting he planned to transfer responsibility for several transactions to you.”
I closed my eyes.
“Of course he did.”
Elena continued.
“But the documents also contain inconsistencies that may help establish the signatures were forged.”
I breathed out slowly.
For the first time, I understood how close Marcus had come to making me responsible for crimes I didn't even know existed.
That afternoon, Dante came to Elena's office.
He asked to speak with me.
I agreed.
We sat across from each other in a conference room.
He looked tired.
Not the controlled, untouchable man I'd met at Romano's.
Just tired.
“I owe you an apology,” he said.
I folded my hands.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I should have told you about Marcus's connection to my company.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I was afraid you'd think my concern was self-serving.”
“Was it?”
“No.”
I studied him.
“Then you should have trusted me with the truth.”
He looked down.
“You're right.”
Silence settled between us.
Then he said, “Adrian was involved.”
“I know.”
“I trusted him.”
“I know.”
Dante looked at me.
“I thought I could control everything around me. Protect the company. Protect the people who worked for me.”
He exhaled.
“And I missed what was happening directly in front of me.”
I looked at him.
“That's what Marcus always said.”
Dante went still.
I continued.
“He said he was protecting me. That I didn't understand money. That he knew what was best.”
Dante's expression changed.
“I don't want to be another man who makes decisions for you.”
“Then don't.”
He nodded.
“I won't.”
When the meeting ended, Dante stood.
“I hope someday you'll trust me again.”
I looked at him.
“Trust isn't something you get because you want it.”
“I know.”
“It's something you earn.”
He nodded.
“Then I'll try.”
May you like
He left without asking for anything else.
And that was the first time I believed his apology.
