Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO BE PROTECTED INTO SILENCE
Serena's apartment was small compared with the Duca estate.
Two bedrooms.
A modest kitchen.
A balcony overlooking a quiet street.
She loved it immediately.
No guards stood outside her bedroom.
No assistant chose her clothes.
No husband told her when she could speak.
She bought yellow flowers.
Hung photographs of her mother.
And placed her graduate diploma above the desk.
Then she began working.
Her attorney, Naomi Ellis, reviewed the trust documents.
Alexander introduced her to an independent forensic accountant.
The review uncovered irregularities involving a redevelopment company named Northlake Urban Partners.
Northlake had received unusually favorable contracts connected to properties held by the trust.
Several transactions lacked adequate supporting records.
And one of Northlake's senior advisers had a familiar surname.
Duca.
Serena stared at the report.
“Who?”
Naomi looked at her.
“Lorenzo Duca.”
Roman's cousin.
A man Serena had known for six years.
A man who attended every family Christmas.
A man who kissed her cheek and called her little sister.
Serena felt sick.
She called Roman.
He answered immediately.
“Serena?”
“Did Lorenzo have access to my mother's trust?”
Silence.
Then Roman said, “Why?”
“Answer me.”
He exhaled.
“He advised one of the redevelopment companies.”
“Did you know?”
“Not the details.”
Serena closed her eyes.
“Roman.”
“I swear to you.”
She stared at the report.
“Your cousin may have been stealing from my mother's charity.”
Roman went silent.
Then his voice changed.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Serena—”
“I don't need you to come rescue me.”
He swallowed.
“What do you need?”
She looked at the documents.
“For once?”
“Yes.”
“The truth.”
Roman began an internal review of Lorenzo's activities.
But Serena refused to rely on it alone.
She provided the relevant documents to her attorneys and the appropriate authorities.
She wanted evidence.
Not revenge.
May you like
And she wanted to know whether Lorenzo had merely stolen money.
Or whether he'd arranged the threat against her life.
