Chapter 10 - THE TRUTH ABOUT SALVATORE MORETTI
Salvatore Moretti had not been an innocent man.
He had built his empire through intimidation, corruption, and violence.
But the shipping fraud Miguel discovered had threatened even his interests.
Salvatore had planned to expose Victor's scheme.
He'd arranged to meet Miguel at the bakery.
But someone intercepted the message.
Someone inside his own organization.
Investigators uncovered evidence that Marcus Hale and Victor Salcedo had worked together for years.
They had manipulated security contracts.
Deleted records.
And used company resources without authorization.
The scheme had grown larger after Salvatore's death.
Dante reviewed the evidence.
His expression hardened.
He had spent years believing his father died of natural causes.
Now he wondered whether the stress and betrayal surrounding the fraud had contributed to his decline.
But there was no evidence of murder.
He refused to invent one.
Victor was arrested.
Marcus cooperated with investigators.
The financial records helped expose the network.
Several associates faced charges.
The warehouses were searched.
Stolen property was recovered.
And the people responsible for Miguel's captivity were brought before the courts.
Miguel gave a formal statement.
He described his abduction.
The threats.
The forced labor.
The years of confinement.
And the attempts he'd made to escape.
He also explained the knocking.
He had found access to the old Moretti tunnel during a brief period when he was moved between locations.
He believed the estate was the only place his family might still be living.
He'd approached the cottage at night because he feared being seen.
But each time, he heard Sophie inside.
And couldn't bring himself to frighten her further.
Until one night, he whispered through the glass.
She didn't understand.
She thought he was a stranger.
And she asked Bruno for help.
When I learned this, I cried.
Not because I forgave everything.
But because I finally understood.
Miguel hadn't abandoned us.
May you like
He'd been trapped.
And the first person to recognize the danger had been our five-year-old daughter.
