Chapter 6 - THE INSURANCE POLICY
Z
The words stayed with Derek long after Vincent left the room.
Insurance policy.
His father had called a child an insurance policy.
He had treated Lucia Costa not as a person, but as leverage against the only surviving adult who might expose his crimes.
Derek felt sick.
For years, he had defended Salvatore Russo as a ruthless man who nevertheless protected his family.
Now he was discovering how narrowly his father defined the word family.
Investigators examined Vincent's statements, financial transactions, and the circumstances surrounding Emily's adoption.
The records raised serious concerns about fraudulent identity documents and improper guardianship arrangements.
Patricia Caruso insisted she had believed Emily was an orphan.
She agreed to cooperate.
Emily, now nineteen, chose to remain temporarily with a friend while establishing her own legal and financial independence.
Isabella supported her decision.
Even though every part of her wanted to bring Lucia home immediately.
Derek visited Isabella at the clinic.
She was sitting beside a window, reading an old novel.
Her silver hair shone in the afternoon sunlight.
He stopped in the doorway.
“May I come in?”
She looked up.
“Since when do you ask?”
“Since someone pointed out I was terrible at respecting boundaries.”
A faint smile appeared.
“An unusually perceptive person.”
He sat opposite her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Derek said, “I'm sorry.”
Isabella closed the book.
“For what?”
“For what my father did to your family.”
Her expression changed.
He continued.
“And for treating you like evidence when I found you in that alley.”
She looked down.
“You were angry.”
“That doesn't excuse it.”
“No.”
Derek swallowed.
“I called you inhuman.”
“You told people to wash me until I looked human.”
His jaw tightened.
“I know.”
The words sounded worse when she repeated them.
He looked at her.
“You were human before I found you.”
Isabella's eyes filled.
For a long moment, she couldn't speak.
Then whispered, “Thank you.”
That evening, Derek received the first preliminary findings from the burial review.
The coffin containing Leo's supposed remains had not followed the documented chain of custody.
The records showed a transfer to a private mortuary shortly before burial.
The mortuary was owned by a company linked to Vincent Caruso.
Derek stared at the report.
Then looked at the silver lighter on his desk.
He had buried it himself.
Or believed he had.
If Leo possessed it afterward, the ceremony must have concealed something.
Derek called his attorney.
“I need to know who handled the remains.”
The attorney hesitated.
“We're working with the authorities to establish that.”
Derek closed his eyes.
For five years, he had visited a grave.
Left flowers.
Spoken to a headstone.
Now he couldn't be certain his brother had ever been inside the coffin.
Later that night, Marcus Bell requested to speak.
Derek agreed, with counsel present.
Marcus looked exhausted.
“I know you're angry.”
Derek stared.
“That's an understatement.”
Marcus swallowed.
“I drove Leo to Connecticut because your father ordered me to.”
“What happened afterward?”
“I left him at a private medical facility.”
“Was he hurt?”
“Yes.”
“How badly?”
Marcus looked down.
“He'd been beaten. But he was conscious.”
Derek felt sick.
“Did he say anything?”
Marcus nodded.
“What?”
The older man's eyes filled.
“He asked me to tell you he was sorry.”
Derek stopped breathing.
“Sorry for what?”
Marcus swallowed.
“For not trusting you sooner.”
Derek covered his face.
For five years, he had believed Leo died without saying goodbye.
Now he was hearing words his brother had spoken while still alive.
Marcus continued.
“I went back three weeks later.”
Derek looked up.
“And?”
“The facility was empty.”
“Where did they take him?”
Marcus shook his head.
“I never found out.”
Then he hesitated.
“But there's something else.”
Derek stared.
“What?”
May you like
Marcus's voice broke.
“Your father told me Leo had become dangerous because he remembered too much.”
