Chapter 6 - THE TRAITOR WHO CALLED HIM BROTHER
Victor Salerno arrived at Corsetti Tower the following morning.
He expected Raphael to be furious.
He did not expect to find independent attorneys, forensic accountants, and investigators waiting in the conference room.
Raphael sat at the head of the table.
His expression was unreadable.
Victor smiled.
“What's all this?”
Raphael looked up.
“Sit down.”
Victor hesitated.
Then obeyed.
Raphael placed a photograph on the table.
Luca.
Twenty-nine years old.
Laughing.
Alive.
Victor's smile disappeared.
“What's this about?”
Raphael leaned forward.
“Tell me what happened the night my brother died.”
Victor went still.
“We've been through this.”
“Again.”
Victor swallowed.
“He killed himself.”
Raphael said nothing.
Victor looked around the room.
“What is this?”
Raphael placed another photograph beside Luca's.
A still frame from the surveillance footage.
Victor entering Luca's office.
The timestamp was visible.
9:27 p.m.
Victor's face drained.
Raphael watched him.
“Anything you want to change?”
Victor stared at the image.
Then whispered:
“Where did you get that?”
Raphael's expression hardened.
“Does it matter?”
Victor looked toward the door.
Raphael continued.
“You told me Luca was alone.”
Victor said nothing.
“You told me he was depressed.”
Silence.
“You told me he'd left a suicide note.”
Victor's hands began trembling.
Raphael leaned closer.
“And then you stood beside me while I buried him.”
Victor looked down.
For the first time in seventeen years, he had no answer.
Raphael stood.
“You're finished.”
Victor looked up.
“Raphael—”
“No.”
His voice was cold.
“Your access is revoked. Your accounts are frozen pending investigation. And every piece of evidence has been preserved for the authorities.”
Victor's face twisted.
“You think you can destroy me?”
Raphael looked at him.
“You destroyed yourself.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“You don't understand what Luca was doing.”
Raphael went still.
“What?”
Victor looked toward the investigators.
Then back at Raphael.
“Your brother was going to expose everything.”
Raphael stared.
Victor continued.
“He was going to take down the entire organization.”
Raphael's jaw tightened.
“And you killed him for it?”
May you like
Victor said nothing.
That silence was enough.
