Chapter 4 - THE SECOND FAMILY
Sophia had always believed that Alexander would eventually leave Chicago.
He had promised her that once his business was stable, he would move to Seattle permanently. He said he wanted Mateo to grow up away from the violence and pressure of the Moretti family.
But every time Sophia asked when, he gave her another date.
After the latest argument, she stood in the kitchen watching Alexander pace.
“You need to bring Claire back,” she said.
He stopped.
“Don't tell me what I need to do.”
“She has the documents.”
“I know.”
“She can destroy everything.”
Alexander turned toward her.
“Why did you let her get close to the accounts?”
Sophia stared.
“I didn't. Adrian handled them.”
“You introduced Adrian.”
“You said you needed someone to manage the properties.”
“I said I needed someone discreet.”
“He was discreet.”
“He stole from me.”
Sophia's face went pale.
“How much?”
Alexander didn't answer.
She understood then that the money was not simply missing. It was connected to something larger.
“Alexander, what did he do?”
He took out his phone and called Daniel.
“Have the Seattle property secured. No one enters or leaves without being identified.”
Sophia stepped forward.
“You can't bring your men here. Mateo is upstairs.”
Alexander lowered his phone.
“Then tell me where Adrian went.”
“I don't know.”
“Did you help him move money?”
“No.”
“Did you sign anything?”
Sophia hesitated.
Alexander saw it.
“What did you sign?”
“Property documents. He said they were routine.”
“Show me.”
She went to a desk and returned with a folder.
Alexander opened it.
The first document transferred ownership of the waterfront house to a company registered in Delaware. The second gave Adrian authority to manage several investment accounts.
The third was a loan agreement secured against the property.
Alexander read the final page.
His name appeared beneath the signature line.
It was not his signature.
He looked at Sophia.
“Did you know this was forged?”
She shook her head.
“I swear I didn't.”
He studied her face.
For three years, he had believed he was managing two separate worlds. Now both were collapsing into one another.
His phone rang again.
Daniel.
“Boss, we found the vehicle Adrian used. It's abandoned outside Tacoma. There are signs he left in a hurry.”
“Find him.”
“There's another issue. The federal investigators have requested records from the Seattle company.”
Alexander looked at the documents.
“Who gave them the information?”
Daniel hesitated.
“We don't know.”
Alexander glanced at the open package Claire had sent.
He knew.
“Claire.”
He ended the call.
Sophia began crying.
“Are you going to leave us?”
Alexander looked toward the staircase.
Mateo was standing there again, holding a toy truck.
“Daddy, are you staying for dinner?”
Alexander forced a smile.
“Yes, buddy.”
The little boy came down.
Sophia watched them together, then turned away.
She had wanted to be chosen.
She had wanted Alexander to make her the only woman in his life.
But now she was beginning to understand that she had not won a future with him.
She had helped build a secret that could destroy all of them.
Later, while Alexander was in the study, Sophia opened the package Claire had sent.
Inside was a photograph of the two of them outside the Seattle house. It had been taken from across the street.
On the back, Claire had written:
I hope you understand that I did not know about you until recently. I am not blaming your child. I am holding the adults responsible for the choices they made.
Sophia read it twice.
Then she found a second note.
There are records showing that money from the Chicago organization paid for this house. If you have signed documents you don't understand, you should speak to an attorney before Alexander asks you to destroy them.
Sophia sat down.
May you like
For the first time, she wondered whether Claire had not only been betrayed.
She might also have been trying to warn her.
