Chapter 4 - The Vault No One Mentioned
Vittorio had heard stories about an old Morelli vault when he was a child.
His father said it held land deeds, family records, and enough gold to make weak men dangerous.
After his father died, Vittorio searched every room beneath the villa.
He found nothing.
Alessio looked toward the wall behind Renzo.
A carved stone lion rested above three iron rings.
“You knew where it was,” Vittorio said.
Alessio did not deny it.
“Father showed me before he died.”
“Why you?”
“Because I was the eldest.”
Vittorio laughed once.
“You are eleven months younger.”
“Father did not care about months.”
“He cared about obedience.”
Marco ordered Alessio toward the wall.
“Open it.”
“I cannot.”
“You have the first code.”
“Vittorio has the second.”
Marco smiled.
“That is why I kept both brothers alive.”
Renzo shifted carefully in the chair.
The wire tightened.
Sophia saw it.
“Papa, stop.”
He froze.
Vittorio studied the pressure device.
It was crude but functional.
If Renzo stood, the charge beneath the chair would detonate.
If anyone cut the wire, Marco could trigger it remotely.
“What is inside the vault?” Vittorio asked.
Marco’s gaze moved toward Alessio.
“The original ledger.”
The Morelli ledger contained every agreement the family had made since Vittorio’s grandfather took control of the port.
Names of judges.
Captains.
Police officers.
Business owners.
Rival families.
Men who owed the Morellis favors and men who had purchased silence.
In the wrong hands, it could destroy Naples.
In the right hands, it could control it.
Domenico Serra wanted the ledger.
Alessio placed his palm against the first iron ring.
He rotated it three times.
A section of the wall opened.
A metal panel appeared with two key slots.
Vittorio frowned.
“We do not have keys.”
Sophia reached into Renzo’s cap.
A small brass key had been sewn beneath the lining.
Renzo looked at his daughter.
“I told you to keep it safe.”
Marco cursed.
He moved toward her.
Vittorio stepped between them.
“You need the key.”
“You shoot me, she runs.”
Marco aimed at Vittorio’s chest.
Sophia suddenly threw the key toward Alessio.
He caught it.
The chamber lights went out.
A gunshot exploded.
When the emergency lamps flickered on, Marco was gone.
Renzo remained alive.
The remote trigger lay on the floor.
May you like
Alessio stood beside the vault.
The brass key had vanished from his hand.
