Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER IN THE WEST WING
Luca Romano was still asleep when Alessandro entered his room.
At least, he appeared to be.
Alessandro pulled open the curtains.
Winter sunlight flooded the room.
Luca groaned.
“Do you know what time it is?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you in my room?”
“Were you in security this morning?”
Luca sat upright.
“What?”
“At 6:48.”
“No.”
Alessandro watched his face.
Luca looked annoyed.
Not frightened.
That meant very little.
“Your access code was used.”
Luca’s expression changed.
“My code?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“6:48.”
“I was asleep.”
“Anyone verify that?”
Luca stared at him.
“Are you interrogating me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Alessandro said nothing.
Luca swung his feet onto the floor.
Then he saw Marco standing in the doorway.
“This is serious.”
“Very.”
“What happened?”
Alessandro handed him a photograph of the bread.
Luca frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
“Someone may have been putting something in my food.”
Luca’s face drained.
“Who?”
“We’re finding out.”
“And my code opened the security room?”
“Yes.”
Luca stood.
“I did not do it.”
“I hope not.”
The words hurt him.
Alessandro saw it.
Good.
Trust without verification had almost put him in the ground.
He would not repeat the mistake because Luca shared his blood.
Luca paced toward the fireplace.
“I gave my code to someone last month.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“Who?”
“Isabella.”
Marco looked at Alessandro.
“Why?”
Luca lifted both hands.
“She asked to retrieve footage.”
“What footage?”
“She said she wanted video from your birthday.”
“She was making a surprise anniversary montage.”
Alessandro stared at him.
“And you gave her access to security?”
“I gave her my temporary code.”
“A code you never deactivated.”
Luca looked ashamed.
“No.”
Alessandro turned toward Marco.
“Check every use of Luca’s credentials.”
Marco left immediately.
Luca stared at his brother.
“Do you really think Isabella is trying to hurt you?”
“I think she was afraid to eat my breakfast.”
Luca looked sick.
“Where is she?”
“Downstairs.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Find facts.”
Luca sank into a chair.
Then he said something that stopped Alessandro at the door.
“There’s something else.”
Alessandro turned.
Luca hesitated.
“Two weeks ago, Isabella asked me about your life insurance.”
Every muscle in Alessandro’s body tightened.
“What exactly did she ask?”
“She wanted to know who receives control of the foundation if something happens to you.”
“Why?”
“She said the wedding attorney asked.”
Alessandro’s voice went cold.
“There is no wedding attorney handling my foundation.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“I know that now.”
Before Alessandro could respond, Marco appeared again.
He was holding a tablet.
“We found the security log.”
“And?”
“Luca’s code was used eleven times in the last two months.”
Alessandro looked toward his brother.
Luca looked horrified.
Marco continued.
May you like
“Every time was between six and seven in the morning.”
The same hour Alessandro’s breakfast was prepared.
