Chapter 4 - THE DOCTOR WITH THE FAMILY RING
Dr. Rossi was stopped before leaving the estate.
He carried a medical bag, three passports, and cash.
The gold Moretti ring sat inside his coat pocket.
He claimed Salvatore had given it to him for safekeeping.
Ruiz searched his vehicle.
Inside the trunk was a cooler containing blood samples, medications, and a second silver vial.
Laboratory testing showed the vial contained the same peanut concentrate used in Alejandro’s wine.
Rossi had entered the clinic to complete the murder if the EpiPen saved Alejandro.
Gabriel had remained beside the bed.
The doctor never found an opportunity.
Rossi requested an attorney.
He refused to answer questions about Kiara.
Then police searched his private clinic.
They found medical reports showing Kiara had survived the initial car explosion.
She had been conscious when first responders pulled her from the wreckage.
Her injuries were serious but treatable.
Rossi administered an injection before she reached the hospital.
Her heart stopped minutes later.
The official record described complications from the blast.
The injection contained potassium chloride.
Alejandro read the report alone.
For three years, he had believed his daughter died instantly.
He had imagined she felt no pain.
He had thanked Rossi for sparing him unnecessary details.
The doctor had murdered Kiara inside an ambulance.
Alejandro entered the interrogation room against Ruiz’s advice.
Rossi sat behind the table.
“You told me she was gone before the ambulance arrived.”
Rossi kept his eyes lowered.
“Salvatore said a living heir would keep the family divided.”
“She was four.”
“I followed an order.”
“You took an oath.”
“I served the Morettis before I served medicine.”
Alejandro stepped closer.
The officer near the wall prepared to intervene.
Alejandro did not strike him.
“That sentence will follow you into court.”
Rossi looked up.
“You think court will clean your hands?”
“No.”
“It will place names beside what happened.”
Rossi laughed bitterly.
“You ordered deaths after Kiara.”
“I did.”
“You killed Lombardis who had nothing to do with the bomb.”
“I did.”
“Then we are the same.”
Alejandro’s voice remained quiet.
“No.”
“You are trying to use my guilt to erase your choice.”
“We can both be guilty without being equal in every act.”
Ruiz heard the answer from the doorway.
Alejandro was not asking innocence from anyone.
He was learning to stop trading blame.
Rossi’s financial records revealed payments from three sources.
Salvatore.
Bruno.
And Luca Ferretti, Alejandro’s consigliere.
Luca controlled every legal agreement inside the Moretti empire.
He had helped Alejandro prepare the succession trust for Kiara.
After her death, he rewrote it.
If Alejandro died without an heir, Salvatore would inherit the legitimate companies.
The poison was not only revenge.
It was the final step in a succession plan.
Alejandro ordered the trust frozen.
Luca disappeared before the attorneys reached his office.
Hours later, a package arrived at the police safe house where Mariana and Emma were staying.
It contained a box of chocolate rabbits.
Emma reached for one.
Mariana caught her wrist.
There was no return address.
Ruiz sent the box to a laboratory.
Every chocolate contained peanut paste.
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Bruno had not escaped to hide.
He had escaped to eliminate the child who had changed the outcome.
