Chapter 7 - The Man Luca Called Brother
The documents surfaced Monday.
New Horizons Family Center had received several large deposits from a shell company connected to Nico Ferraro. The transfers were labeled as consulting fees, but no services had been documented. Rachel referred the financial findings to the appropriate authorities and requested an expedited review in the custody matter.
"I trusted him with everything," Luca said.
We were sitting in his study, where photographs of Luca and Nico covered one shelf. Childhood baseball games. College graduation. A business opening. Men who had once believed friendship could survive anything.
"You trusted a friend," I said. "He made choices you didn't authorize."
"I should have known."
"Maybe. But regret isn't evidence."
Luca looked at me with a faint, sad smile. "You've been listening to Rachel."
"She's difficult to ignore."
What we couldn't ignore was the upcoming hearing.
Eleanor Voss had filed a sworn statement alleging that Isabella was emotionally neglected. The statement quoted anonymous household employees and claimed Luca had discouraged communication. It was the opposite of what I'd seen.
The accusation frightened Isabella when she learned that adults would be discussing where she lived.
Rachel recommended that an independent professional experienced with deaf children help the court understand Isabella's views without forcing her to testify in a hostile setting. Luca agreed immediately.
He also changed something at home.
Every family meeting would be signed or interpreted. Every announcement, every dinner-table discussion, every argument about homework or bedtime would be accessible to Isabella.
"This should have happened long ago," he admitted.
Isabella signed, It was already happening when it was just you and me.
Luca's eyes filled. Then we won't let anyone take it away again.
That afternoon, a television news crew parked outside the estate. A report claimed the Moretti family was embroiled in an ugly custody battle after a failed engagement. It used footage of Vanessa crying in public and an old photograph of Isabella with her hands folded in her lap.
The caption read: CHILD CAUGHT BETWEEN POWERFUL FAMILIES.
I switched off the television before Isabella came downstairs.
But she had already seen it on a classmate's tablet.
Am I famous because I'm bad? she asked me.
I wanted to break something.
Instead I signed, No. Someone told a story about you without asking what you wanted people to know. That wasn't fair.
Can I tell my own story?
I hesitated. "That's something to discuss with Daddy and your counselor."
That evening, Luca asked her what she wanted.
I want people to know that my hands are talking, she signed. Not misbehaving.
He promised to help her find a safe way to express that, without exposing her to strangers or making her responsible for winning a legal battle.
Later, I found Luca in the greenhouse among Sofia's orchids.
"Sofia used to tell me Isabella would teach me to listen," he said.
"Sounds like she knew her daughter."
"She knew me, too."
He held up a photograph of a smiling woman with dark hair. I had never asked about his late wife. Grief had always been a locked room in this house.
"Sofia died after a car accident," Luca said. "I kept her memory inside these walls. I thought that was enough."
"It wasn't supposed to be enough," I answered. "You were supposed to keep living."
His gaze lingered on mine.
For one dangerous second, I thought he might kiss me.
Instead, his phone rang.
Marco had located Nico's car at a private hangar.
May you like
Nico was preparing to leave the country.
And Vanessa was with him.
