Chapter 6 - THE MISSING SCHEDULE
Schedule C arrived at 9:12 the next morning.
Vincent read it alone first.
Then again with Nora.
Laura had created the trust because she knew what kind of family she had married into.
She loved Vincent.
She had also insisted that Eli’s assets not become another Bellacorte bargaining chip.
The trust held her personal investment accounts and a substantial minority stake she owned in the family’s legitimate logistics company.
Vincent served as Eli’s family protector while he remained Eli’s legal parent and was capable of acting.
If a court removed him for incapacity, abandonment, gross neglect, or serious endangerment of Eli, the next protector was Helena.
If Helena could not serve, Adrian followed.
Vincent lowered the document.
“Laura chose Helena?”
“Six months after Eli was born.”
That had been before Laura and Helena’s relationship deteriorated.
Before Maria worked at the estate.
Before Laura died.
Vincent looked at Nora.
“If Helena became protector, what could she do?”
“Influence trust decisions. Exercise certain voting rights. Appoint advisers. She could not simply take Eli’s money.”
“So money isn’t enough motive.”
“Control may be.”
Vincent thought of Helena.
For forty years, status inside the Bellacorte family had been her entire identity.
Laura’s trust contained voting rights large enough to matter if Vincent’s own control weakened.
Adrian entered the office without permission.
He saw the schedule.
His face changed.
“You found it.”
Vincent looked at him.
“You knew.”
Adrian sat down.
“I knew Helena was named.”
“Did you know Caleb was collecting evidence about my parenting?”
“No.”
Vincent believed the fear in his face.
But Adrian knew something else.
“What did Helena tell you?”
Adrian stared at his hands.
“That you were becoming reckless.”
“How?”
“You started talking about moving legitimate businesses away from family control.”
Vincent had.
Quietly.
After Laura died, he began considering a future where Eli did not inherit criminal obligations with legitimate assets.
Only a few people knew.
Helena had opposed every step.
Adrian continued.
“She said if you weakened the structure, every enemy we have would smell it.”
“And Maria?”
“She said Maria had been encouraging you.”
Vincent almost smiled from disbelief.
“Maria changes sheets and keeps my son from throwing cereal at the walls.”
“She listens to you.”
That was apparently enough to become dangerous.
Adrian rubbed his face.
“Caleb told Helena there were legal ways to protect Eli if you lost judgment.”
There it was.
Not proof yet.
But direction.
Vincent leaned toward him.
“What legal ways?”
Adrian looked up.
“I never asked.”
May you like
Vincent’s voice turned cold.
“Then you’re going to start asking better questions.”
