Chapter 8
Helen sat down.
Slowly.
The pearls at her throat trembled with every breath.
“I didn't do that.”
Trent laughed.
Nobody joined him.
Alessio looked at the device log.
Helen’s home computer.
Gabriele’s credentials.
Repeated archive access.
Copied audio.
Route data.
Old disciplinary files.
Somebody had built a digital bridge between the two people most determined to protect Trent.
And used it against both.
Alessio looked at him.
“How often were you in your mother’s house?”
Trent shrugged.
“I'm her son.”
Helen looked at him.
Something in her face changed.
“You used my study.”
Trent’s eyes moved toward her.
She stood.
“You told me you were working downstairs because Sylvia kept walking into your office.”
Trent said nothing.
Helen’s hand slowly closed over the back of the chair.
“You used Gabriele’s password.”
Silence.
“You took it from me.”
Trent’s mouth tightened.
“Does it matter where I got it?”
Helen flinched.
That answer was enough.
Alessio stepped closer.
“You used your father’s credentials.”
Trent’s eyes flashed.
“Don't call him that.”
Gabriele’s face tightened.
Trent continued.
“He wasn't my father when I needed one.”
Gabriele inhaled.
Alessio watched both men.
The psychological battlefield had shifted again.
Trent no longer cared about hiding the betrayal.
He cared about controlling its meaning.
“I built myself.”
His voice grew harder.
“You gave me scraps and called them favors.”
Gabriele’s eyes darkened.
“I kept you out of prison twice.”
“And made sure I always knew I owed you.”
Gabriele stopped.
That accusation hit.
Helen whispered:
“Trent.”
He turned toward her.
“You're worse.”
Her face collapsed slightly.
“You decided the truth would destroy me.”
His voice lowered.
“So you built my whole life on a lie instead.”
Sylvia watched him.
For one moment there was genuine pain in his face.
Then he looked at her.
And the pain became anger again.
“You understand now?”
Sylvia’s breathing steadied.
“No.”
Trent frowned.
She continued.
“I understand why you're angry.”
Her good hand closed around the sling.
“I still don't understand why you needed to hurt me.”
Silence.
That distinction reached everyone.
A reason was not absolution.
Trent looked away first.
Alessio noticed.
Then Mateo received another update.
The archive theft and fake recording were only part of a broader preparation.
Nine private audio clips had been assembled.
Each made Alessio appear to threaten or betray a different senior capo.
If released simultaneously, half the organization could turn against him before verification.
Alessio looked at Trent.
“You were planning a coup.”
Trent smiled faintly.
“Finally.”
Helen looked horrified.
“You said you were protecting your position.”
“I am.”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“You were replacing him.”
Trent turned toward her.
“And when I did, you would never have to beg a Grimaldi for respect again.”
Helen stared.
He believed that was a gift.
That was the terrifying part.
Then Mateo placed a calendar invitation on the table.
Emergency family council.
Tomorrow.
9:00 p.m.
Organizer:
Gabriele Costa.
Gabriele’s face hardened.
“I didn't create that.”
Mateo looked at him.
“We know.”
He turned the screen toward Alessio.
The invite had been created from Trent’s laptop.
Trent had planned to summon the family under his biological father’s name.
May you like
He was not merely stealing Alessio’s authority.
He intended to use Gabriele’s reputation to legitimize the takeover.
