Chapter 4
Alessio’s first instinct was to remove every Walsh employee from every Moretti property.
Instead, he signed the independent audit authorization Caroline put in front of him.
It cost him control.
The auditors would report to a three-member committee that did not include Alessio.
“Why am I excluded?”
“Because you punched the senior associate under investigation,” Caroline said.
He signed anyway.
The Moretti club board also suspended Trent.
Raymond responded by threatening breach-of-contract claims if his security company was pushed out without evidence.
By noon, two property managers were complaining that the investigation itself was creating staffing problems.
Family conflict had become payroll, insurance, and operations.
Sylvia remained in her hotel suite.
She asked Caroline to help freeze the joint account she shared with Trent and redirect her trust distributions into an individual account.
That decision ended any illusion that she was going home.
Trent called her seventeen times.
She answered none.
Then Raymond called Alessio.
“You’re destroying your sister’s marriage.”
“No.”
Alessio looked at the photograph the hospital had taken of Sylvia’s bruises.
“Your son handled that himself.”
Raymond lowered his voice.
“You think Sylvia is innocent in the financial side?”
“I think she gets to tell the truth without being locked in a bathroom.”
“You have no idea what she authorized.”
“Then the audit will tell me.”
Raymond went quiet.
Alessio heard the change.
The old man had expected threats.
He had not expected procedure.
That evening, one of the two security men from the corridor requested a lawyer before giving a statement.
The other quit Raymond’s company.
Caroline tracked him down through employment records.
His name was Dean Mercer.
He agreed to speak.
Dean said Raymond had ordered both men upstairs before Sylvia ever made her call.
Alessio leaned forward.
“Why?”
Dean looked uncomfortable.
“We were told Mrs. Walsh might cause a scene.”
“Sylvia.”
“Yes.”
“What kind of scene?”
Dean hesitated.
“He said she was supposed to sign something tonight.”
Alessio looked at Caroline.
“What?”
Dean shook his head.
May you like
“I don’t know.”
Then he added, “But we were told not to let her downstairs until she did.”
