The envelopes led to a shell company.

The shell company led to a medical foundation.

And the foundation led straight back to the Sarno organization.

Elias stared at the documents.

“Vance.”

His security chief nodded.

“He's been sending Marisol money.”

“Why?”

“We don't know.”

Elias looked toward the second floor.

There was one possibility he hated.

Marisol had not been placed near him.

She had been placed near Giata.

That afternoon, Elias entered his sister’s room.

Marisol immediately stopped dancing.

Giata groaned.

“Again?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Then talk.”

“Alone.”

“No.”

“Giata.”

“She stays.”

Marisol started toward the door.

Giata caught her wrist.

“Stay.”

Elias closed the door.

“Do you remember Emmett visiting you before the accident?”

Giata’s face changed.

Marisol saw it instantly.

“Giata?”

Giata looked down.

“Why?”

“Answer me.”

“Yes.”

“How often?”

“Sometimes.”

“What did he want?”

“I don't remember.”

Elias crouched in front of the wheelchair.

“You remember.”

“Stop.”

“Giata.”

“Stop!”

Her hands shook.

Marisol stepped between them.

“Back up.”

Elias stared at her.

“Marisol.”

“You're scaring her.”

“She's my sister.”

“Then act like her brother.”

His jaw tightened.

But he moved back.

Marisol knelt beside Giata.

“You don't have to tell us everything.”

Giata breathed slowly.

Then whispered, “Papers.”

Elias froze.

“What papers?”

“Dad's.”

“Which ones?”

“Ledgers. Contracts.”

Giata looked at him.

“I found them.”

“When?”

“Before the accident.”

Elias said nothing.

Giata continued.

“I told Emmett.”

“Why him?”

“Because Dad trusted him.”

Her voice broke.

“I thought he would help.”

Elias stood slowly.

“What happened to the papers?”

“I hid them.”

“Where?”

Giata looked toward the covered piano.

Elias followed her gaze.

He pulled away the white cloth.

Opened the bench.

Nothing.

“They're gone.”

Giata shook her head.

“No.”

Marisol examined the bench.

Then she noticed scratches beneath it.

“Wait.”

She turned it over.

A thin wooden panel had been removed.

Empty.

Elias’s expression became cold.

“Who knew?”

“No one.”

“Someone did.”

Marisol looked between them.

“Why put me here?”

Elias answered quietly.

“To find out whether Giata would talk to you.”

Marisol understood.

Vance had selected a maid who was desperate, indebted and easy to manipulate.

The envelopes weren't kindness.

They were leverage waiting to be activated.

“He thought I'd take the money.”

“Yes.”

“And then?”

“He could claim you owed him.”

Marisol’s face hardened.

“My mother was right.”

Elias looked at her.

“You never spent it.”

“Not a dollar.”

A voice came from the doorway.

“Smart woman.”

They turned.

Emmett Vance stood there.

Giata went pale.

Elias moved in front of his sister.

Vance raised both hands calmly.

“Relax. We're family.”

Elias’s voice dropped.

“No.”

For the first time in decades, Emmett Vance heard something in Elias Sarno’s voice that wasn't respect.

“You stopped being family the moment you used my sister.”

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