Chapter 4 - Rosa’s Message
Grant was arrested for assault before midnight.
Massimo expected relief.
Instead, he felt dread.
Men like Grant rarely built only one lock.
By morning, Evelyn had already hired a criminal-defense firm, a crisis consultant, and a family-law attorney.
At 8:17, Isabella received notice of an emergency custody petition.
Grant claimed she was emotionally unstable.
He claimed the Bellandi family home was unsafe.
He claimed Massimo’s criminal history created an “environment of intimidation.”
Isabella read the filing twice.
“He prepared this.”
Torres nodded. “Some exhibits are dated weeks ago.”
Grant had been planning for the day she resisted.
Massimo stared at the petition.
His first instinct was to call three men who could make every lawyer on Grant’s side nervous.
He put his phone down.
“No favors,” Isabella said quietly.
He looked at her.
“No judges. No calls. No men showing up anywhere.”
Massimo swallowed the insult he deserved to feel.
“You have my word.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Your word used to scare people, Papa.”
“What does it do now?”
“I need it to mean I can trust you.”
Massimo nodded.
That afternoon, a number he did not recognize sent him a text.
MR. BELLANDI, I HAVE THE CAMERA CARD. DO NOT TRUST THE HOUSE SYSTEM.
The sender was Rosa Alvarez, Isabella’s housekeeper.
Massimo called immediately.
No answer.
Another message arrived.
HE KNOWS I SAW IT.
Then nothing.
Torres traced the number to a prepaid phone.
By evening, Rosa had missed work and stopped answering her sister.
Her car was found behind a supermarket in Queens.
The driver’s door was unlocked.
Her purse was inside.
No Rosa.
Massimo stood beside the car under cold rain while Torres’s team searched.
Dante Moretti, an old family lieutenant, approached from behind.
“Say the word,” Dante murmured. “We can find Grant’s people faster than police.”
Massimo turned on him.
“No.”
“Boss—”
“I’m not your boss anymore.”
Dante lowered his voice. “Rosa may not have time for principles.”
Massimo hated that the argument made sense.
Then Torres called from across the lot.
“We found something.”
Inside the trunk was a small stuffed dinosaur.
Noah’s.
A seam along its belly had been cut and stitched again.
Torres opened it carefully.
Inside was a memory card.
Massimo stared at it.
May you like
Rosa had hidden the evidence in a child’s toy.
And wherever she was now, she had expected she might not be able to deliver it herself.
