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The number on the back of the plastic band was not a standard hospital identification code. It was a private cipher, an alphanumeric string used exclusively by the Moretti family archives for high-security asset tracking and bloodline verification. / Chapter 13 / 20

Chapter 13 - The Golden Cage

Back in Milan, Rocco Moretti sat in his executive office reviewing global asset allocations when a secure chime interrupted his thoughts. A encrypted dossier popped up on his private monitor containing intercepted communications from an unknown foreign entity operating out of Zurich.

The file was labeled: Project Chimera.

Rocco zoomed in on the corporate shell company funding the operation. His blood ran cold. The capital wasn't coming from the Savinos or any rival Italian family. It was being funneled through a Swiss holding corporation bearing the maiden name of his late, traitorous wife, Valentina—a name he thought he had buried forever.

"Consiglieri," Rocco called out, his voice sharp enough to cut glass.

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The door opened instantly. "Yes, boss?"

"Find out who cleared Valentina’s secondary trust fund ten years ago," Rocco ordered, his eyes narrowing. "Someone survived the purge. Someone is building a syndicate from the inside out."

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