Chapter 4 - ELENA'S TRUST
Ethan’s mother, Elena Moretti, had died four years earlier.
Cancer.
Before she died, she created the Ethan Moretti Protective Trust.
Most of it was ordinary:
education,
healthcare,
future inheritance,
independent trustee oversight.
One section was not.
PROTECTIVE RELOCATION CLAUSE.
Elena had worried about Dominic’s enemies.
The clause allowed the independent trustee to authorize emergency relocation if Ethan suffered:
a credible targeted attack,
a kidnapping attempt,
or a medically documented poisoning or exposure linked to family security risk.
If activated, the trust could spend up to:
$6.5 million
for:
secure housing,
medical care,
private education,
protective transport,
temporary relocation.
If Dominic was reasonably suspected of creating or ignoring the risk, temporary custodial authority could shift to Elena’s named alternate guardian.
Sofia Moretti.
Grace read the clause at Dominic’s kitchen table.
Then looked up.
“You knew?”
Dominic nodded.
“Elena made me sign.”
“Why?”
“Because she was dying and she didn’t trust my world.”
Grace looked toward Ethan sleeping upstairs.
“If someone poisoned him…”
“The clause can activate.”
“And Sofia gets him?”
“Temporarily.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
May you like
Then:
“Only if the trustee believes I’m part of the danger.”
