Chapter 8 - WHY DANIEL WAS THE TARGET
The motive was not ransom.
Not revenge against Gabriel.
Not directly.
It was succession.
Gabriel’s father had created a family holding company years earlier.
Most outsiders assumed Gabriel owned everything.
He did not.
Several real-estate assets, logistics companies, and investment accounts were held in the Moretti Legacy Trust.
Gabriel was current manager.
Daniel was primary successor beneficiary.
If Daniel died before age eighteen, control of certain voting interests temporarily shifted to a family committee.
Chair of that committee:
Carlo Moretti.
Vice chair:
Michael Trent.
Gabriel stared at the trust document.
He had signed amendments years ago.
Barely read them.
His father’s lawyers handled everything.
Now the structure looked like a loaded weapon.
Carlo had debt.
Michael had something worse.
The foundation audit showed $6.8 million in missing funds moved through vendor grants and construction contracts.
Michael controlled most of the approvals.
Carlo’s companies received part of the money.
Daniel’s eventual succession rights threatened both men because Gabriel had recently asked outside counsel to simplify the trust before Daniel’s seventh birthday.
That review would have exposed the transfers.
If Daniel died before the amendment—
Carlo and Michael gained temporary control.
Enough time to bury records.
Not ownership forever.
Time.
That was what they wanted.
Elena listened when Gabriel told her.
Then said:
“So they tried to kill a six-year-old because paperwork was about to change.”
Gabriel looked at Daniel.
“Yes.”
Elena’s face hardened.
“No.”
He looked at her.
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“They tried to kill him because grown men decided money mattered more than a child.”
Gabriel had no answer.
