Chapter 2 - The Baby Who Was Supposed to Be Dead|
“Vanessa brought my daughter to your house tonight.”
Sofia Moretti's words seemed to drain every sound from the dining room.
Luca stood at the head of the table, holding his mother's phone so tightly that his tattooed knuckles turned pale.
Forty guests stared at him.
Vanessa Bellini stood beside her chair, her red evening gown glowing beneath the chandeliers.
And Teresa Moretti sat with both hands pressed against her mouth.
“Sofia,” Luca said slowly, “what are you talking about?”
His sister began crying.
“My baby, Luca. The little girl they told me was dead.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“This is absolutely ridiculous.”
Luca lifted one hand.
“Don't.”
She stopped.
He looked toward the phone.
“Sofia, where are you?”
“In Wisconsin.”
“Are you safe?”
A pause.
“I don't know.”
My stomach tightened.
I had never met Sofia Moretti, but for seven weeks I'd watched her mother wait for a telephone call that never came.
Every morning, Teresa asked whether Sofia had called.
Every evening, she sat beside the window with her phone in her lap.
And every time Vanessa entered the room, the elderly woman fell silent.
Now I understood why.
Sofia's voice trembled through the speaker.
“Luca, listen carefully. Michael told me my daughter didn't survive. Vanessa brought me papers from the hospital.”
Luca glanced toward the empty chair where his younger brother had been sitting.
“Michael told you that?”
“Yes.”
“Why would he?”
“Because he was there when they took her.”
Teresa began sobbing.
I crouched beside her.
“Mrs. Moretti, breathe slowly.”
She gripped my hand.
“She's alive, Hannah.”
I nodded, though my heart was pounding.
“We're going to find out.”
Luca spoke again.
“Sofia, what makes you think your daughter is alive?”
For several seconds, only Sofia's breathing came through the phone.
Then she whispered, “A nurse contacted me yesterday.”
“What nurse?”
“Her name is Evelyn Brooks. She worked at the private maternity clinic where I gave birth.”
Vanessa suddenly moved.
She reached for her handbag.
Luca noticed.
“Leave it.”
Her face hardened.
“Luca, I am not going to stand here while your sister invents stories.”
He looked directly at her.
“Then sit down and let her finish.”
Sofia continued.
“The nurse said the baby had a strong heartbeat when she was transferred out of the delivery room. She said the paperwork was changed afterward.”
Luca went very still.
“Changed by whom?”
Sofia began crying harder.
“She wouldn't tell me over the phone.”
“Where is she now?”
“She gave me an address. I went to meet her, but she wasn't there.”
I looked toward Vanessa.
Her face had become completely expressionless.
It frightened me more than her anger.
Luca asked, “Why do you think Vanessa brought your daughter here tonight?”
“Because Evelyn sent me a photograph.”
“A photograph of what?”
“A woman carrying a little girl into a black SUV outside a private residence.”
Luca frowned.
“And?”
“The woman was Vanessa.”
The room fell silent.
Vanessa shook her head.
“Absolutely not.”
Sofia continued.
“The photograph was taken yesterday. The vehicle belongs to Michael's company.”
Luca looked toward Marco DeSantis, his security chief.
“Find Michael. Immediately.”
Marco nodded and left the room.
Then Luca spoke into the phone.
“Sofia, send me the photograph.”
A moment later, his own phone vibrated.
He opened the message.
I saw his expression change.
Then he turned the screen toward Vanessa.
“Explain this.”
She glanced at it.
For one second, fear flashed across her face.
Then she lifted her chin.
“That photograph proves nothing.”
Luca stared.
“It shows you holding a child.”
“I volunteer with several children's charities.”
“Then whose child is she?”
Vanessa didn't answer.
Luca stepped closer.
“Vanessa.”
She swallowed.
“It's complicated.”
The words made my blood run cold.
A few minutes earlier, she'd dismissed the entire conversation as nonsense.
Now it was complicated.
Teresa suddenly reached toward her son.
“Luca, please.”
He knelt beside her.
“Mom?”
Her voice shook.
“Bring Sofia home.”
His expression softened.
“I will.”
“And the baby.”
Luca closed his eyes.
Then whispered, “If she's alive, I promise we'll find her.”
Vanessa abruptly stood.
“You cannot make promises about a child whose identity hasn't even been established.”
Luca looked up.
“Why are you so certain the baby isn't Sofia's?”
Vanessa froze.
Nobody moved.
Then she slowly lowered herself into her chair.
At that moment, Marco returned.
His expression was grim.
“Boss.”
Luca stood.
“Michael?”
“He's gone.”
“What do you mean, gone?”
“His car left through the west gate twelve minutes ago.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Find out where he went.”
Marco hesitated.
“There's something else.”
The room became quiet.
“One of the drivers reported that Michael wasn't alone.”
Luca stared.
“Who was with him?”
Marco swallowed.
“A woman carrying an infant car seat.”
Teresa cried out.
May you like
Luca looked toward Vanessa.
And the woman in red finally stopped pretending she wasn't afraid.
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