Chapter 6 - The House Where Nobody Smiled|
Luca wanted to take me somewhere safe.
I wanted to find the man in the gray car and ask him what he knew about my mother.
Neither of us got what we wanted.
The car disappeared before Marco could reach it.
And I refused to leave Miriam's house until she gave Iris Shaw a recorded statement.
For once, Luca didn't argue.
He simply made a telephone call.
Within an hour, Iris had arranged for Miriam to speak with an independent investigator and preserve her documents.
When we finally stepped outside, the sky had turned the color of steel.
Luca opened the SUV door.
"Come home with me."
I stared at him.
"That's a spectacularly inappropriate invitation."
His eyebrows rose.
"Avery."
"Seriously, you should work on your timing."
"Someone is threatening you."
"And your family seems involved."
"Exactly."
I folded my arms.
"That isn't the reassurance you think it is."
He sighed.
"My house has security."
"So does a prison."
"You're difficult."
"I've been told."
For the first time all morning, he almost smiled.
Then his expression softened.
"Leo has been asking for you."
My heart gave a ridiculous little jump.
"He's a baby."
"He keeps reaching toward the door."
"That doesn't mean he's asking for me."
"Maybe not."
He looked away.
"But I think he'd be happy to see you."
That was unfair.
Terribly unfair.
I was trying to remain suspicious of Luca Moretti.
His son wasn't helping.
I finally agreed to visit for the afternoon, on the condition that I would decide where to stay afterward.
Luca accepted.
And that was how I found myself driving through the gates of a mansion that looked like something stolen from an Italian fairy tale.
Tall cypress trees lined the driveway.
Pale stone fountains shimmered beneath the afternoon light.
The house itself rose behind sprawling gardens and iron balconies.
I stared through the window.
"Do you live here or charge admission?"
Luca glanced at me.
"It's a house."
"That's what people with enormous houses always say."
Marco made a suspicious coughing noise from the driver's seat.
I suspected he was laughing.
Inside, a woman in her early thirties approached us.
She had dark hair, green eyes, and Luca's unmistakable cheekbones.
"You must be Avery."
She smiled warmly.
"I'm Gianna."
"Luca's sister?"
"Unfortunately."
"Gianna."
"What?"
She looked at her brother.
"You've been terrifying the poor woman since yesterday."
"He hasn't terrified me," I said.
Both siblings turned toward me.
I shrugged.
"He's been mildly irritating."
Gianna burst out laughing.
Luca closed his eyes.
"Wonderful."
Then I heard a familiar cry.
Leo.
A housekeeper carried him into the hallway, looking exhausted.
The moment he saw me, his little arms stretched forward.
My heart melted.
"Oh, sweetheart."
I reached for him.
Leo practically launched himself into my arms.
His tears stopped immediately.
He pressed his warm cheek against my neck and made a satisfied little sound.
Behind me, Gianna went silent.
I glanced over my shoulder.
She was crying.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"It's just that he hasn't done that since Sofia died."
I looked down at Leo.
He was playing with my necklace again.
His small fingers traced the silver star as though it were something familiar.
"Did Sofia wear a necklace like this?" I asked.
Gianna nodded.
"Sometimes."
My heart tightened.
"Where did she get it?"
"I don't know."
Luca was watching us.
His expression carried too many emotions for me to name.
Grief.
Relief.
Fear.
And something that looked dangerously close to hope.
I shifted Leo against my shoulder.
"Where's his nursery?"
Gianna led me upstairs.
The room was beautiful.
Cream-colored walls, soft blue curtains, and shelves filled with wooden toys surrounded a white crib.
A stuffed elephant rested beside the rocking chair.
Above the crib hung a delicate mobile of golden stars.
I stared at it.
"Did Sofia choose those?"
Gianna nodded.
"She loved stars."
Leo reached toward the mobile.
Then he tugged at my hair.
"Ouch."
He giggled.
I looked at him.
"That's rude, young man."
He giggled again.
Behind me, Luca made a sound I hadn't heard before.
A genuine laugh.
I turned.
He was leaning against the doorway, watching us.
For a few seconds, he looked younger.
Less like a mafia boss.
More like a man who had forgotten how to be happy and was surprised to discover the feeling still existed.
Then footsteps sounded in the hallway.
A tall, silver-haired man appeared beside Luca.
He wore an immaculate gray suit and carried a polished cane.
His smile was pleasant.
His eyes were not.
"Well," he said.
"This must be the famous young woman."
Luca straightened.
"Vincent."
My stomach dropped.
Vincent Moretti smiled at me.
"You've made quite an impression on my nephew."
I held Leo a little closer.
"Apparently your great-nephew has strong opinions."
Vincent chuckled.
"Children are excellent judges of character."
His eyes moved toward my necklace.
For one brief second, his smile vanished.
Then it returned.
"What a lovely pendant."
I covered it instinctively.
"Thank you."
"Family heirloom?"
"My mother's."
He tilted his head.
"How sentimental."
Luca stepped forward.
"Why are you here?"
Vincent gave an exaggerated sigh.
"Must I have a reason to visit my family?"
"Usually."
The older man's smile hardened.
"I came to discuss the foundation gala."
"We can discuss it later."
Vincent looked at Leo.
Then at me.
"Of course."
He leaned closer.
"Tell me, Miss Bennett, does your mother know you're visiting the Moretti estate?"
The question struck like a slap.
I stared at him.
"That's a strange thing to ask."
"Is it?"
"My mother is dead."
The lie tasted bitter.
Vincent studied me.
Then he smiled.
"Yes."
His voice became soft.
"Of course she is."
He walked away.
I stood frozen in the nursery.
Luca approached.
"What did he say?"
I repeated the conversation.
His expression darkened.
"Stay away from him."
I laughed without humor.
"Believe me, that was already the plan."
Gianna closed the nursery door.
Then she looked at her brother.
"Luca, there's something you need to see."
She crossed to Sofia's old writing desk and opened the bottom drawer.
Inside was a leather-bound notebook.
"I found this yesterday."
Luca took it carefully.
On the first page, Sofia had written three words.
ELENA WAS RIGHT.
I leaned closer.
Below the sentence was a list of dates, financial transfers, and unfamiliar company names.
At the bottom, underlined twice, was another message.
If anything happens to me, follow the winter shipments.
Luca looked at Gianna.
"Who else knows about this?"
"Nobody."
From inside my arms, Leo made a happy little noise.
I kissed his forehead.
Then I looked at the notebook.
Somewhere between the missing money, the false death, and the child who trusted me without knowing my name, I realized something.
I was no longer just looking for my mother.
May you like
I was standing inside the same dangerous secret that had killed Leo's.
And I had no intention of letting it kill anyone else.
