Chapter 9 - The Mother Who Sold Her Daughter|
For several seconds, Luca stared at the screen without moving.
Victoria Bellini.
Caroline's biological mother.
Vanessa's mother.
The woman who had given away her first daughter and spent decades hiding the truth.
According to Judge Harrison's recorded confession, she had also approved the operation that led to Caroline's death.
I watched Luca close his eyes.
When he opened them, something had changed.
The anger was still there.
But it had become colder.
More controlled.
He turned toward Daniel.
"Make copies."
Daniel nodded.
"Already doing it."
"Send one to our attorney. Another to the federal contact Caroline identified."
I looked at him.
"You're not going to confront them yourself?"
Luca glanced toward Sophia's photograph.
"Three years ago, I would have."
His voice was quiet.
"Three years ago, I would have burned Chicago to the ground."
He looked at the screen again.
"But my daughter needs her father more than she needs revenge."
Something tightened in my chest.
I'd always known Luca was powerful.
But until that moment, I hadn't understood how much strength it took him not to use that power violently.
Daniel's phone rang.
He listened.
Then looked up.
"Our team has eyes on Harrison Cold Storage."
"Any sign of Sophia?"
"Two vehicles outside. Four armed men visible. Thermal surveillance suggests several people inside."
Luca reached for his coat.
I stepped forward.
"I'm coming."
He turned.
"No."
"Mr. Moretti—"
"Absolutely not."
"They asked for me."
"Which is exactly why you're staying here."
I swallowed.
"They threatened my parents. They know who I am."
Luca's expression softened.
"Megan, you've already done more than anyone could ask."
I looked at Sophia's photograph.
"She was afraid you wouldn't believe her tonight."
He went still.
"At dinner," I continued, "she begged me not to tell you what Vanessa had done."
Luca lowered his eyes.
"She thought protecting you meant staying quiet."
My voice trembled.
"Please don't teach her that the people who love her are supposed to disappear when things become frightening."
Luca stared at me.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he sighed.
"You stay with Daniel. You follow every instruction."
I nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"And if he tells you to run, you run."
"Yes, sir."
He studied me.
"I mean it."
"I know."
Twenty minutes later, we reached an industrial street near the river.
The old cold-storage building stood behind a chain-link fence.
Its windows were broken.
Its brick walls were stained by decades of rain.
A fading sign hung above the entrance.
HARRISON COLD STORAGE.
Daniel positioned the vehicles behind an abandoned loading dock.
Luca's phone rang.
The same distorted voice.
"You're late."
Luca checked the time.
11:56 p.m.
"I'm here."
"At the Bellini warehouse?"
"Yes."
A lie.
Daniel's team had sent an unmarked vehicle to the Bellini property to create the appearance of Luca's arrival.
The caller paused.
"Where's the flash drive?"
"With me."
"Come inside."
Luca looked toward Daniel.
The security chief raised three fingers.
Three minutes until the team was ready.
Then my phone vibrated.
WE KNOW HE'S NOT AT THE WAREHOUSE.
My heart stopped.
Another message appeared.
TELL LUCA TO COME TO THE STORAGE BUILDING. NOW.
I showed him.
Daniel swore under his breath.
"They're watching both locations."
Luca looked toward the dark building.
"Then the game is over."
He called the number.
"Antonio."
Silence.
Then a man laughed softly.
"Hello, nephew."
Luca closed his eyes.
"Let Sophia go."
Antonio sighed.
"You always were sentimental."
"She's thirteen."
"And Caroline was thirty-five when she decided to ruin everything."
Luca's expression hardened.
"You killed her."
"I tried to save the family."
"You destroyed mine."
Antonio laughed again.
"Bring the evidence. You can have the girl."
"Let me speak to her."
A pause.
Then Sophia's frightened voice came through.
"Daddy?"
Luca gripped the phone.
"I'm here, baby."
"Uncle Antonio says you have to choose."
Luca went still.
"Choose what?"
Sophia began crying.
"He says you can save me, or you can tell everyone what happened to Mommy."
Antonio took the phone.
"You heard her."
His voice became cold.
"The evidence or the child."
Luca looked toward the storage building.
Then quietly answered.
"You made one mistake, Uncle."
Antonio laughed.
"What's that?"
Luca's eyes moved toward Daniel's team approaching the rear entrance.
May you like
"You forgot Caroline was smarter than both of us."
And then the lights inside the building went out.
