Chapter 5 - THE NIGHT EVERYONE LIED
Luca caught Vanessa by the arm before she could disappear into the crowd.
"What did you just say?"
Vanessa's eyes darted between us.
"Nothing."
"You said you watched Isabella die."
"I was mistaken."
Luca's voice lowered.
"Don't lie to me."
I had never seen a room become so quiet.
Vanessa glanced toward Sebastian, who was approaching from the other side of the ballroom.
For one moment, genuine fear crossed her face.
Then she whispered, "Ask your business partner what happened at the old warehouse."
Sebastian stopped walking.
"What warehouse?"
Vanessa looked directly at him.
"The one your father owned eighteen months ago."
Luca's security chief, Marcus, appeared beside us.
"Sir, we should leave."
Luca studied Sebastian.
Then he turned toward me.
"Nora, go home with Marcus."
"I'm not leaving without knowing what's happening."
"This isn't safe."
I met his eyes.
"Then tell me the truth."
He hesitated.
Finally, he nodded.
"Tomorrow."
That night, Luca didn't come home.
I sat beside Leo until he fell asleep.
Then I went downstairs.
Mr. Romano stood near the study.
"Is he all right?" I asked.
"Mr. Castellano has survived worse."
"That wasn't my question."
The elderly man sighed.
"He is carrying a great deal of guilt."
"About Isabella?"
"About many things."
I looked toward the third-floor staircase.
"Was she living here before she disappeared?"
Mr. Romano's face tightened.
"Miss Isabella was family."
"Was she Leo's mother?"
He looked away.
That was answer enough to tell me something was wrong.
The next morning, Luca returned.
He looked as though he hadn't slept.
He placed a folder on the kitchen table.
Inside were photographs, hospital documents, and a police report.
"Isabella worked with a charitable organization that helped children whose families had been affected by organized crime," he explained.
"She discovered a trafficking operation connected to a medical supply network."
My stomach tightened.
"Shaw Medical?"
Luca nodded.
"Her investigation led to a warehouse controlled by Sebastian's father."
I stared at him.
"Are you telling me my ex-husband's family was involved in Leo's kidnapping?"
"We have evidence that their business infrastructure was used. We don't yet know who authorized it."
He opened another page.
A photograph showed Isabella standing beside a woman in a hospital corridor.
I leaned closer.
The woman wore a nurse's uniform.
And around her neck was a necklace I recognized.
A small silver heart.
My mother had owned one exactly like it.
"Where did you get this?"
Luca studied me.
"Why?"
I pointed at the woman.
"That's my mother."
He went completely still.
"Nora, your mother's name was Evelyn Bennett?"
"Yes."
He closed his eyes.
Then he whispered, "Dear God."
I grabbed his wrist.
"What?"
Luca looked at me.
"Your mother was the last person Isabella called before she disappeared."
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And beneath the photograph, someone had written a single sentence.
THE CHILD WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE LUCA'S.
