Chapter 6 - THE PRICE OF A DAUGHTER
Claire nearly collapsed.
Dante caught her.
“No.”
She pushed him away.
“You said your security was impossible to breach.”
“I was wrong.”
“You promised she was safe.”
“I'll get her back.”
“You'd better.”
Dante turned to his men.
“Lock down every road.”
The estate became chaos.
Vehicles left through multiple gates.
Phones rang.
Maps appeared across screens.
Then Dante's phone rang.
Luca.
Dante answered.
“You wanted me.”
A laugh came through the speaker.
“No, brother. I wanted your attention.”
“Let Mia go.”
“She has your eyes.”
Dante closed his eyes.
“If you touch her—”
“What?”
Luca laughed.
“You'll kill me?”
“Yes.”
“You've wanted to for six years.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Put him on speaker.”
Dante did.
Luca continued.
“Claire.”
Her blood chilled.
“You remember me?”
“I remember enough.”
“You were always intelligent.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“Safe.”
“Let me speak to her.”
A pause.
Then Mia's voice came through.
“Mom?”
Claire's knees nearly gave out.
“Mia!”
“I'm okay.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Luca interrupted.
“See? Everyone is fine.”
Claire whispered:
“Please.”
Luca laughed.
“That word doesn't suit you.”
Dante's voice became ice.
“What do you want?”
“Everything.”
“Be specific.”
“Your company. Your ports. Your money. Your name.”
“And Mia?”
“Insurance.”
Dante's hand tightened around the phone.
Luca gave them a location.
An abandoned ferry terminal.
Midnight.
“One more thing,” Luca said.
“What?”
“Come without your men.”
The call ended.
Claire looked at Dante.
“You're not going alone.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“You promised me.”
“What?”
“That you wouldn't disappear again.”
Dante stared at her.
She stepped closer.
“So I'm coming.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Then you can stay here while I go.”
He stared at her.
“You wouldn't.”
“Try me.”
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Dante sighed.
“You're impossible.”
“You already said that.”
“And I was right.”
They went together.
But Dante had secretly placed a tracker inside Claire's coat.
Claire discovered it thirty minutes later.
She held it up.
“You don't trust me.”
“I trust you.”
“Then why?”
“Because I don't trust the world.”
She stared at him.
Then she slipped it back into her pocket.
“Fine.”
At midnight, they arrived.
The ferry terminal was empty.
Too empty.
Dante stepped forward.
“Luca!”
A light switched on.
Luca appeared above them.
Mia stood beside him.
Claire gasped.
Luca smiled.
“Welcome home, brother.”
May you like
Then the doors slammed shut.
Gunfire erupted.
