Chapter 7 - The Man in the Photograph
Luca stared at the photograph.
Daniel Russo.
His biological father.
A man he had believed was dead for nearly thirty years.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
The same dark eyes. The same sharp jaw. The same small scar beneath the chin.
But Luca had no memory of him.
“Where was this taken?” he asked.
The nurse pointed to the background.
“An old farmhouse in Indiana.”
“Who is he?”
The woman looked at Elena.
“Your father.”
Luca stepped closer.
“You knew him?”
“I was his nurse. Before Antonio took control of the hospital.”
“Is he alive?”
The nurse nodded.
“He came here three days ago.”
Michael shook his head.
“That's impossible. Daniel died in a car accident.”
The nurse gave him a sad look.
“That was the story Antonio wanted everyone to believe.”
Luca felt something inside him breaking.
“How long has he been alive?”
“Twenty-nine years.”
He looked away.
Twenty-nine years.
A lifetime.
His father had watched him grow up from somewhere in the shadows while another man raised him to become a criminal.
“Why didn't he come for me?”
The nurse placed a hand on his arm.
“He tried.”
Luca pulled away.
“Then he should have tried harder.”
Elena approached him.
“Luca, we need to find Sofia first.”
He nodded.
They drove toward Indiana.
The farmhouse stood at the end of a narrow country road. Its windows were dark, and the front door was slightly open.
Luca entered first.
The house smelled of coffee and old wood.
A child's drawing lay on the kitchen table.
A photograph of Sofia was beside it.
Then a voice came from the hallway.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
Luca turned.
An older man stood near the staircase.
He wore a gray sweater and held a wooden cane.
His hair was silver, but his face was familiar.
Luca raised his gun.
“Daniel Russo?”
The man nodded.
“Your father.”
Luca's hand tightened.
“You let me grow up believing another man was my father.”
“I tried to reach you.”
“Twenty-nine years?”
Daniel looked down.
“I know how that sounds.”
“It sounds like an excuse.”
Daniel didn't argue.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and removed a photograph.
It showed Isabella holding a newborn baby.
Luca.
On the back was a handwritten message.
Our son deserves a life without the Moretti name.
Daniel placed it on the table.
“Your mother made me promise to stay away.”
“Why?”
“Because Antonio threatened to destroy you if I came near.”
Luca stared at him.
“And you believed him?”
“I was young, Luca. I had already lost Isabella. I thought staying away was the only way to keep you alive.”
“Did you know Elena was alive?”
Daniel nodded.
“I found out two years ago.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Then why didn't you find me?”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Because I didn't know where you were. Antonio had moved you between three facilities.”
Luca looked at the empty room.
“Where is Sofia?”
Daniel turned toward the staircase.
“She was here yesterday.”
“Where is she now?”
“Michael took her.”
Everyone froze.
Luca turned sharply.
“Michael?”
Daniel nodded.
“He said he had a safe place.”
Luca immediately reached for his phone.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Then a text arrived.
From Michael.
I found Sofia. Don't follow me. Father has a second target.
Luca stared at the screen.
“What target?”
A second message appeared.
Vanessa.
The farmhouse lights suddenly went out.
A car engine roared outside.
Dominic shouted from the front door.
“Boss! We're surrounded!”
Gunfire shattered the windows.
Luca pushed Elena behind the kitchen counter.
Daniel grabbed a rifle from beneath the table.
Vanessa crawled toward the hallway.
“Where are you going?” Luca shouted.
“To find another exit.”
“Stay down!”
A bullet struck the kitchen wall.
Daniel returned fire.
Then a loud crash came from upstairs.
Luca looked toward the staircase.
A small voice called out.
“Daddy?”
He froze.
Sofia.
The little girl stood at the top of the stairs, holding her stuffed rabbit.
Elena gasped.
“Sofia!”
The child looked at her.
For a moment, she seemed confused.
Then she ran.
“Mommy!”
Elena caught her at the bottom of the stairs and held her tightly.
Luca approached slowly.
He knelt.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Sofia studied his face.
Then she touched his cheek.
“Grandpa said you were dangerous.”
Luca's throat tightened.
“Sometimes Grandpa tells lies.”
Sofia looked toward the broken windows.
“Is he coming?”
Luca turned.
A car door slammed outside.
Daniel looked through the curtains.
His face went pale.
“Antonio.”
Luca stood.
Then the front door opened.
Antonio Moretti entered without a weapon.
He smiled at his son.
“It's time you learned why I raised you.”
He looked at Sofia.
Then at Daniel.
And finally at Elena.
May you like
“Because none of you knows who really started this family war.”
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