Chapter 6 - The Bride's Hidden Child
Luca stared at Vanessa.
“What did you just say?”
She began crying.
“I have a daughter.”
Antonio lowered his weapon.
Vanessa pressed both hands against her stomach.
“Her name is Sophie. She's four years old.”
Luca looked at her as if he no longer recognized her.
“You have a child?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“With a woman I trust.”
“Why wasn't I told?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Because she's Vincent's granddaughter.”
Antonio closed his eyes.
The room seemed to grow colder.
Vanessa continued.
“My brother Daniel was involved in the financial crimes. He was killed two years ago. Before he died, he told me Vincent had been arranging secret transfers involving Isabella's medical records.”
Luca frowned.
“Your brother had access to Isabella?”
“He helped move her between hospitals. He regretted it.”
“And Sophie?”
Vanessa looked down.
“She's Daniel's daughter. Her mother died shortly after giving birth. I adopted her.”
Luca studied her.
“You raised Vincent's granddaughter while helping him destroy my family?”
“I didn't know everything at first.”
“When did you find out?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“Eight months ago.”
Luca turned away.
Eight months.
Eight months of dinners, kisses, promises, and wedding preparations.
Eight months of watching her look him in the eyes and say she loved him.
“You had eight months to tell me.”
“I was trying to protect Sophie.”
“From me?”
“From Vincent.”
Antonio stepped forward.
“Where is the child?”
Vanessa gave him an address.
“An apartment in Connecticut. A woman named Grace has been caring for her.”
Luca immediately ordered two trusted guards to secure the location.
But Vanessa shook her head.
“It's too late.”
“Why?”
“Vincent knows where she is.”
Luca turned sharply.
“How?”
“He has people watching every place I visit.”
Antonio looked at his son.
“We need to move now.”
Luca grabbed his coat.
“Bring Vanessa.”
She looked at him.
“Luca—”
“Don't mistake this for forgiveness. You're coming because you know where my niece is.”
They drove through the night in two black SUVs.
The apartment building was quiet when they arrived.
Too quiet.
Luca entered first.
The front door stood open.
A lamp lay broken on the floor.
Grace was tied to a chair, unconscious but breathing.
“Sophie!” Vanessa screamed.
A small pink backpack lay beside the sofa.
Inside it was a child's drawing.
Three stick figures stood beneath a yellow sun.
One was labeled MAMA.
Another SOPHIE.
The third had been crossed out.
Luca turned the paper over.
A message had been written in a child's handwriting.
Uncle Vincent says we are going to meet Grandpa.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“He took her.”
Luca knelt beside Grace.
“Where did he go?”
The woman slowly opened her eyes.
“He said… he was taking her to the old estate.”
Antonio went rigid.
“Which estate?”
Grace looked toward him.
“The house where Isabella was born.”
Antonio's face lost all color.
Luca understood immediately.
Vincent wasn't simply hiding.
He was bringing the family back to the place where the original crime began.
And he wanted them all there.
Luca helped Vanessa stand.
“We're going.”
Antonio shook his head.
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
“You could die.”
Luca looked at the photograph of Isabella.
Then at Sophie’s drawing.
“Then let's make sure he doesn't get another chance.”
As they approached the vehicles, Luca's phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
A little girl's voice came through.
“Uncle Luca?”
His heart stopped.
“Sophie?”
“Mommy says you're coming.”
“Where are you, sweetheart?”
There was a pause.
Then another voice spoke.
Vincent.
“Bring Antonio. Bring Vanessa. And come alone if you want the girl alive.”
The call ended.
A second later, Luca received a photograph.
Sophie was sitting on a wooden chair.
Behind her stood a woman with dark hair.
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The caption read:
YOUR SISTER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
