Chapter 8 - The Price of a Father's Promise
Luca had never been afraid of losing money.
He had never been afraid of losing power.
He had faced armed enemies without hesitation.
But the envelope on his desk made him feel helpless.
Emily had been taken.
His wife had nearly been killed.
And someone was threatening his children.
Marcus entered.
"We found the vehicle used to take Emily."
"Where?"
"An old private airfield."
Luca looked up.
"Who owns it?"
"Moretti Holdings."
His father's company.
The same company that had supposedly been dissolved after his death.
Luca stood.
"Get the cars ready."
Elena grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
He turned.
"What?"
"Samuel isn't the person you need to find."
"Then who?"
Elena looked at him.
"Your father."
Luca went still.
"He's dead."
Elena shook her head.
"I saw him."
Luca stared at her.
"Where?"
"At the hospital. Three weeks before I escaped."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know whether it was really him."
She pulled a photograph from her pocket.
It showed an elderly man standing beside a hospital bed.
The image was blurry.
But the face was familiar.
Luca had seen it in hundreds of family photographs.
His father.
Alive.
"How?" Luca whispered.
Elena shook her head.
"I don't know."
Marcus stepped forward.
"Boss, we have another problem."
He showed Luca a security recording from the airfield.
Emily was being led into a private hangar.
Behind her walked a man wearing a dark overcoat.
Luca leaned closer.
The man turned toward the camera.
It was Michael.
Alive.
Luca's hands tightened.
"Get me a secure line."
Minutes later, Michael appeared on the screen.
His face was pale, but he was standing.
"Hello, brother."
Luca's voice was cold.
"Where is Emily?"
"Safe."
"Put her on."
Michael turned the camera.
Emily was sitting in a chair, her hands free.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
"Mr. Moretti!"
Luca leaned closer.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
Michael moved back into the frame.
"You see? I kept my promise."
"What do you want?"
"The children."
"No."
"Then you'll never see her again."
Luca stared at him.
"You're making the same mistake our father made."
Michael's expression changed.
"Don't compare me to him."
"You're threatening innocent children."
"I'm trying to save them."
"By kidnapping the maid?"
Michael looked toward Emily.
"She knows where the original documents are."
Luca frowned.
"What documents?"
"The trust agreement. The real one."
Elena suddenly stepped toward the screen.
"Michael, stop."
He looked at her.
"You should have stayed hidden."
"Those children are innocent."
"So was I."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Michael lowered his voice.
"Anthony changed the trust before he died. But the original agreement names a different beneficiary."
"Who?"
Michael smiled sadly.
"Your mother."
Luca froze.
"Our mother died twenty years ago."
"That's what you were told."
The screen flickered.
A second face appeared.
An elderly man.
His hair was white.
His eyes were cold.
But Luca recognized him immediately.
His father.
"Hello, son."
Luca couldn't speak.
His father smiled.
"Your wedding was interrupted. I hope you enjoyed the surprise."
Luca stepped closer to the screen.
"You let me bury you."
"I needed to see what kind of man you would become without me."
"You stole my children."
"I protected the family."
"You separated my wife from me."
"She betrayed us."
Elena moved toward the screen.
"You tried to kill our babies."
His father ignored her.
"Bring the children to the estate tomorrow night. In exchange, I will release Emily and give you the truth about your mother's death."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"And if I refuse?"
His father smiled.
"Then Michael will make the decision for you."
The screen went black.
Marcus looked at Luca.
"What are your orders?"
Luca stared at the blank monitor.
Then he turned toward Elena.
"We're going to bring everyone home."
Elena nodded.
But her expression was troubled.
"What is it?" Luca asked.
She hesitated.
"There's something I never told you about the night I gave birth."
"What?"
Elena looked toward Grace and Daniel.
"Your father didn't take one child."
She swallowed.
May you like
"He took three."
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