Chapter 10 - THE MUSIC BOX
We escaped the airfield in two vehicles.
My mother rode with us.
I could barely look at her.
Six years of grief sat between us.
But there was no time.
We drove back toward Manhattan.
Luca argued against it.
“The apartment will be watched.”
“I know where the box is.”
“That doesn’t mean we walk into a trap.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Send a team.”
“No.”
He stared at me.
“I’m going.”
“Emma.”
“That box belonged to my sister.”
He stopped.
Then nodded.
“Fine.”
We entered my building through the basement.
The hallway smelled like dust and old pipes.
Luca moved first.
I followed with my mother.
Derek stayed behind under guard.
My daughter remained with the medical team at a secure location.
Leaving her felt like ripping out part of my body.
We reached my apartment.
The lock was broken.
Inside, everything had been destroyed.
Cabinets ripped open.
Mattress cut apart.
Books scattered.
My mother whispered, “They’re looking for it.”
I went to the hall closet.
Behind old winter coats sat a cardboard box.
Inside were childhood toys.
I dug through them.
Then I found it.
The music box.
Blue flowers.
Broken ballerina.
My hands shook.
Luca watched the door.
“How do we open it?”
My mother pressed the bottom panel.
Nothing.
She tried again.
“It needs a key.”
“What key?”
She looked at me.
“Sofia’s necklace.”
I remembered the small silver key I wore until I was sixteen.
“I lost it.”
“No.”
My mother looked at me carefully.
“I took it.”
“What?”
“To keep you safe.”
“Where is it?”
She reached inside her blouse.
A thin chain appeared.
On it hung a tiny silver key.
I stared at her.
“You carried it all these years?”
“Yes.”
She opened the box.
Beneath the velvet lining was a folded document.
Luca exhaled.
“The charter.”
Then someone clapped slowly behind us.
We turned.
Matteo stood in the doorway.
Older than Luca.
Same eyes.
Same calm cruelty.
“Beautiful.”
He smiled.
“A family reunion.”
Luca raised his gun.
Matteo raised his own.
“Drop it.”
“No.”
Matteo’s smile widened.
Then another gun clicked.
My mother gasped.
Derek stood behind her.
His weapon pressed against her back.
“Sorry, Emma.”
I stared at him.
He looked almost ashamed.
May you like
Almost.
“Give my father the document.”
