Chapter 7 - THE BROTHER WHO CAME BACK
Matteo Moretti had been dead for eighteen years.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Now his face filled the security monitors.
“He’s alive,” I whispered.
Luca stared at the screen.
“Yes.”
“And Derek?”
Luca said nothing.
That frightened me.
“Say it.”
“He may be Matteo’s son.”
My stomach dropped.
“No.”
“If Derek is his biological son, that explains the baby’s genetic link to me.”
I felt sick.
“So Derek really could be her father.”
“Yes.”
“And Matteo is her grandfather.”
“Yes.”
I sat down slowly.
Every piece of my life had suddenly connected to a family I had never known.
“Why hide Derek?”
“To build him as an asset.”
“An asset?”
Luca’s voice hardened.
“A man no one would connect to the Morettis.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
Luca held out his hand.
“Don’t answer.”
I answered.
“Emma.”
Derek.
My jaw tightened.
“Where are you?”
“Safe.”
“You attacked us.”
“I told you I was trying to help.”
“You brought armed men.”
“They weren’t mine.”
I looked at Luca.
“Then whose?”
Derek went quiet.
“My father’s.”
I closed my eyes.
“So it’s true.”
“What?”
“Matteo is your father.”
Silence.
Then Derek laughed softly.
“Luca figured it out.”
“You knew?”
“For years.”
My anger burned.
“And you never told me?”
“I wasn’t allowed to.”
“Allowed?”
“You don’t know him.”
“I know enough.”
Derek’s voice became urgent.
“Emma, listen to me.”
“No.”
“Your baby is in danger.”
“She’s in danger because of your family.”
“Exactly.”
I froze.
“What does that mean?”
“My father needs her.”
“For what?”
“To prove lineage.”
Luca moved closer.
Derek continued.
“The Moretti family trust transfers control differently if Matteo has a living direct heir.”
My blood ran cold.
“Direct heir?”
“The baby.”
Luca snatched the phone.
“You touch Emma or that child, I will bury you.”
Derek laughed.
“You still think this is about me?”
The call ended.
Then every light in the estate went dark.
Backup alarms screamed.
The security chief shouted from the hallway.
“Generator failure!”
A massive explosion shook the house.
Glass shattered.
I threw myself over the bassinet.
Luca grabbed my shoulder.
“Underground garage.”
Smoke filled the corridor.
We ran.
Then my daughter started crying.
May you like
And from somewhere inside the smoke came Matteo’s voice.
“Bring me my granddaughter.”
