Chapter 8 - FIRE IN THE MORETTI HOUSE
The west wing burned.
Smoke rolled across the ceiling.
Luca pushed me toward a service stairwell.
“Go.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You’re carrying a newborn.”
“I know.”
“Then protect her.”
That shut me up.
The security chief opened a steel door.
We descended.
Gunfire erupted above us.
One guard fell.
I screamed.
Luca fired twice.
The attacker dropped.
I had never seen anyone move like Luca.
No wasted motion.
No panic.
Just cold precision.
We reached the underground garage.
An SUV waited.
Then headlights appeared across the concrete floor.
Another vehicle blocked the exit.
Derek stepped out.
“Emma!”
Luca raised his gun.
Derek lifted both hands.
“Don’t shoot.”
“Move.”
“I came to help.”
“You have thirty seconds to convince me.”
Derek looked at me.
“My father is inside the house.”
“I know.”
“He’s not here for money.”
“Then what?”
“He wants the baby and the family trust documents.”
Luca’s jaw tightened.
“What documents?”
“The original charter.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“It was destroyed.”
“No.”
Derek looked toward the ceiling.
“Your father lied.”
Of course he did.
Derek continued.
“Matteo says Sofia hid the original.”
I felt cold.
“Why would Sofia have it?”
“Because it proves Matteo was disinherited.”
Luca stared at him.
Derek nodded.
“And if Matteo was disinherited before I was born, neither I nor the baby have legal claim.”
“So he needs the document destroyed,” I said.
“Yes.”
“And he thinks I know where it is?”
Derek looked at me.
“Your mother knew.”
My breath caught.
“She’s dead.”
“No.”
The word hit me harder than the explosion.
“What?”
Derek looked genuinely afraid now.
“Emma, your mother is alive.”
I stared at him.
“You’re lying.”
“I saw her.”
My knees almost gave out.
“She died six years ago.”
“No.”
“She was living in Vermont under another name.”
Luca grabbed Derek by the jacket.
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“You said you saw her.”
“Matteo moved her.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know!”
A gunshot cracked.
Derek jerked.
Blood appeared on his shoulder.
I screamed.
Luca dragged him behind the SUV.
A sniper round struck the windshield.
The security chief shouted.
“Move!”
Luca opened the rear door.
I climbed in with the baby.
Derek stumbled after me.
Then another bullet hit the concrete.
As Luca jumped behind the wheel, Derek grabbed my wrist.
“Emma.”
“What?”
His face had gone pale.
“There’s something else about your mother.”
I stared at him.
“She didn’t fake her death to hide from Matteo.”
“Then why?”
May you like
Derek swallowed.
“She was hiding from Luca.”
