Chapter 5 - WHERE IS LIVIA?
“Livia!”
Alessandro ran to the open window.
Three floors below, wedding guests wandered through the gardens, unaware that anything was wrong.
There was no sign of his daughter.
Rosalie dropped beside the nanny.
“Margaret!”
The older woman groaned.
A ceramic lamp lay shattered nearby.
Alessandro grabbed his phone.
“Security. Lock down every gate. Nobody leaves this property.”
Bianca appeared in the doorway.
“What happened?”
He turned on her.
“Where is she?”
Bianca recoiled.
“You think I took her?”
“I think somebody did.”
Vivienne covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Margaret stirred.
Rosalie helped her sit up.
“What happened?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Try.”
Margaret pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Livia was crying. I was brushing the loose hair off her dress.”
She winced.
“Then someone knocked.”
“Who?”
“A woman.”
“What woman?”
“She said she was from the salon.”
Bianca frowned.
“I didn’t send anyone.”
Margaret looked at her.
“She knew your name.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“What happened next?”
“She said Miss Laurent wanted Livia downstairs for a repair.”
Bianca whispered, “A repair?”
“I told her no. Then…”
Margaret looked toward the broken lamp.
“She hit me.”
Alessandro’s phone rang.
Head of security.
“We’re checking the cameras, Mr. Moretti.”
“Do it faster.”
“Sir, there’s a problem.”
“What?”
“The north wing cameras went offline twelve minutes ago.”
Alessandro looked at Bianca.
She looked genuinely scared now.
“Who can shut them down?”
“Estate staff and event management.”
The wedding planner.
Security contractors.
Or someone with access.
Rosalie moved toward the hall.
“I’m searching downstairs.”
Alessandro caught her arm.
“Don’t go alone.”
“I can handle myself.”
“That’s not the point.”
His phone buzzed.
A text.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
A photograph loaded.
Livia sat in the back seat of a car.
Her face was streaked with tears.
A black hood covered the headrest behind her.
Beneath the photo was a message.
WALK AWAY FROM THE WEDDING.
COME ALONE TO THE OLD GREENHOUSE.
TEN MINUTES.
TELL SECURITY AND SHE LEAVES THE PROPERTY.
Alessandro’s blood turned cold.
Rosalie read the message.
“It’s a trap.”
“I know.”
“You can’t go alone.”
“I’m not risking her.”
Bianca stepped closer.
“What do they want?”
Alessandro showed her the screen.
Bianca read it.
For half a second, something strange passed across her face.
Recognition.
Rosalie saw it too.
“You know something.”
“No.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
Alessandro stared at Bianca.
“Who would want me away from our wedding?”
No answer.
“Bianca.”
Her lips trembled.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
And immediately declined the call.
Alessandro grabbed her wrist.
“Who was that?”
“Nobody.”
Her phone rang again.
This time the caller ID was visible.
DANIEL VOSS.
Rosalie whispered, “Who the hell is Daniel Voss?”
Vivienne went pale.
Bianca looked at her mother.
May you like
And Alessandro knew.
Whoever Daniel Voss was, he was the reason his daughter was missing.
