Chapter 8 - WHAT HAPPENED TO LILY
“Put the gun down.”
Daniel spoke from behind Ellie.
Luca turned.
“You giving me orders now?”
“She’s a kid.”
“She’s a witness.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You said nobody was killing children.”
Luca smiled.
“I said what I needed to say.”
Hannah stepped in front of Ellie.
“You want somebody dead? Kill me.”
Ellie grabbed her coat.
“Mommy, no.”
Luca stared at Hannah.
“You cleaners always hear things you shouldn’t.”
“And rich men always think money makes them smarter.”
His smile vanished.
Good.
She wanted him angry.
Angry men made mistakes.
Daniel lowered his weapon slightly.
Luca noticed.
“Careful.”
Daniel looked at Ellie.
Then at Hannah.
Something human remained in his face.
Luca’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Yeah?”
Vincent’s voice came through.
“The warehouse is compromised.”
“What?”
“Moretti’s people aren’t coming in the way you planned.”
Luca swore.
“Where’s Adrian?”
“No visual.”
Luca looked toward the tunnel.
“He figured it out.”
Vincent became quiet.
Then said, “You should’ve left the girl alone.”
Luca laughed.
“You’re growing a conscience now?”
“You said Adrian would die fast.”
“He was supposed to.”
“That child saved him.”
“And now she’s a problem.”
Vincent’s voice hardened.
“You kill her, I walk.”
Luca’s face changed.
“You don’t walk from me.”
Vincent hung up.
Hannah had heard enough.
“You killed his family, didn’t you?”
Luca looked at her.
“What?”
“Lily. Elena. The car bomb.”
Ellie whispered, “Lily was his little girl.”
Hannah nodded.
Luca’s face became unreadable.
Then he laughed softly.
“Adrian spent three years thinking the wrong people did it.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You told me the bombing was from the Russians.”
“It was supposed to look that way.”
Hannah felt sick.
“You tried to kill your own brother.”
“I tried to remove a problem.”
“And his wife and daughter?”
Luca’s eyes flickered.
“They weren’t supposed to be in the car.”
Vincent’s words.
Lily was never supposed to be there.
Hannah’s stomach twisted.
Luca continued.
“Adrian changed dinner plans. Elena took his car.”
“You knew afterward.”
“Of course I knew.”
“And you let him bury his child thinking somebody else did it.”
For the first time, Luca’s anger broke through.
“You think Adrian is some hero? You think because your daughter gave him one injection he’s suddenly a good man?”
Hannah said nothing.
“No. He built this family on fear. Dad chose him for everything. Adrian got the business. Adrian got the house. Adrian got respect.”
“And you wanted what he had.”
“I deserved what he had.”
Hannah almost laughed.
“You murdered a four-year-old because you were jealous of your brother.”
Luca raised the gun.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Luca stared at him.
“You choosing them?”
“I’m choosing not to murder a kid.”
Luca fired.
The bullet hit Daniel in the chest.
Ellie screamed.
Daniel fell.
Hannah grabbed Ellie and ran.
Luca fired again.
The bullet hit the steel door.
Hannah shoved Ellie into the tunnel.
“RUN!”
They sprinted into darkness.
Behind them, Luca’s footsteps followed.
Then the tunnel lights went out.
Pitch black.
Hannah could hear Ellie breathing.
Could hear Luca coming closer.
Then another voice came through the darkness.
Low.
Familiar.
Furious.
May you like
“Luca.”
Adrian Moretti had come home.
