Chapter 4 - The Sister Who Betrayed Them All
Viviana disappeared the next morning.
Her phone was found in a hotel.
Her car was abandoned near the river.
Saraphina was convinced she had run away.
Lucien disagreed.
"She didn't run."
"How do you know?"
"Because she left her passport."
They searched her apartment.
Nothing.
Then Saraphina found something strange behind a painting.
A hidden envelope.
Inside was a letter addressed to her.
Saraphina opened it.
Sari,
I'm sorry.
Everything I did to you was because I was afraid.
Mother told me the truth shortly before she died.
You weren't supposed to survive that night.
Father saved you.
But someone in the family sold your location.
I didn't know who.
Then I realized it was me.
Saraphina stopped breathing.
Viviana continued.
I was sixteen when I made the mistake.
I gave a man the address of the house because he promised me information about Mother.
He lied.
People came that night.
You disappeared.
Father blamed himself.
I blamed you.
It was easier to hate you than myself.
Saraphina's hands trembled.
At the end of the letter was one final line.
Don't trust anyone named Duca.
Including Father.
Lucien read the letter.
His face became unreadable.
"She knew."
"Yes."
"Why would she tell you now?"
"Because someone is forcing her."
The call came two hours later.
A distorted voice.
"You have forty-eight hours."
Lucien answered.
"What do you want?"
"Bring Saraphina to the old Belladonna Theater."
"No."
"You don't negotiate with me."
Lucien smiled coldly.
"I do."
"Then watch your sister die."
The line ended.
Saraphina looked at him.
"We're going."
"No."
"She may be alive."
"That's why you're not going."
"Lucien."
"No."
"You don't get to decide everything."
His eyes hardened.
"On this, I do."
She stepped closer.
"I'm done being protected like a child."
He stared at her.
"You aren't a child."
"Then treat me like an adult."
Silence.
Finally he nodded.
"But you stay beside me."
The theater was abandoned.
Broken seats.
Dust.
Rotten velvet curtains.
The air smelled like rain and old wood.
Viviana was tied to a chair on stage.
Saraphina ran toward her.
Lucien caught her arm.
"Wait."
A light flickered.
A man appeared in the balcony.
Silas Vetrano.
"I've been waiting for you."
Lucien lifted his weapon.
Silas smiled.
"Don't."
"The woman beside you is the only reason you're still alive."
Saraphina stared at him.
"What do you want?"
"Your memory."
"I don't understand."
"You saw something eleven years ago."
"I don't remember."
"Oh, you will."
He pressed a remote.
A screen dropped.
A video began.
Saraphina watched herself as a child.
Standing inside a study.
Her father arguing with someone.
Then a gunshot.
A man falling.
She covered her ears.
"Stop."
Silas smiled.
"Remember."
Another part of the recording played.
A voice.
Her mother's.
"Take her away."
Saraphina stared.
"I thought Mother died before this."
Lucien looked at her.
The video revealed something impossible.
Her mother had been alive the night Saraphina disappeared.
She had survived for three more years.
But she had hidden the truth.
Saraphina began crying.
"Why?"
Viviana spoke through tears.
"Because she was protecting you."
Silas laughed.
"She protected nothing."
Lucien stepped forward.
"You don't have the full recording."
Silas looked at him.
"No."
"Where is it?"
Silas smiled.
"With your father."
Saraphina's blood ran cold.
"Dominico?"
Silas nodded.
"Your father has the final piece."
Then he pulled a trigger.
The theater erupted.
Lucien shoved Saraphina down.
Shots rang.
Viviana screamed.
Security fired back.
Silas escaped.
But one thing remained behind.
A small black case.
Inside was a photograph of Dominico Duca shaking hands with Silas.
And behind them stood a younger Lucien.
Watching.
Saraphina stared at the photograph.
"Why were you there?"
Lucien's face changed.
"I don't remember."
"You're lying."
He looked at her.
"I don't know."
For the first time since she'd met him, Saraphina saw fear in Lucien Moretti's eyes.
May you like
Not fear of death.
Fear of memory.
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