Chapter 4 - The Night the House Turned Into a Trap
The entire Moretti estate exploded into motion.
Security guards flooded the property.
Cars tore down the driveway.
Dogs searched the gardens.
Doors were locked.
Gates were sealed.
Luca Moretti moved through the house with terrifying control.
But Clara knew something everyone else didn't.
Mia had not been dragged through the window.
Clara had seen the room.
The window opened outward.
The rope had been tied neatly.
There were no signs of struggle.
And Mia's favorite stuffed rabbit was missing.
“She wasn't taken.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
“She left.”
His eyes hardened.
“Why would my daughter willingly leave?”
“Because she trusted someone.”
“Who?”
Clara looked toward the hallway.
“Someone she doesn't fear.”
They checked every staff member.
The only person Mia had shown affection toward was Clara.
But Clara had been in the kitchen when Mia disappeared.
Unless—
She remembered Mrs. Gable's words.
The service corridor.
The old passage beneath the house.
Clara ran.
Luca followed.
Behind the bookcase, they found the hidden opening.
The corridor smelled of dust and roses.
Clara stopped.
“There.”
A faint sound.
Humming.
A child's humming.
Luca pushed past her.
At the end of the corridor was a small chamber.
Mia sat on the floor.
She was holding her stuffed rabbit.
Beside her was a man.
He turned.
Luca raised his weapon.
“Step away from my daughter.”
The man did not move.
“It isn't me you should be shooting at.”
Clara recognized the voice from the security recording.
But the face was unfamiliar.
Older.
Tired.
He slowly lifted his hands.
“My name is Samuel Vance.”
Luca stared.
“Vance.”
“My father was Elias.”
Silence.
Mia climbed toward Clara.
Luca lowered the weapon slightly.
“You took my daughter.”
“No.”
Samuel shook his head.
“She came to me.”
“Why?”
“Because she remembers what happened to your wife.”
Luca looked at Mia.
“What did she tell you?”
“Nothing.”
Samuel glanced at Clara.
“She doesn't speak when she's frightened.”
Clara realized something.
“He wasn't forcing her.”
Samuel continued.
“I found the hidden passage years ago. Your wife used it to escape certain rooms in the house. She knew someone was watching her.”
Luca demanded,
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Samuel handed him a photograph.
It showed Elena holding Mia as a baby.
On the back was a message.
“Trust the maid.”
Luca looked at Clara.
The words felt surreal.
“Why would Elena write that?”
“Because she knew what kind of people surrounded you.”
Samuel explained.
Elias Vance had been accused of betrayal.
But he had actually been investigating someone who was siphoning money from Luca's organization.
When Elias got too close, he was killed.
Before his death, he contacted Elena.
She learned that someone in Luca's inner circle was planning to use Mia as leverage.
Then she discovered another secret.
One of Luca's trusted men had installed surveillance equipment throughout the estate.
She tried to expose him.
She died before she could.
Luca's face had become unreadable.
“Who?”
Samuel shook his head.
“I only know the person used the rose symbol.”
Clara looked at Mia.
“You said the roses.”
Mia nodded.
Samuel crouched.
“She has been trying to tell you for years.”
Luca looked at his daughter.
“What happened the night Mommy died?”
Mia trembled.
Clara sat beside her.
“You can tell Daddy when you're ready.”
Mia squeezed her rabbit.
“There was shouting.”
“Who?”
“Uncle.”
Luca went still.
“Matteo?”
Mia shook her head.
“Not that uncle.”
“Another man.”
She pointed at a photograph Samuel had brought.
Luca took it.
The man was Dr. Adrian Vale.
The family doctor.
Luca's expression changed.
“I trusted him.”
Samuel nodded.
“He knew Elena was investigating.”
“But why?”
“Because he wasn't working for Matteo.”
Samuel looked toward the corridor.
“He was working for the person who controls the city contracts.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“What contracts?”
“Construction. Shipping. Security. Private development.”
Clara realized Ryan had never been the only dangerous man in the room.
There was a larger network.
And Luca's enemies had infiltrated his household.
Then Samuel said something else.
“Adrian isn't the leader.”
“Who is?”
Samuel looked at Luca.
“Your lawyer.”
Luca froze.
“Grant Mercer.”
Samuel nodded.
“He has been moving money through shell companies for years.”
Clara remembered the photograph.
Grant Mercer.
Luca's trusted attorney.
A man she had seen at the estate many times.
He was always smiling.
Always polite.
Never armed.
Never threatening.
Which made him almost invisible.
Luca called Marco.
“Find Grant Mercer.”
Marco's answer came immediately.
“He's already left the city.”
“Track him.”
“He's headed toward the airport.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“Of course he is.”
Clara looked at Mia.
The child had gone quiet.
Too quiet.
“What is it?”
Mia whispered,
“Daddy's phone.”
Luca checked it.
A new message.
A photograph.
Grant Mercer had taken someone captive.
It was Mrs. Gable.
The message said:
“Bring the girl, or the old woman dies.”
Luca looked at Clara.
She shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“He wants you angry.”
“I know.”
“He wants you to rush.”
“I know.”
“He expects you to bring Mia.”
Luca nodded.
“So I won't.”
Clara looked at him.
“What will you do?”
Luca smiled for the first time in days.
May you like
A cold, dangerous smile.
“I will make him think I did.”
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