Chapter 7 - The Baby They Were Willing to Kill For
The words destroyed every illusion of safety.
Roman immediately ordered the estate locked down.
“No one leaves.”
“No,” I said.
“I’m serious.”
“They have Amelia.”
“We’ll get her back.”
“They want my baby.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“They will never touch you.”
My mother grabbed my hand.
“They're trying to frighten you.”
“They don't need to.”
Harrison stood near the window.
“It's about the bloodline.”
I turned.
“What?”
He looked at Roman.
“Victor’s family isn't valuable because of the money.”
Roman's face darkened.
“It’s because of the inheritance.”
“What inheritance?”
Harrison took a breath.
“Your grandfather owned a network of legitimate shipping companies before the criminal organization took control.”
I frowned.
“That doesn't explain the baby.”
“No.”
My mother stepped forward.
“There is something else.”
She opened an old wooden box.
Inside was a document.
I unfolded it.
My name was written at the top.
Then a second name.
The name of the baby's father.
Harrison Cole.
Below that was a clause.
If a child is born from the Costa and Cole bloodlines, ownership rights to specific maritime assets revert to the child.
I stared.
“This is insane.”
“It's legal,” my mother said.
“Could they actually get the assets?”
“Not if the child remains under your protection.”
Roman read the document.
“They want the child because they think they can control the inheritance.”
Harrison's face was pale.
“That’s why they married Chloe.”
I stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“How long?”
“Months.”
“You let me carry this child without telling me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You keep saying that.”
He closed his eyes.
“I know.”
I walked away.
For the first time, I wasn't sure whether love could survive this many lies.
That night, Roman entered my room.
He stayed by the door.
“I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For making decisions for you.”
I looked at him.
“You don't trust me to protect myself.”
“I trust you.”
“Then why control everything?”
“Because everyone I've failed to protect is dead.”
His voice cracked.
I hadn't expected that.
“My brother.”
“Your father.”
“My mother.”
He swallowed.
“Amelia.”
I stepped closer.
“And me?”
His eyes met mine.
“I won't lose you.”
There was something in his voice that I couldn't ignore.
Not possession.
Fear.
A man who had built an empire because he believed strength could prevent loss.
I touched his hand.
“You don't have to carry everyone.”
He looked down at our hands.
“You're dangerous, Chloe.”
I smiled faintly.
“I'm pregnant.”
“For me, that makes it worse.”
The moment was interrupted by an alarm.
Someone had entered the estate.
Roman moved instantly.
“Stay here.”
He disappeared.
Then a gunshot echoed through the corridor.
I froze.
Another.
Then silence.
The door opened.
Harrison stood there.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“They got inside.”
I followed him through the service corridor.
But halfway down, I stopped.
“Harrison.”
He turned.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“To get you out.”
“Where's Roman?”
“He was shot.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“Shoulder.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then why aren't you with him?”
Harrison looked at me.
“Because I came for you.”
Something was wrong.
I stepped backward.
“You're lying.”
Harrison's expression changed.
“Chloe…”
I grabbed the railing.
“You're not Harrison.”
The man stared at me.
Then smiled.
His face shifted.
A mask.
A disguise.
A stranger stood before me.
I screamed.
He lunged.
I swung the heavy metal flashlight I had grabbed from the wall.
It struck his temple.
He dropped.
I ran.
Down another corridor.
I saw Roman.
Blood covered his shirt.
But he was standing.
He looked at me.
“Chloe!”
I ran toward him.
He caught me.
“Where is Harrison?”
“I'm here.”
Harrison emerged behind us.
Roman raised his weapon.
“Don't move.”
Then the impostor's body was dragged in.
Roman looked at him.
“Lucia.”
A voice echoed through the hall.
“You're getting closer.”
She appeared on a monitor.
“Congratulations.”
I stared at the screen.
“Where is Amelia?”
Lucia smiled.
“Safe.”
“Prove it.”
The screen changed.
Amelia appeared.
Alive.
Then Lucia looked directly into the camera.
“The child is the key.”
I placed a hand over my stomach.
“You're not taking my baby.”
Lucia's smile disappeared.
“You don't understand, Chloe.”
Her voice became cold.
“Your baby is the only person who can legally destroy everything I built.”
Then the screen went black.
Roman looked at me.
“We end this tonight.”
I nodded.
“For Amelia.”
“For your mother.”
May you like
“For my child.”
And perhaps, finally, for ourselves.
