Chapter 6 - The Night They Were Trapped Beneath the WarehouseThe old warehouse had been abandoned for eighteen years.
At least officially.
Vincent knew better.
He and Hannah entered through the back.
Rain hit the metal roof.
The building smelled like rust.
Memories.
Smoke.
Vincent's entire body tightened.
“This is where it happened?”
“Yes.”
Hannah looked at him.
“You don't have to do this.”
“I've spent eighteen years avoiding it.”
He stared at the dark corridor.
“I'm done avoiding it.”
They moved deeper.
Hannah noticed scratches on the wall.
Dates.
Initials.
Numbers.
She stopped.
“Vincent.”
He turned.
She pointed.
“Those numbers.”
He stepped closer.
His expression shifted.
“They're financial codes.”
“For what?”
“Payments.”
“To whom?”
He read them.
Then his face hardened.
“Police.”
Hannah's stomach dropped.
“The people my mother was afraid of.”
“Yes.”
A loud metallic sound echoed above them.
Vincent raised his gun.
“Back.”
The floor exploded.
Hannah screamed as they dropped into darkness.
Vincent grabbed her.
They landed in a basement beneath the warehouse.
Dust filled the air.
Hannah coughed.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He checked her anyway.
Then looked up.
The opening had collapsed.
“We’re trapped.”
“For how long?”
“Until someone finds us.”
“You sound very calm.”
“I've been shot before.”
“That doesn't make me feel better.”
“It should.”
“It really doesn't.”
She sat against the wall.
Vincent leaned beside her.
For several minutes, they said nothing.
Rain thundered overhead.
Then Hannah spoke.
“Why did you never marry?”
Vincent looked at her.
“Why?”
“Curiosity.”
“No time.”
“That's a terrible excuse.”
“It's true.”
“Anyone you loved?”
He looked away.
“Once.”
“What happened?”
“She died.”
Hannah went quiet.
“I'm sorry.”
“She wasn't my wife.”
“Then who?”
“My brother's fiancee.”
Hannah blinked.
“She died in the explosion too?”
“Yes.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“Luca was going to marry her.”
Hannah understood.
“So you never let yourself want anything after that.”
“No.”
“That's sad.”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“Do you know what I think?”
“No.”
“I think you're scared.”
He laughed once.
“No one has ever called me that.”
“Everyone is scared of something.”
“Not me.”
“You're scared of losing people.”
He didn't answer.
“That counts.”
Vincent looked at her.
“You shouldn't be sitting this close to me.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't know what happens to people who get close.”
Hannah smiled sadly.
“Neither do you.”
His eyes held hers.
Then the basement door above them opened.
A man's voice echoed.
“Vincent.”
Vincent went rigid.
The voice was old.
Deep.
Familiar.
Hannah looked at him.
“Who is that?”
Vincent whispered one word.
“Father.”
A light came on.
An older man stood above them.
Gray hair.
Scarred face.
Alive.
Hannah stared.
Vincent couldn't move.
The man looked directly at him.
“My son.”
Vincent's gun lowered.
“You're dead.”
His father smiled bitterly.
“I know.”
Hannah felt tears sting her eyes.
“Mr. Moretti?”
He looked at her.
“Evelyn's daughter.”
“You knew my mother.”
“I loved your mother.”
Hannah froze.
“My father?”
The man's eyes dropped.
“James Blake was my friend.”
“So where is he?”
The older man's face collapsed.
“He died.”
Hannah's hope shattered.
“Matteo killed him.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“When?”
“Three days after the explosion.”
“Why?”
“Because James had the evidence.”
“The notebook.”
“Yes.”
“Then where is it?”
The old man looked at Hannah.
“Your mother hid it inside the only thing Matteo never thought to search.”
Hannah frowned.
“What?”
He smiled.
“Your mother's wedding ring.”
Hannah stared.
She had it.
Always.
Around her neck on a silver chain.
She pulled it out.
The ring's inner edge had a tiny seam.
Vincent looked at Daniel's favorite multitool?
No, they were trapped. He realized it and used a pocket knife.
Inside the ring was a microscopic memory chip.
Hannah stared.
“That's what everyone has been killing for?”
Her father's voice echoed from above.
“No.”
Another voice answered.
Matteo.
“No, sweetheart.”
Hannah turned.
A man stepped out of the shadows.
Older than Victor.
Cold.
Smiling.
Matteo Moretti.
Vincent raised his gun.
May you like
Matteo smiled.
“You really should have stayed in your office, Hannah.”
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