Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT THEY CAME FOR ANEL
The attack came just before dawn.
Riona woke to glass breaking.
Aldrich was already moving.
“Get Anel.”
She ran.
Anel was asleep.
She lifted him.
The hallway exploded with gunfire.
Aldrich fired from the stairwell.
“Go!”
Riona ran toward the safe room.
A man appeared.
She struck him with a lamp.
He fell.
Another grabbed her.
Aldrich shot him.
“Move!”
They reached the armored room.
The door closed.
Anel woke crying.
“Mama!”
“I’m here.”
Aldrich crouched.
“Listen to me.”
Anel looked at him.
“You're safe.”
The boy nodded.
Then the house shook.
An explosion.
The safe room doors locked.
Riona looked at Aldrich.
“They're trying to force us out.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“Can we escape?”
“There is a tunnel.”
“Where?”
“Under the chapel.”
Aldrich entered a code.
The floor opened.
They descended.
The tunnel led beneath the estate toward an old railway corridor.
Halfway through, they heard footsteps.
Matteo had found them.
Aldrich pushed Riona and Anel ahead.
He stayed behind.
“Go.”
Riona shook her head.
“No.”
“Riona.”
“We leave together.”
He smiled.
“Still stubborn.”
“You loved that.”
“I still do.”
They fought together.
Matteo appeared.
“I expected more from you.”
Aldrich raised his weapon.
“You should have expected death.”
Matteo laughed.
“Your father said the same.”
Riona froze.
“You killed him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He was weak.”
She stared at him.
“He loved us.”
“He chose family over power.”
“And you chose money.”
“I chose survival.”
Aldrich stepped forward.
“No.”
He looked at Matteo with pure hatred.
“You chose yourself.”
Matteo fired.
Aldrich was hit in the side.
Riona screamed.
He staggered.
Then Anel stepped forward.
“Don't hurt him.”
Everyone froze.
Matteo looked at the boy.
For one second, his face softened.
Then he smiled.
“You look just like him.”
Aldrich put himself between them.
“Don't.”
Matteo raised his gun.
Riona threw herself forward.
Security arrived.
Shots rang out.
Matteo disappeared into the darkness.
Aldrich collapsed.
Riona held him.
“Stay with me.”
He smiled weakly.
“I promised.”
“What?”
“I'd stay.”
Blood soaked his shirt.
Anel was crying.
Aldrich looked at him.
“Hey.”
The boy came closer.
“Are you okay?”
“Not yet.”
Anel took his hand.
“Don't die.”
Aldrich squeezed his fingers.
“I won't.”
At the hospital, doctors stabilized him.
Riona sat beside his bed.
Anel fell asleep in a chair.
When Aldrich woke, Riona was holding his hand.
“Hey.”
She looked up.
“You scared me.”
“I've been trying to do that for years.”
She smiled through tears.
“Idiot.”
He looked toward Anel.
“Is he okay?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He was quiet.
Then said,
“I want to tell him.”
Riona nodded.
“Tell him what?”
“The truth.”
She took a breath.
“Tomorrow.”
Aldrich smiled.
“Tomorrow.”
But the next morning, an envelope arrived.
Inside was a photograph.
Aldrich.
Riona.
Anel.
Taken through the hospital window.
And a note.
If the boy learns who his father is, everyone dies.
Riona stared at it.
Aldrich's face went cold.
Matteo still had power.
May you like
And this time, he wasn't threatening Aldrich.
He was threatening everyone Aldrich loved.
