Chapter 5 - The Box Beneath the Chapel
The safe room had enough air for six hours.
Matteo knew that.
Clara did not.
She sat beside Helen, gripping the metal box.
"What happens if we don't get out?"
"We will," Matteo said.
"You don't sound sure."
"I've been in worse situations."
Helen looked at him.
"Not with your heart involved."
Matteo glanced at Clara.
She looked away.
He crossed the room and examined the control panel.
"Someone locked the system from the outside."
"Victor?"
"Likely."
Clara looked at the box.
"Can we open the rest of the files?"
Matteo nodded.
A laptop was connected.
The flash drive contained encrypted folders.
One was marked HAYES.
One was marked MORETTI.
One was marked HELEN.
Clara stared.
"Open mine."
Matteo hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Inside were letters.
Photographs.
Medical records.
School reports.
Every milestone Clara had ever achieved.
Her mother had kept them.
Her entire life.
Helen began crying.
"I never stopped watching."
Clara could barely speak.
"You knew I graduated."
"Yes."
"My first job."
"Yes."
"My apartment."
"Yes."
"Everything?"
Helen nodded.
"Everything."
Clara closed her eyes.
She had spent sixteen years believing she had been forgotten.
The truth was somehow more painful.
She had been loved from a distance.
She turned to her mother.
"Why didn't you come back?"
"Because Victor threatened to kill you."
"But he's going to kill me anyway."
Helen shook her head.
"No."
Matteo looked up.
"What?"
Helen's expression changed.
"There is something you don't know."
"What?"
"Victor has a daughter."
"Bianca."
"Yes."
"She doesn't know everything."
Matteo stood.
"You trust her?"
"No."
Helen looked at Clara.
"But I think she wants out."
The door unlocked.
Everyone froze.
Matteo raised his weapon.
The door opened.
Bianca stood outside.
She was bleeding.
"I came alone."
Matteo aimed at her.
"Hands up."
Bianca raised them.
"Victor is moving tonight."
"Where?"
"The courthouse."
Matteo lowered his gun slightly.
"Why?"
"He's going to surrender."
Clara frowned.
"Why would he surrender?"
"Because he knows the evidence will destroy him."
"Then what is his plan?"
Bianca looked at Clara.
"You."
Clara stepped forward.
"Me?"
"Victor believes Matteo will trade the evidence for you."
Matteo's face hardened.
"He won't."
Bianca looked at him.
"I know."
"How?"
"Because I finally understand something my father never did."
She looked at Clara.
"You're not his weakness."
Clara's breath caught.
"You're what makes him stronger."
Bianca handed over a second drive.
"This contains Victor's communications."
Matteo took it.
"Why?"
"Because I want out."
He studied her.
"You think that's enough?"
"No."
She looked toward the corridor.
"But I know where Victor keeps the original records."
"Where?"
"The old river warehouse."
Matteo turned to his guards.
"Prepare the cars."
Clara stepped closer.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"Matteo."
"This is too dangerous."
"I'm not staying behind."
"You could be killed."
"So could you."
He looked at her.
"You don't understand what I'm protecting you from."
"Yes, I do."
She took his hand.
"I understand that you're afraid."
He stared.
"Of losing me."
His silence answered.
Clara squeezed his fingers.
"Then don't leave me behind."
Matteo closed his eyes.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
The convoy left before midnight.
At the warehouse, the river wind cut through Clara's coat.
Matteo stood beside her.
"You stay behind me."
She rolled her eyes.
"You really like that sentence."
"I do."
Inside, the warehouse was empty.
Too empty.
Matteo immediately knew.
"Trap."
The doors slammed shut.
Floodlights came on.
Victor Hale stood on a catwalk above them.
Bianca whispered, "No."
Victor smiled.
"You really thought you could betray me?"
Security surrounded them.
Victor's gaze moved to Clara.
"There she is."
Matteo stepped in front of her.
Victor laughed.
"You love her."
Matteo said nothing.
"That's why you're losing."
Victor raised a gun.
"Give me the drive."
Matteo's men raised their weapons.
Then Victor pressed a remote.
An explosive charge detonated.
The floor collapsed.
Clara fell.
Matteo grabbed her arm.
For one terrible second, she hung over the river.
"I've got you!"
"Matteo!"
His grip tightened.
"I've got you."
He pulled her up.
Victor disappeared.
Bianca was unconscious.
Bruno, who had insisted on following, limped through the chaos and found Clara.
She hugged his neck.
"We're okay."
Matteo stared at the broken floor.
Victor had escaped.
But the warehouse had contained something else.
A hidden room.
Inside, they found the records.
And a photograph.
Matteo's mother was alive.
The date on the photograph was three months earlier.
On the back were five words.
I know where your mother is.
Matteo stared.
Clara touched his shoulder.
"We'll find her."
He looked at her.
Then nodded.
"We will."
May you like
That was the moment Matteo realized he no longer cared about revenge.
He cared about bringing everyone home.
