Chapter 4 - The Family Member I Buried Came Back With a WarningMichael entered the estate alone.
He looked older.
Harder.
Scar across his jaw.
Eyes like mine.
“Daniel.”
“Michael.”
“You finally found Sofia.”
“And Emma.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the hallway.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“Good.”
“You're supposed to be dead.”
“So are half the people in this family.”
I almost smiled.
“Why did you disappear?”
“Because Anthony tried to kill me.”
“Why?”
“I found the trust.”
“The evidence.”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“Your father hid it.”
“My father.”
“Inside Blackwood Estate.”
I stared.
“No.”
“Search the library.”
We did.
Michael found an old book.
Inside was a hidden compartment.
A USB drive.
A letter.
And a photograph.
My father.
Sofia.
Me.
Emma's mother was pregnant in the photograph.
I stared.
The date was twenty-four years ago.
Emma's conception couldn't fit.
Michael explained.
“Your father knew Sofia was pregnant.”
“He did?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he tell me she betrayed me?”
“He wanted you to hate her.”
“Why?”
“To make you easier to control.”
My blood turned cold.
“Who controlled me?”
“Anthony.”
I stared at the photograph.
“What was my father afraid of?”
“Losing the empire.”
“He was terrified of Anthony.”
“Yes.”
“What did Anthony have?”
“The police.”
“The judges.”
“The money.”
“And the trust.”
Michael handed me the letter.
Daniel,
If you are reading this, then Michael has survived.
Good.
Sofia must remain hidden.
Emma must never be found.
Anthony believes the trust belongs to him.
It does not.
I read the final line.
It belongs to my grandson.
Emma.
My daughter.
The trust was hers.
Michael said:
“That's why Anthony wants her.”
I looked toward the hallway.
A little girl was standing there.
Listening.
“What does he want me for?”
I walked toward her.
“He doesn't.”
She frowned.
“But I heard my name.”
I knelt.
“Your great-uncle is dangerous.”
“Will he hurt Mommy?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Will he hurt you?”
“Not if I can stop him.”
She nodded.
Then handed me her wooden horse.
“For luck.”
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
Michael watched.
“You've changed.”
“What?”
“You care.”
“I always cared.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You survived.”
“There's a difference.”
That night, Michael told us the truth.
Anthony wasn't simply trying to take the Moretti empire.
He wanted to activate the trust.
The trust contained ownership of billions in legitimate assets.
But there was a second layer.
If Emma rejected the inheritance, the assets would automatically transfer to a network of victims' foundations.
Anthony would lose everything.
So he needed Emma.
Alive.
And obedient.
The first thing he would do would be destroy Sofia.
The second would be destroy me.
The third would be erase the trust.
I looked at Michael.
“How do we stop him?”
He smiled.
“We don't.”
“What?”
“We let him come.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“Because he's convinced you still don't know the truth.”
Michael leaned forward.
“And that is our advantage.”
We built a trap.
The estate was wired.
The trust was copied.
The police were informed.
The federal authorities were waiting.
At midnight, the gate opened.
A convoy entered.
Anthony was here.
My uncle stepped out.
Older.
Elegant.
Smiling.
Then he looked directly at the camera.
“Daniel.”
His voice echoed through the house.
“Bring me the girl.”
I raised my weapon.
Michael whispered:
“Let him talk.”
Anthony continued.
“You have something that belongs to me.”
I answered:
“No.”
He smiled.
“Then you'll lose everything.”
May you like
He pressed a button.
The entire eastern wing exploded.
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