Chapter 5 - THE EMPTY BEDROOM
The scream that tore from Allison’s throat didn't sound human.
It was the raw, primal sound of a mother realizing her child was the target. She lunged at Vanessa, her hands forming claws, but Luca caught her around the waist, pulling her back.
"Where is my son?!" Allison shrieked, fighting against Luca's iron grip. "Where is Leo?!"
Vanessa just smiled, a cold, triumphant smirk. "You should check your phone, Allison. Oh wait, you can't. You left it in your coat."
"Emily, get her coat," Luca barked.
I didn't wait. I sprinted out of the dining room and into the grand foyer where the guest coats were hung. My hands shook as I dug through the pockets of Allison’s beige trench coat. I found her phone. The screen lit up in my hand.
14 Missed Calls from Maria (Babysitter)
I ran back into the dining room, holding the phone out. Luca took it, swiped it open, and put it on speaker. He dialed the babysitter's number.
It rang twice. Then, a panicked voice answered.
"Mrs. Romano?! Oh my god, please, I didn't know what to do!"
"Maria, it's Luca Moretti," Luca said, his voice deadly calm. "Where is Leo?"
"He's gone, Mr. Moretti! Two men in suits came to the house twenty minutes ago. They said there was an emergency at the dinner, that Mr. Romano had been in an accident. They said they were sent to bring Leo to the hospital!"
Allison collapsed to her knees, sobbing violently. Adrian, still weak on the floor, let out a hollow, agonizing groan.
"Did they take him in a car?" Luca asked.
"Yes! A black SUV. I tried to follow them out, but they locked the gates!" Maria was crying hysterically.
Luca hung up the phone. He turned to Vanessa.
"Where are they taking him?"
Vanessa tilted her head. "To the airstrip, Luca. The plane leaves at midnight. And if you kill me, or if you call the cops, those men have orders to put Leo on a flight that doesn't go to Buenos Aires. It goes somewhere much, much darker."
"Why?" Adrian croaked from the floor, clutching his stomach. "Why take my boy?"
"Because," Vanessa spat, looking at him with utter disgust. "I needed leverage. You were getting cold feet, Adrian. You were going to confess. I knew if I had the boy, you'd transfer the trust funds exactly like you promised. And I was going to take him with me to make sure you never came looking for the money."
The room was suffocatingly quiet.
Luca stepped slowly toward Vanessa. He didn't yell. He didn't strike her. He simply reached into her purse, which the guard had dropped, and pulled out a heavy gold key.
"This is the key to the safety deposit box at the downtown bank," Luca said quietly. "The one that holds the bearer bonds. The funds you were going to steal."
Vanessa sneered. "Keep it. It won't get you the kid back."
"I don't need the money, Vanessa," Luca said softly. "I'm going to trade it."
He looked at his head of security. "Get the cars ready. We're going to the private airfield. Nobody calls the police. Nobody leaves this house."
Luca turned to me. "Emily. You stay here. Keep an eye on Adrian. Keep Allison safe."
"No!" Allison screamed, scrambling to her feet. "I'm going! He's my son!"
"Allison, you'll get in the way—" Luca started.
"I don't care! I am his mother! I am going!"
Luca looked at her fierce, tear-stained face, and nodded once. "Fine."
They rushed out of the room, leaving me standing in the wreckage of the dining room with Adrian on the floor and a dozen terrified guests.
I knelt beside Adrian. He was shivering violently, the aftereffects of the poison wreaking havoc on his nervous system. I grabbed a clean napkin and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"You're going to be okay," I lied softly.
He grabbed my wrist with surprising strength. His eyes were wide, filled with a frantic, desperate clarity.
"Emily," he whispered, coughing. "You have to... you have to warn Luca."
"Warn him about what?" I asked, leaning closer.
Adrian swallowed hard. "Vanessa... she isn't acting alone. The men who took Leo... they aren't hired thugs."
"Who are they?"
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Adrian closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek.
"They're Luca's brothers," he whispered. "The whole family wants him dead."
