Chapter 8 - THE PROMISE AT ROOM 214
Luca knelt in the hallway.
“I promise I won't let anyone take you away without making sure you're safe.”
Daniel studied him.
“Even Grandpa Carlo?”
“Especially if you're afraid of him.”
The boy opened the door a little wider.
I noticed how carefully he watched the hallway.
He wasn't behaving like a child who had simply been told to wait indoors.
He was watching for someone.
“Is your dad here?” Luca asked.
Daniel shook his head.
“He went to find Mom.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
Luca looked toward Sofia.
She was crying silently.
Daniel noticed her.
“Aunt Sofia?”
She stepped forward.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
For a moment, the boy didn't move.
Then he rushed into her arms.
She held him tightly.
“I've missed you so much.”
Daniel buried his face against her shoulder.
“Daddy said you never stopped looking.”
“I never did.”
I looked away.
After years of confusion, the boy had found someone who recognized him immediately.
Someone who didn't need a photograph or an explanation.
Inside the apartment, everything was simple.
A small table.
Two beds.
A stack of schoolbooks.
A cardboard box filled with toy cars.
On the refrigerator hung a drawing of a blue butterfly.
Daniel caught me looking.
“My mom likes butterflies.”
“I know someone else who does,” I said.
“Who?”
“A little girl named Lily.”
He looked curious.
“Is she nice?”
“Very.”
“Does she have toys?”
“A lot.”
He thought about that.
“Does she share?”
I smiled.
“Usually.”
For the first time, Daniel laughed.
Luca sat beside him.
“Daniel, where did your father go?”
The boy hesitated.
“Daddy said Mom was hiding because Grandpa Carlo told people she was bad.”
“She isn't bad,” Sofia said.
Daniel nodded firmly.
“I know.”
“Did your father tell you where she was?”
Daniel looked toward his toy cars.
“He said I shouldn't tell anyone until he knew they were safe.”
Luca nodded.
“Then you don't have to tell me.”
The boy stared.
“Really?”
“Really.”
I saw Daniel relax slightly.
It mattered that an adult had finally allowed him to keep a boundary without frightening him.
Luca continued.
“Would it help if we found somewhere you could stay with Aunt Sofia while we figure things out?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Can I?”
She hugged him.
“Of course.”
But before anyone moved, Daniel pointed toward the refrigerator.
“Daddy left something.”
He removed the butterfly drawing.
Behind it was a handwritten note.
Gabriel had written that Isabel was alive and receiving care at a women's support residence outside Chicago.
He had located her through a volunteer who remembered Elena's efforts to help.
But Isabel had refused to return until there was proof she could not lose Daniel again.
The note also explained why Gabriel had remained hidden.
Carlo's attorneys had threatened to accuse him of abducting Daniel if he tried to remove the boy from the Bellini household.
Gabriel had spent months gathering evidence to challenge the guardianship.
Then he had finally obtained a temporary protective arrangement allowing Daniel to stay with him while the case was reviewed.
Luca read the letter.
His eyes filled.
“My brother did all of this alone.”
Sofia touched his shoulder.
“He didn't believe you'd forgive him for leaving.”
Luca looked down.
“I never gave him a reason to think otherwise.”
The apartment telephone rang.
Daniel ran toward it.
“That's probably Daddy.”
He answered.
Then his expression brightened.
“Daddy!”
Luca closed his eyes.
Relief washed across his face.
Daniel listened for a moment.
Then held out the receiver.
“He wants to talk to you.”
Luca took it.
“Gabriel?”
There was a long silence.
Then his younger brother's voice came through.
“Hello, Luca.”
Luca couldn't speak.
I watched his hand tremble.
Finally, he whispered, “I've been looking for you.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
Gabriel's voice broke.
“Because I thought you'd choose the Bellinis. Their company had business ties to yours, and you believed I was irresponsible.”
Luca swallowed.
“I was wrong.”
Another silence.
Then Gabriel said, “I was wrong to disappear without telling you.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“Come home, Gabriel.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“Soon. Isabel is with me.”
Sofia covered her mouth.
Daniel looked up.
“Mommy?”
Gabriel heard him.
“Yes, buddy. We're bringing Mom somewhere safe.”
Daniel began crying.
Not loudly.
Just quiet tears rolling down his cheeks.
Sofia held him.
Luca spoke carefully.
“Gabriel, we found Elena's ledger. We know about the charity money and the records Carlo altered.”
Gabriel went silent.
Then he said, “There's something else you need to know.”
“What?”
“Elena wasn't trying to keep Isabel's secret from you because she didn't trust you.”
Luca frowned.
“Then why?”
“Because someone close to you was giving Carlo information.”
Luca looked toward me.
I felt a chill.
“Who?”
Gabriel hesitated.
“Anthony Romano handled the financial records, but he wasn't the person inside your house.”
Luca stood straighter.
“Then who was?”
Gabriel's voice lowered.
“Someone who had access to Elena's study.”
Luca looked toward the telephone.
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
He went still.
Gabriel continued.
“The person was there long before Vanessa became part of your life.”
I watched Luca's face change.
“Who?”
“Elena discovered that someone had been copying private papers from your study and passing them to Carlo.”
Luca looked toward Dominic.
His security chief had served the family for almost fifteen years.
Dominic frowned.
“What is it?”
Gabriel's voice became urgent.
“Luca, don't tell Dominic everything yet.”
The room went silent.
Luca slowly turned away.
“Why?”
“Because Elena confronted him four days before she died.”
Luca stared across the apartment.
Dominic had protected Lily.
Managed the mansion.
Controlled access to the gates.
And stood beside Luca through every crisis.
“Gabriel,” Luca whispered, “what are you saying?”
May you like
His brother answered:
“DOMINIC WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD CARLO WHERE ISABEL AND DANIEL WERE HIDING.”
