Chapter 6 - The Father Who Came Back From Prison
Luca went completely still.
That frightened me more than rage would have.
“Your father is supposed to be in federal prison.”
“He was transferred six weeks ago,” Matteo said.
“To where?”
Neither brother answered.
Caleb smiled.
“That’s the problem with powerful friends. Sometimes prison doors open.”
Luca stepped forward.
Every weapon in the room rose.
“Where is Emma?”
“You already know.”
“If she’s hurt—”
Caleb laughed.
“You’re threatening me while my men control your house?”
Luca’s expression never changed.
“No. I’m explaining what happens next.”
Something in Caleb’s smile weakened.
Then gunfire erupted outside.
The lights died.
Luca grabbed me.
“Down!”
Glass exploded.
Men shouted.
Dante dragged us through a rear loading door while Matteo covered the exit.
We ran through rain and darkness toward the waterfront.
My ankle screamed inside the brace.
I didn’t care.
“Emma!”
“We’re getting her.”
“They have her!”
“Ava, look at me.”
Luca grabbed my shoulders.
“I will get her back.”
“You promised she was safe!”
Pain flashed across his face.
“I know.”
Those two words broke my anger.
Because he wasn’t defending himself.
He blamed himself.
We reached a backup SUV.
Dante drove like the city belonged to him.
Luca called the estate.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a guard finally picked up.
“Boss.”
“Emma?”
“Gone.”
I made a sound I didn’t recognize.
Luca closed his eyes.
“How?”
“Service tunnel. Somebody opened it from inside.”
“Rosa?”
“Alive. Drugged.”
“Cameras?”
“Looped.”
Luca ended the call.
“Inside help,” Dante said.
“Obviously.”
I looked at Matteo.
He sat across from us.
“You knew the house.”
His eyes narrowed.
“So did two dozen people.”
“You hired Jake.”
“To protect you.”
“Everyone keeps saying that right before my life gets worse.”
Matteo flinched.
Good.
I wanted somebody else to hurt.
Luca’s phone rang.
Antonio.
Luca put it on speaker.
“My granddaughter is delightful.”
“She isn’t your granddaughter,” Luca said.
“Details.”
I leaned forward.
“Let me speak to Emma.”
Antonio chuckled.
“You have Evelyn’s temper.”
“Let me hear my daughter.”
A pause.
Then:
“Mama?”
My heart shattered.
“Emma, baby, I’m here.”
“The old man says we’re playing a game.”
I covered my mouth.
“Yes.”
“Are you coming?”
“Yes. I promise.”
Antonio returned.
“You have two hours.”
“For what?” Luca asked.
“Ava signs over the Carter interest.”
“No,” I said.
Luca looked at me.
Antonio laughed.
“She always was stubborn.”
“How do you know me?”
“I knew your mother.”
“Did you try to kill her?”
Silence.
Then:
“Ask Evelyn.”
The call ended.
We went directly to the hospital.
My mother was awake.
When I said Antonio’s name, terror crossed her face.
“He took Emma.”
She tried to sit up.
“Mom, what happened nineteen years ago?”
Her eyes filled.
“Antonio and Victor were stealing from North Sound.”
“We know.”
“Your grandfather discovered it.”
“And you?”
“I found the accounts.”
She swallowed.
“Antonio offered me money.”
“You refused.”
“Yes.”
“Did he bomb your car?”
“No.”
I froze.
“Then who?”
“Victor.”
Luca stood near the door.
“And my father?”
“He saved me.”
Nobody spoke.
My mother explained.
Antonio had been corrupt, violent, and ambitious—but he had warned her about Victor’s plan.
After the bombing, Antonio helped Samuel fake Evelyn’s death.
“Why?”
“Because Antonio loved me.”
Luca looked away.
My stomach turned.
“Is he my father?”
“No.”
Relief hit so violently my knees weakened.
“Daniel Carter was your father.”
“Then the birth certificate?”
“Fake.”
“Why would Antonio create it?”
My mother looked at Luca.
“To destroy whatever trust developed between you.”
“How would he know—”
She stopped.
Her eyes sharpened.
“Because somebody is reporting to him.”
Inside Luca’s organization.
We returned to the mansion.
Luca gathered every senior member of his security team in the dining room.
Dante.
Nico.
Matteo.
Rosa, pale but conscious.
Six guards.
Luca placed his phone on the table.
“Someone opened the service tunnel.”
Nobody spoke.
“The access code was changed three days ago. Four people knew it.”
Dante.
Matteo.
Rosa.
Luca.
Rosa had been drugged.
Luca had been with me.
That left Dante and Matteo.
Dante looked almost offended.
Matteo looked tired.
Then I remembered something.
At Mrs. Chen’s house, Dante had known my apartment was searched before anyone told me.
“How did you know?”
Everyone looked at me.
“Know what?” Dante asked.
“My apartment.”
“You sent us to check it.”
“No.”
Luca slowly turned.
“I sent Nico.”
Silence.
Dante’s hand moved toward his jacket.
Luca moved faster.
A gun appeared beneath the table.
“Don’t.”
Dante froze.
I couldn’t believe it.
Dante had carried Emma’s suitcase.
He had brought me coffee.
He had stood outside her bedroom.
“Why?”
His face hardened.
“Because your father built this family.”
Luca’s eyes went dead.
“My father destroyed this family.”
“He made it powerful.”
“And Caleb?”
“A temporary alliance.”
Matteo swore.
Luca stood.
“Where is Emma?”
Dante smiled.
“You’re already too late.”
Luca hit him.
One punch.
Dante crashed into the wall.
“Where?”
Blood covered Dante’s teeth.
“Bainbridge.”
“What property?”
“Old naval warehouse.”
Luca turned toward the door.
Then Dante laughed.
“You think that’s where she is?”
We stopped.
“It was.”
My stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
Dante looked directly at me.
“Antonio moved her ten minutes ago.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere Luca will never attack.”
Luca grabbed him by the throat.
Dante whispered the answer.
“Evelyn’s hospital.”
My blood froze.
Then Luca’s phone rang.
Dr. Reeves.
He answered.
All I heard was screaming.
And then my mother’s voice:
“Ava, don’t come here!”
A gunshot followed.
May you like
The line went dead.
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