Chapter 14 - The Betrayal at the Airstrip
Nicholas stared at Daniel.
“Who did Isabella mean?”
Daniel shook his head.
“She never told me his name.”
The answer came twenty minutes later.
Luca disappeared.
His phone stopped responding, and the vehicle assigned to him was found abandoned near the highway.
Nicholas felt a cold realization settle over him.
Luca had been beside him through everything.
He had controlled the cameras.
The underground investigation.
The hospital security arrangements.
And the search for Isabella.
Nicholas called the detective leading the investigation.
“I think my head of security may be working for Victor.”
By evening, officers had surrounded the private airstrip outside Rockford.
Nicholas remained with them, following their instructions rather than risking Isabella's life in a reckless confrontation.
Emily waited beside Daniel in a secure vehicle away from the runway.
Then a black SUV arrived.
Victor stepped out first.
Two men followed, escorting a woman with dark hair streaked with silver.
Nicholas recognized her immediately.
“Isabella,” he whispered.
His sister looked older.
Tired.
But alive.
Victor guided her toward a waiting jet.
Then another vehicle approached.
Luca stepped out.
Nicholas's chest tightened.
Luca walked directly toward Victor.
For several seconds, they spoke.
Then Luca handed Victor a briefcase.
Nicholas watched, stunned.
Had every act of loyalty been a lie?
Suddenly, Victor opened the briefcase.
His expression changed.
“What's this?”
Luca stepped backward.
“Your accounting records. Every payment, every transfer, every name.”
Victor realized too late that the briefcase contained a tracking device and evidence copies prepared for investigators.
Luca had been working secretly with the authorities after discovering Victor's influence inside the family's security network.
A command rang across the runway.
“Federal agents! Hands where we can see them!”
Victor reached toward his coat.
Luca moved Isabella behind a parked vehicle.
Officers rushed forward.
Within seconds, Victor was forced to the ground and handcuffed.
Nicholas ran toward Isabella as soon as the officers cleared the scene.
She turned at the sound of his voice.
“Nick?”
He stopped in front of her.
For fifteen years, he had imagined this moment.
Now he could barely speak.
“I'm here,” he whispered.
Isabella began crying.
Nicholas pulled her into his arms.
“I thought I'd lost you.”
“You never did.”
Behind them, Victor was led toward a police vehicle.
But before getting inside, he looked at Nicholas and smiled.
“You think this ends with me?”
Nicholas said nothing.
May you like
Victor leaned closer.
“Your father left one more secret. And when you discover it, you'll understand why Isabella was never allowed to come home.”
