Chapter 9 - The Uncle Who Stole Fifteen Years
The underground room filled with darkness.
Nicholas heard one of the security officers reach for his flashlight.
“Don't move,” Nicholas said.
Victor's voice returned through the speaker.
“You always were too sentimental about your sister.”
Nicholas stared toward the ceiling.
“Where is Isabella?”
“Safe, as long as you cooperate.”
“Fifteen years, Victor. You let me believe she was dead.”
“She was a reckless child who discovered things she shouldn't have.”
Nicholas clenched his jaw.
“What things?”
“Your father's real financial records. Offshore holdings. Names of politicians and judges. Information worth hundreds of millions.”
Nicholas remembered Isabella's final phone call.
She had wanted to tell him something urgent.
He had ignored it.
“You abducted her for documents?”
“I protected the family's future.”
“You destroyed her life.”
Victor laughed coldly.
“And now you've endangered another girl. Emily Carter should never have entered that house.”
Nicholas felt his stomach tighten.
“You knew who she was?”
“Of course. Richard recognized her the moment she applied.”
“Then why hire her?”
“Because Margaret left something behind, and we needed her daughter to lead us to it.”
Nicholas looked toward the metal door.
“What did Margaret leave?”
Victor didn't answer.
Instead, a low mechanical hum began.
Luca checked a ventilation opening.
“Boss, the airflow just stopped.”
Victor spoke one final time.
“I'm sorry, Nicholas. But Christmas has always been a difficult season for our family.”
The speaker went silent.
Luca examined the door.
“Electronic lock. No signal down here.”
Nicholas forced himself to think.
His father had never trusted a room without an emergency exit.
He searched the wall behind the desk.
A small metal plate bore the Grimaldi family crest.
He pressed it.
Nothing happened.
Then he remembered the message in Margaret's notebook.
Beneath the angel.
Nicholas looked toward a carved angel decorating the crest.
He pushed its right wing.
A hidden panel opened.
Inside was a manual release lever.
He pulled.
The steel door unlocked with a heavy click.
As they rushed toward the stairs, Luca received an emergency radio transmission.
“Boss! Security at the hospital just reported an incident!”
Nicholas stopped.
“What happened?”
“Two men disguised as hospital orderlies tried to enter Emily's room.”
“Where is she?”
Luca's expression darkened.
May you like
“Emily's missing.”
And on her empty bed, someone had left Isabella's silver bracelet.
