Chapter 8 - THE MOTHER WHO MADE ONE TERRIBLE CALL
Elena was in Montreal.
Not missing.
Hiding at a convent guesthouse twenty minutes away.
When Adrian entered, she was sitting beside a window.
She looked older than yesterday.
Or maybe truth made people age quickly.
“Luca told you.”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“I called Vincent.”
“Why?”
“Because Samuel told me Luca was going to kill him.”
Luca, standing behind Adrian, said:
“I wasn’t.”
“I know that now.”
Elena’s voice broke.
“I thought I could stop both of you from becoming your father.”
Adrian flinched.
Antonio’s violence.
His decisions.
His world.
Elena feared Luca would start a war.
So she called Vincent.
Told him warehouse.
Time.
Everything.
Vincent promised only to talk.
Instead, men arrived.
Files burned.
Doors locked.
Luca nearly died.
Elena discovered Luca survived two days later.
Antonio blamed himself too.
He created the false death.
Then demanded Elena tell Adrian nothing.
“And you obeyed.”
“Yes.”
“For six years.”
“Yes.”
Adrian wanted to shout.
Didn’t.
“What would you have done if Luca died in St. Agnes?”
Elena cried silently.
“I don’t know.”
“That is the problem.”
Luca touched Adrian’s shoulder.
Not forgiveness.
Restraint.
Then Elena said:
“Claire knows everything.”
“Where is she?”
“New York.”
“We know.”
“She went to meet Samuel.”
Adrian stopped.
“What?”
“Not steal files.”
“Then what?”
“She believes Samuel wants out.”
Luca frowned.
“He never told me that.”
Elena explained.
Samuel contacted Claire three weeks ago.
Claimed Hartman Capital was pressuring him.
Threatening his family.
He offered evidence.
Claire did not trust him.
But agreed to meet if he produced the original contracts.
Location:
DeLuca headquarters.
Tonight.
Adrian checked time.
They were already late.
Then Marco’s secure phone connected.
Message from Teresa.
Sophie was safe.
Then another.
Unknown sender.
Photograph.
Claire sitting at Adrian’s conference table.
Samuel across from her.
Both alive.
Caption:
COME ALONE OR SHE LEAVES IN PIECES.
Adrian’s face hardened.
Luca saw it.
“No.”
“What?”
“You are not doing the thing.”
“What thing?”
“The thing where you become exactly what everyone expects when they threaten someone.”
Adrian stared.
Luca continued:
“We use police. Security. Evidence. We do not walk into traps alone.”
Six years missing and still annoying.
Adrian nodded once.
They flew back.
Local authorities coordinated.
DeLuca security isolated the tower.
No dramatic siege.
No gunfire.
Adrian entered the conference level wearing a wire.
Marco monitored.
Police staged nearby.
Inside, Claire sat alone.
No Samuel.
No restraints.
Adrian stopped.
“You’re okay.”
“Yes.”
“Where is Samuel?”
“Gone.”
“Then who sent the message?”
“I don’t know.”
She stood.
“Samuel gave me the contracts.”
“Where?”
She handed him a drive.
“Then someone called him.”
“What happened?”
“He panicked.”
“Left?”
“Yes.”
Then Claire looked at Adrian.
“There’s something you need to know.”
“About Samuel?”
“No.”
“About the person threatening him.”
She placed a photograph on the table.
Hartman Capital’s managing partner.
David Hartman.
Adrian knew the face.
Then Claire slid another picture beside it.
Younger David.
Standing next to Antonio DeLuca.
And a woman Adrian recognized.
Celia Romano.
Hospital nurse.
Luca’s caretaker.
Claire whispered:
May you like
“David Hartman is Celia’s son.”
The person who helped hide Luca was also the mother of the man financing the conspiracy.
