Chapter 10 - FIRE AT THE BAKERY
“Get everyone out of that building!”
Dante shouted into his phone.
Marco was already moving.
Within minutes, security officers and firefighters reached the bakery where Aurora had spent five years rebuilding her life.
Aurora watched the surveillance footage from Dante's secure office.
Braden stood near the rear entrance.
He was holding a red fuel container.
Her heart hammered.
“That's my workplace!”
Dante stayed beside her.
“Marco has already called the police.”
On the screen, Braden began pouring liquid near the doorway.
A security officer approached from behind.
“Sir! Put that down!”
Braden spun around.
Then ran.
Two officers intercepted him before he reached the street.
The bakery was evacuated, the area secured, and firefighters confirmed that no fire had started.
Aurora burst into relieved tears.
Her coworkers were safe.
But the footage disturbed Dante.
Braden hadn't behaved like a man determined to carry out a carefully planned attack.
He had behaved like someone frightened.
Someone desperate.
Hours later, police questioned him.
His attorney initially refused to let him speak.
Then investigators showed Braden surveillance footage of his father entering Victor Moretti's private office.
Braden broke.
“My father said Aurora had stolen something!”
He buried his face in his hands.
“He said if I didn't scare her into coming home, Victor would kill my younger sister.”
Aurora stared at the interview recording.
Braden had a sixteen-year-old sister named Lily.
She remembered the sweet girl who used to secretly leave cookies outside Aurora's bedroom whenever Braden made her cry.
Dante immediately contacted Marco.
“Find Lily Whitlock.”
But Marco's answer came too quickly.
“Boss, she's missing.”
Dante closed his eyes.
Then his second phone rang.
A text message appeared with a photograph.
Lily sat tied to a chair inside an abandoned warehouse.
Behind her stood Victor Moretti.
May you like
The message contained five words.
ONE DAUGHTER FOR THE OTHER.
