Chapter 9 - THE DAUGHTER HIDDEN FROM HER FATHER
Luca Moretti had spent five months believing he was a widower with one child.
Now I was standing in front of him with a video suggesting his wife was alive and he had a daughter he'd never met.
He watched Amelia's message without moving.
When it ended, he stared at the dark screen.
Then whispered:
"A daughter?"
I nodded.
"That's what Amelia said."
His hands trembled.
"How old?"
"I don't know."
He closed his eyes.
For the first time since I'd met him, Luca looked completely broken.
Not angry.
Not dangerous.
Just a father realizing his family had been stolen from him piece by piece.
I sat opposite him.
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head.
"No."
His voice broke.
"I should have listened to Elena."
I remained silent.
He continued.
"She told me the clinic wasn't safe."
My chest tightened.
"What did you do?"
"I told her Vittorio handled those matters."
I looked down.
Luca covered his face.
"She was afraid, Avery."
His voice trembled.
"And I called it stress."
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then he looked up.
"I need to find them."
I nodded.
"So do I."
But I made something clear.
"We do this with investigators. No threats. No disappearing people."
Luca studied me.
Then nodded.
"Agreed."
For the first time, he seemed ready to accept that being feared wasn't the same as being useful.
The investigation expanded.
Authorities reviewed the medical records from the private facility.
Several birth registrations appeared inconsistent.
One infant girl had been documented under a temporary name.
Baby Girl Vale.
No father's name.
No clear transfer destination.
But the birth date was three months after Elena supposedly died.
Luca stared.
"Three months?"
I nodded.
"She may have been pregnant when she disappeared."
His eyes filled.
He looked toward Leo.
The baby sat on the carpet beside a small wooden toy.
He laughed when it rolled across the floor.
Luca knelt beside him.
"Hey, little man."
Leo reached for his father.
Luca lifted him.
Then held him close.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
I watched quietly.
Whatever Luca had done in his past, he loved his son.
That much was undeniable.
But love didn't erase responsibility.
He still had to confront what his family had done.
Then Sarah called.
Her voice was urgent.
"We found a birth record."
Luca stood.
"What?"
"The infant girl."
His heart pounded.
"Is she alive?"
"We have evidence suggesting she is."
I covered my mouth.
Sarah continued.
"The record lists a transfer to a private residence outside Philadelphia."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Whose residence?"
A pause.
Then Sarah answered.
"Vittorio Moretti."
Silence.
Luca slowly sat down.
His uncle.
Again.
Then Sarah added:
"We found photographs."
I leaned closer.
"What photographs?"
"Of the baby."
Luca's hands trembled.
"Can you send them?"
Sarah nodded.
A moment later, his phone vibrated.
A photograph appeared.
A tiny baby girl.
Dark hair.
Bright eyes.
Wrapped in a pale pink blanket.
Luca began crying.
"My daughter."
Then another photograph appeared.
A woman holding the baby.
Her face partially turned away.
But the silver necklace around her throat was unmistakable.
I stopped breathing.
"Amelia."
Luca looked toward me.
I nodded.
"My sister."
Then Sarah's voice returned.
"There's something else."
Luca swallowed.
"What?"
"The baby's temporary records include a note."
My heart pounded.
"What note?"
Sarah hesitated.
May you like
Then read it aloud.
"Infant must not be released until Luca Moretti signs over control of the Moretti Family Trust."
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