Chapter 10 - The Man They Never SuspectedVincent and Dominic stood ten feet apart.

The dining room seemed too small.

Too quiet.

Finally Dominic said:

“You think it's me.”

“I don't know what to think.”

“I never took Luca.”

“Then where is he?”

“I don't know.”

“You knew Sofia was alive.”

“Yes.”

“You knew Luca existed.”

“Yes.”

“You lied to me.”

“I lied to keep him alive.”

Vincent's gun remained raised.

Dominic lowered his own.

“If you want to kill me, do it.”

Vincent stared at him.

“You could have told me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because three of your men were reporting directly to Charles.”

“And you couldn't trust me?”

“I couldn't trust who was listening to you.”

Dominic reached into his coat.

Vincent tightened his grip.

Dominic slowly pulled out a small envelope.

Inside was another photograph.

Luca.

Alive.

Sitting in a bedroom.

A stuffed rabbit beside him.

Dominic said:

“This was taken six hours ago.”

Vincent looked closer.

On the wall behind Luca was a painting.

A green horse.

Vincent recognized it.

It hung in his childhood bedroom.

He stared.

“No.”

Dominic nodded.

“Exactly.”

Vincent remembered the old north house.

His father's residence.

Abandoned after the man's death.

“Someone is keeping Luca there.”

“Yes.”

They drove through the rain.

Vincent brought only Dominic.

The north house stood surrounded by dead trees.

The front door was unlocked.

Inside, the air smelled of dust.

They moved through the corridors.

A children's laugh echoed upstairs.

Vincent nearly ran.

“Luca!”

No answer.

They entered the old bedroom.

The room was empty.

But the bed was warm.

A glass of milk sat on the table.

Still half full.

A stuffed rabbit lay on the pillow.

Vincent picked it up.

His hand shook.

Dominic noticed something beneath it.

A note.

YOU ALWAYS ARRIVE TOO LATE.

Vincent looked toward the mirror.

A red light blinked.

Camera.

He shot it.

A screen came to life.

Charles appeared.

“You're getting closer.”

Vincent stepped toward the screen.

“Where is my son?”

“Safe.”

“Bring him back.”

“I will.”

“When?”

“After the wedding.”

Vincent's eyes narrowed.

“What wedding?”

“Yours.”

“It's canceled.”

Charles laughed.

“No.”

“You don't control me.”

“Then ask yourself why the trust papers still list Isabella as beneficiary.”

Vincent froze.

Charles continued.

“If you don't marry Isabella, the trust transfers to a third party.”

“Who?”

Charles smiled.

“Your son.”

Vincent felt sick.

“What?”

“Luca inherits everything.”

Charles leaned closer to the camera.

“And whoever controls Luca controls your empire.”

Vincent understood.

“This was never about the wedding.”

“No.”

“It was about the trust.”

“Exactly.”

Charles smiled.

“Sign the papers.”

“And you return Luca.”

“Yes.”

Vincent stared.

“And Sofia?”

Charles's expression changed.

“You don't get both.”

The screen went black.

Dominic looked at Vincent.

“We can't sign.”

Vincent stared at the empty bed.

“Then we need another plan.”

The room door creaked open.

Isabella stood there.

Her clothes were soaked.

Her face was bruised.

And she was holding something.

A small electronic device.

“I know where Sofia is.”

Vincent turned.

“Where?”

Isabella raised the device.

“Charles moved her.”

“To where?”

“Somewhere he thought you would never search.”

Vincent stared at her.

Isabella whispered:

“The church where you married Sofia.”

Vincent's heart stopped.

Because that church had burned down two years ago.

And everyone believed there was nothing left inside.

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But Isabella looked at him and said:

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