Chapter 7 - No one spoke.Luca stood at the bottom of the staircase.
He was alive.
The dead man Dad had mourned for six years was standing ten feet away.
And he was looking at me.
Not Ryan.
Me.
Dad raised his weapon.
"Luca."
Luca didn't move.
"You should lower that."
Dad's finger tightened.
"You have five seconds."
Luca smiled faintly.
"Then listen quickly."
He pointed toward the ceiling.
"Your daughter's apartment is surrounded."
Dad glanced at his men.
Luca continued:
"Those aren't my people."
Another gunshot echoed above.
Luca looked back at me.
"They're here for the baby."
Dad's expression changed.
"What baby?"
Luca's eyes lowered toward my stomach.
"The child they believe carries the Moretti bloodline."
Dad stepped forward.
"Why would anyone care about my grandchild?"
Luca looked at Ryan.
"Because Ryan is not who he thinks he is."
Ryan shook his head.
"Don't."
Luca laughed quietly.
"You still haven't told her."
I looked at Ryan.
"Told me what?"
Ryan's face became pale.
Luca answered.
"Ryan's father wasn't Anthony Vale."
Dad frowned.
"Then who?"
Luca said:
"Vincent's brother."
My father froze.
I looked at him.
"You had a brother?"
Dad's voice was barely audible.
"Yes."
Luca continued.
"He disappeared twenty-five years ago."
Dad stared.
"Your uncle."
I looked at Ryan.
"No."
Ryan closed his eyes.
"He was my biological father."
My world tilted.
Dad's own blood was running through Ryan's veins.
Ryan was connected to the Moretti family.
He was not an outsider.
He was family.
And yet he had done this to me.
Dad looked devastated.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Ryan answered:
"Because your brother wanted you dead."
Dad's jaw tightened.
"What did he do?"
Ryan's voice lowered.
"He created the Vale network."
Luca interrupted.
"Correction."
He looked at Dad.
"He inherited it."
Dad stared.
Luca stepped closer.
"Your brother spent years trying to steal your empire."
"I left that life."
"You left it."
Luca's voice hardened.
"He didn't."
He looked toward me.
"And neither did Ryan."
Ryan suddenly lunged.
Not at Luca.
At me.
Dad's men intercepted him.
Ryan shouted:
"Listen to me!"
Dad pointed his weapon at him.
"Stop."
Ryan's eyes were desperate.
"They're coming for her tonight."
Dad said:
"Who?"
Ryan looked at me.
"The people who took Lily."
My heart stopped.
"You know where she is."
Ryan nodded.
"Yes."
"Where?"
He looked toward Luca.
"He has the location."
Everyone turned.
Luca sighed.
"I do."
I stepped forward.
"Take me to her."
Dad immediately said:
"No."
"She's my daughter."
Dad looked at my stomach.
"You're seven months pregnant."
"I don't care."
"You are not going anywhere near those people."
I stared at him.
"Then bring her to me."
Luca shook his head.
"They won't let that happen."
Dad looked at him.
"Why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't."
Luca reached into his coat.
Everyone raised their weapons.
He pulled out a tiny envelope.
He tossed it toward me.
I caught it.
Inside was a photograph.
Lily.
Standing beside my mother.
My breath stopped.
My mother.
Alive.
Older.
But unmistakably her.
I looked at Dad.
"Dad..."
He stared at the photograph.
He dropped his weapon.
"No."
Luca spoke softly.
"Your mother didn't die twelve years ago."
I couldn't breathe.
"She was taken."
Dad's eyes filled with disbelief.
"By whom?"
Luca answered:
"Your own brother."
Then he looked at me.
"Your mother has been alive all this time."
I stared at the photograph.
And on the back was a handwritten message.
Three words.
I'M STILL WATCHING.
Then another gunshot exploded above us.
The lights went out completely.
May you like
And when they came back on...
Ryan was gone.
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