Chapter 5 - Mr. ButtonsAdrian reached the bedroom first.
“Mia!”
The door was locked.
Vincent slammed into it.
Once.
Twice.
The frame cracked.
Another gunshot.
Adrian felt something tear through his chest.
His knees buckled.
Vincent caught him.
“Stay with me.”
“Open it.”
“We will.”
“Open it!”
Vincent hit the door again.
Wood splintered.
The door finally gave.
The room was empty.
The window was open.
Curtains whipped in the wind.
Mia was gone.
Adrian stood frozen.
“No.”
Vincent rushed to the window.
“Fire escape.”
Adrian looked at the floor.
Mr. Buttons was lying there.
The teddy bear had been cut open.
Its stuffing spilled across the carpet.
The Black Ledger was gone.
Adrian's breath became shallow.
“He took her.”
Vincent shook his head.
“No.”
“She's gone.”
“And so is the ledger.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning this wasn't a kidnapping.”
He pointed toward the open window.
“If they wanted Mia, they'd take her.”
Adrian understood.
“She gave it to them.”
Vincent nodded.
“She traded the ledger for Mia.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Clara was missing too.
His phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A child's voice came through.
“Daddy?”
Adrian nearly collapsed.
“Mia!”
“I'm okay.”
“Where are you?”
“I don't know.”
A man's voice interrupted.
“Adrian.”
Adrian froze.
Lucian.
His voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
“You've been difficult to reach.”
“What do you want?”
“I don't want anything.”
“Give me my daughter.”
“She isn't yours to command.”
Adrian's blood boiled.
“You touch her, and I'll destroy everything you built.”
Lucian laughed softly.
“You still don't understand.”
A pause.
“This was never about your daughter.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“Then why take her?”
“Because you came to her.”
Silence.
“You spent three years hiding.”
Lucian continued.
“Then your heart became dangerous.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“We know about your diagnosis.”
His blood turned cold.
“How?”
“Your doctor.”
Adrian stopped breathing.
Elena.
Lucian continued.
“You see, Adrian, I don't need to kill you.”
A photograph appeared on Adrian's phone.
Elena entering the hospital.
Another image.
Her meeting a man.
Adrian stared.
“She's been working for you.”
“No.”
Lucian corrected him.
“She has been working for herself.”
Adrian felt sick.
“Where is Mia?”
“You'll find her.”
“When?”
“When you understand why she was chosen.”
The line went dead.
Adrian stared at the phone.
Vincent watched him.
“What did he say?”
“He knows about my heart.”
Vincent's face changed.
“Impossible.”
Adrian looked toward the shattered bedroom.
“Nothing is impossible anymore.”
Then another message arrived.
This time, it wasn't a photo.
It was a video.
Mia sat at a table.
Clara was beside her.
A man stood behind them.
The camera slowly moved closer to Mia.
She looked directly into the lens.
“Daddy?”
Adrian leaned closer.
“I'm here.”
Mia whispered:
“He keeps calling me Isabella.”
Adrian froze.
Vincent looked at him.
“Who is Isabella?”
Adrian's mind raced.
He had never heard that name associated with his daughter.
The video continued.
A man leaned into frame.
He had pale skin.
Dark eyes.
A thin smile.
Lucian.
He looked directly at Adrian.
“Now you understand.”
The video ended.
Adrian stared.
“Isabella,” Vincent repeated.
Adrian shook his head.
“I don't know.”
A second message arrived.
This one contained an old birth certificate.
Adrian opened it.
The child's name was not Mia Moretti.
It was:
ISABELLA VALENTINA MORETTI.
Father: Adrian Moretti.
Mother: Clara Moretti.
But beneath it was another document.
An older certificate.
Different parents.
Different surname.
Different date.
Vincent whispered:
“Adrian…”
Adrian stared at the second paper.
The child registered there was named:
Isabella Volkov.
Adrian looked up.
His face went pale.
“My daughter…”
He couldn't finish.
May you like
Vincent did.
“She's Volkov's granddaughter.”
