Chapter 12 - THE FIRETessa coughed.
Smoke filled the vault rapidly.
Victor pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her face.
“Stay low.”
Maria searched the walls.
“There has to be another exit.”
Victor kicked the vault door.
Nothing.
He pulled his gun.
“Move back.”
He fired.
The bullet struck the reinforced metal.
No effect.
Tessa looked toward the ceiling.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“Ventilation.”
Victor followed her gaze.
A narrow grate.
Maria grabbed a metal rod.
Victor boosted her upward.
She ripped the grate open.
Cold air entered.
“There's a passage.”
Victor lifted Tessa first.
“Go.”
She climbed.
Maria followed.
Victor came last.
Behind them, the vault exploded.
Fire rushed through the doorway.
They crawled through a narrow tunnel.
Tessa's lungs burned.
Then they emerged inside an abandoned wine cellar.
Victor collapsed against the wall.
His shoulder had reopened.
Blood soaked his shirt.
Tessa immediately pressed her hands against the wound.
“You're bleeding.”
“I know.”
“Sit.”
“I can walk.”
“Sit down.”
He looked at her.
Then obeyed.
Maria searched the cellar.
“Someone was using this.”
There were crates.
Weapons.
Documents.
A laptop.
Victor looked at the screen.
A live video was already playing.
Paulie appeared.
Behind him stood an older woman.
Silver hair.
Elegant black dress.
Tessa stared.
Her heart stopped.
“My mother.”
Victor looked at her.
The woman on the screen was Elena Moore.
Alive.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakably her.
Elena looked directly into the camera.
“Tessa.”
Tessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Mom.”
Elena's voice trembled.
“If you're seeing this, Massimo has already found you.”
Tessa moved closer.
“Where are you?”
Elena ignored the question.
“You must listen carefully.”
Massimo stepped into the frame.
His hair was white now.
But his eyes were sharp.
“You have one choice.”
Victor's face turned cold.
“Let her go.”
Massimo smiled.
“She isn't my prisoner.”
Tessa's heart raced.
“Then what is she?”
Massimo looked at Elena.
“Elena knows.”
Elena shook her head.
“Don't.”
Massimo continued.
“She knows the truth about your father.”
Tessa whispered:
“What truth?”
Elena began to cry.
Massimo smiled.
“Ask your mother who she really is.”
The screen went black.
Tessa turned toward Maria.
“What does he mean?”
Maria looked terrified.
Victor slowly stood.
“Elena isn't your biological mother.”
Tessa stared at him.
“What?”
Maria's voice broke.
“She adopted you.”
The room fell silent.
Victor continued.
“Your real mother…”
He looked toward the black screen.
“…was my father's wife.”
Tessa's face went pale.
“My mother died?”
Victor nodded.
“Fourteen years ago.”
“Then who is Elena?”
Maria whispered:
“The woman who stole you from her.”
Tessa shook her head.
“No.”
A door opened behind them.
Everyone turned.
Elena stood in the doorway.
Blood covered her dress.
Her eyes went directly to Tessa.
“I'm sorry.”
Tessa froze.
Elena whispered:
“I had no choice.”
Then Paulie stepped from behind her.
May you like
Gun raised.
And aimed directly at Victor.
