Chapter 6 - The Brother Who RememberedLuca Had Been Carrying a Secret Since Childhood

The hospital was surrounded.

Sophia saw police vehicles first.

Then private security.

Then men she recognized from Matteo's penthouse.

"Too many guns," she whispered.

Matteo didn't answer.

They entered through a service corridor.

The doctor met them halfway.

"You can't both go in."

"She's his sister," Matteo said.

"And you?"

Matteo stared.

"Family."

The doctor looked confused.

Sophia didn't.

She walked into Luca's room.

His eyes opened.

They looked frightened.

"Sophia?"

"I'm here."

Luca tried to sit up.

Pain stopped him.

"The man..."

"What man?"

"The one from the road."

Sophia took his hand.

"You're safe."

"No."

He looked at Matteo.

"He isn't."

Matteo stood very still.

Luca's eyes narrowed.

"I know you."

Matteo stepped closer.

"Do you?"

"You came to the house."

Sophia turned.

"When?"

"When I was little."

Matteo's face hardened.

"What did you see?"

Luca swallowed.

"You and Mom were fighting."

"Where?"

"By the sea."

"How old?"

"Four."

Sophia's mind raced.

"You remember that?"

Luca shook his head.

"Not everything."

"Try."

He closed his eyes.

"The storm."

"Which storm?"

"The one when Mom disappeared."

Sophia's heart broke.

"You saw her leave?"

Luca nodded.

"She gave me something."

"What?"

"A key."

He struggled to breathe.

Sophia reached for his hand.

"Where is it?"

"I lost it."

Matteo looked at him.

"No."

Luca opened his eyes.

"I gave it to Dad."

The room went silent.

Sophia stared at Matteo.

"Dad?"

Luca's eyes moved toward him.

"You."

Matteo's expression shattered.

For twenty years, he had lived with a question.

Now it was looking back at him from a hospital bed.

Luca whispered:

"I remember."

"What?"

"Mom said you were the only man who could save me."

Matteo moved closer.

"What else?"

"She said..."

Luca winced.

"She said, 'If Matteo comes, don't run.'"

Sophia looked at Matteo.

He appeared unable to breathe.

"Why would she say that?"

Luca stared at the ceiling.

"Because she knew someone else was coming."

"Who?"

He shook his head.

Then his eyes widened.

"He's here."

Sophia froze.

"Who?"

Luca looked toward the window.

"The man with the silver watch."

Matteo immediately turned.

The curtains moved.

A suppressed shot cracked through the glass.

Matteo shoved Sophia to the floor.

The doctor screamed.

Security rushed in.

Glass exploded across the room.

Three men returned fire.

Then silence.

Matteo stood.

"Check the roof."

A guard ran out.

Sophia crawled toward Luca.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

But Luca's face had gone white.

He was looking at Matteo.

"His watch."

Matteo crouched beside him.

"What about it?"

"He had the same one."

"Who?"

Luca's breathing quickened.

"The man Mom was afraid of."

Matteo's jaw clenched.

"Describe him."

"Gray hair."

"Anything else?"

"A scar."

"Where?"

Luca touched his own neck.

"Here."

Matteo stood.

Sophia saw something in his face.

Recognition.

"You know him."

Matteo looked at her.

"Yes."

"Who?"

He pulled out his phone.

Opened a photograph.

Sophia saw the same scar.

Same eyes.

Same silver watch.

It was an old man standing beside Matteo's father.

Matteo spoke quietly.

"My father's oldest friend."

"Where is he?"

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Matteo's answer came like a death sentence.

"Inside this hospital."