Chapter 2 - The Room With No WindowsEmma was trying very hard not to cry.
Mommy had told her brave girls could cry.
But only when they were safe.
Emma didn't feel safe.
The room smelled strange.
Like metal.
And old rain.
There were no windows.
No pictures.
No toys except her rabbit.
She held it tighter.
“Mommy is coming,” she whispered.
The masked man standing near the door said nothing.
Emma looked at him.
“Are you bad?”
The man tilted his head.
“No.”
“You took me.”
“Yes.”
“That means you're bad.”
For a moment, the man said nothing.
Then he laughed.
Not cruelly.
Almost sadly.
“You're smarter than they told me.”
Emma frowned.
“Who?”
The man looked toward the ceiling.
“Your father.”
Emma's little face changed.
“My daddy?”
The man's eyes narrowed.
“You know about him?”
Emma nodded.
“Mommy says he loves me.”
“She does?”
“She says he can't come.”
The man turned away.
For reasons Emma couldn't understand, his hands began to shake.
Then a second man entered.
“Enough.”
He spoke with authority.
“Isabella wants to speak to the girl.”
Emma hugged her rabbit.
“Who is Isabella?”
Neither man answered.
The door opened.
A woman entered.
Emma stared.
She was beautiful.
Elegant.
Cold.
But there was something terrifying about the way she looked at her.
Like she was looking at something she had spent years searching for.
Isabella crouched.
“Hello, Emma.”
Emma backed away.
“Do you know my daddy?”
Isabella smiled.
“I knew his father.”
“Grandpa?”
“Yes.”
“Is he coming?”
“He already did.”
Emma blinked.
“How?”
Isabella reached into her coat.
She took out a small silver locket.
Emma stared.
“This belonged to your father.”
Emma touched it.
“It's pretty.”
“Open it.”
Emma did.
Inside was a tiny photograph.
A much younger Luca.
Standing beside a woman.
Emma looked at the photograph.
“That’s Daddy?”
“Yes.”
“But he has a face.”
Isabella's smile disappeared.
“Of course he does.”
Emma looked up.
“Then why does my picture have no face?”
The room went silent.
Isabella stared at her.
“Who told you about your drawing?”
“Mommy.”
“Does your mother know where your father is?”
“No.”
Isabella's expression hardened.
“She has lied to you.”
Emma frowned.
“Mommy doesn't lie.”
“She does.”
“No.”
“She lied about your father.”
Emma hugged her rabbit tighter.
“Mommy said Daddy loves me.”
Isabella leaned closer.
“Perhaps.”
She touched the little girl's cheek.
“But love doesn't always make people good.”
Across the city, Luca stared at the photograph.
He had ordered every camera system in Manhattan checked.
Every traffic light.
Every toll gate.
Every private security feed.
Nothing.
No vehicle.
No useful face.
No trail.
It was as though Emma had disappeared into the earth.
Marco dropped a file onto the table.
“We found the warehouse.”
Luca looked up.
“Where?”
“Red Hook.”
“Teams?”
“Waiting.”
Luca stood.
Mara grabbed his wrist.
“No.”
He pulled free.
“I'm going.”
“You could die.”
“My daughter is in there.”
“You die, and she loses you forever.”
Luca stared at her.
Then he said quietly,
“She already lost me once.”
He walked away.
Mara looked at Marco.
“What's his condition?”
“Bad.”
“Then stop him.”
Marco shook his head.
“You're treating the wrong problem.”
“What problem?”
Marco's voice lowered.
“Luca doesn't care whether he survives anymore.”
Outside, engines roared.
Luca entered the armored SUV.
His phone buzzed.
A message.
No number.
Just a photo.
Emma.
Still alive.
Another message followed.
COME TO THE WAREHOUSE.
Then a final line.
BRING THE WOMAN WHO SAVED YOUR LIFE.
Luca frowned.
“Which woman?”
Marco looked at the message.
Mara stepped closer.
Then her face went pale.
Because the answer wasn't about her.
The photo beneath the message showed another woman.
Rachel.
Bound to a chair.
May you like
And standing behind her…
Was Isabella.
