Chapter 12 - The Night Alessandro DisappearedThat night, Alessandro made a decision.
He would disappear.
Not surrender.
Not flee.
Disappear.
The only way to draw the enemy away from Emma was to make them believe he had taken the bait.
He told no one except Luca.
Not even Marco.
At 2:13 a.m., Alessandro left the mansion alone.
He drove to the waterfront.
A black sedan followed.
He expected it.
The first attack came near Pier 19.
Three vehicles blocked the road.
Alessandro escaped through an alley.
The second attack came twenty minutes later.
Then the third.
Whoever wanted him dead was running out of patience.
Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Emma woke.
She walked into the hallway.
“Where’s Alessandro?”
Rosa turned.
“He had business.”
Emma frowned.
“He promised.”
“What?”
“He promised he wouldn’t leave.”
Rosa looked toward Luca.
Luca knew immediately.
“Where did he go?”
Marco pulled out his phone.
No signal.
Then every screen in the house flickered.
A message appeared.
ALESSANDRO MORETTI IS DEAD.
Emma stared.
“No.”
The lights went out.
Gunfire exploded outside.
Luca grabbed her.
“Down!”
The mansion shook.
Glass shattered.
Marco moved toward the control room.
“Someone’s inside.”
A masked man appeared at the end of the hallway.
Luca fired.
The man disappeared.
Then a second message appeared.
BRING US THE GIRL.
Emma whispered:
“He’s not dead.”
Luca looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because he promised.”
Across the city, Alessandro woke in a warehouse.
His hands were tied.
Richard stood before him.
Matteo’s former men surrounded the room.
Alessandro looked at Richard.
“You lied.”
Richard smiled.
“Yes.”
“You said you wanted the trust.”
“I do.”
“You said you wanted Emma.”
“I do.”
“What do you really want?”
Richard leaned closer.
“I want the Moretti name.”
Alessandro laughed.
“You could never carry it.”
Richard’s smile vanished.
“Your father said the same thing.”
Alessandro froze.
Richard whispered:
“I am not Richard Vale.”
“What?”
“My real name is Richard Moretti.”
Alessandro stared.
“That’s impossible.”
Richard smiled.
“Ask your father.”
“My father is dead.”
Richard leaned closer.
“No.”
May you like
He whispered:
“He’s the one keeping your sister alive.”
