Chapter 9 - The Brother Who Never DiedThe name hung in the air.
Luca.
Alessandro’s younger brother.
He had spent twelve years believing Luca had died in a boating accident.
He had attended the funeral.
He had carried the coffin.
But now Isabella was telling him the truth.
“Luca survived.”
“For how long?”
“Long enough to become the greatest threat your father ever faced.”
Alessandro’s mind raced.
“Why?”
“Because he discovered everything.”
“The trust?”
“The trafficking.”
Silence.
Marco stepped closer.
“What trafficking?”
Isabella looked at him.
“Children.”
Emma stood nearby.
She did not understand.
Alessandro did.
His father’s empire had not only involved money.
It had involved moving children through illegal networks.
Luca discovered it.
He tried to expose it.
They killed him.
Or tried to.
Alessandro looked at Sophia.
“Where is Luca now?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Richard’s voice came from somewhere in the darkness.
“You’re getting warmer.”
Everyone turned.
Richard stood on the upper balcony.
He held a detonator.
“Put down the weapons.”
Alessandro raised his gun.
“Kill the detonator.”
Richard laughed.
“One click.”
“Then kill me.”
Richard looked surprised.
“You’d sacrifice yourself?”
“For them?”
Alessandro glanced at Emma.
“Yes.”
Richard’s expression changed.
He had expected fear.
He found conviction.
Before he could respond, Emma stepped forward.
“Why are you hurting my mom?”
Richard looked at her.
“Because your mother knows where your father is.”
Emma frowned.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Is he alive?”
Richard smiled.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Everyone watched.
Richard listened for five seconds.
Then lowered the phone.
“Impossible.”
Isabella looked frightened.
“What?”
Richard stared at Alessandro.
“Your brother is alive.”
Alessandro’s world seemed to stop.
“Where?”
Richard’s answer was barely audible.
“Walking into the city.”
Emma looked at the door.
Then the door opened.
A man stood there.
Scar across his jaw.
Dark hair.
Older than the photographs.
But unmistakable.
Alessandro stopped breathing.
“Luca?”
The man smiled sadly.
“Yes.”
Emma stared at him.
Luca looked at her.
His face broke.
“My daughter.”
Emma stepped backward.
“Mom said you were dead.”
Luca’s eyes filled.
“She was trying to protect you.”
He looked at Alessandro.
“Brother.”
Alessandro lowered his weapon.
For one impossible second, all the years disappeared.
Then Luca said the sentence that shattered everything.
“I didn’t come back for revenge.”
“Then why?”
“Because the people who came for Emma…”
May you like
He glanced toward Richard.
“They are already inside your mansion.”
