Chapter 9 - The Woman Who Left a WarningDante took the photograph like it could explode.
“Your mother wrote this?”
“I don't know.”
He ran his thumb across the ink.
“She died fifteen years ago.”
“Then how?”
“I don't know.”
The house seemed colder.
We searched every room.
Behind paintings.
Under floorboards.
Inside cabinets.
Nothing.
Then Matteo called.
Dante answered immediately.
“What happened?”
The voice on the other end was one of his men.
The color drained from Dante's face.
“Where is he?”
Silence.
“Where is my son?”
He ended the call.
I grabbed his arm.
“What's wrong?”
“Matteo is missing.”
The world stopped.
We ran.
Back toward the car.
Every second felt like an hour.
Dante's men were already searching the estate.
One found a small red toy car beneath a tree.
Matteo's.
Dante picked it up.
His hand shook.
I had never seen fear on his face before.
Not like this.
“Find him.”
His voice broke.
“Find my son.”
I saw something in him then.
Not the mafia boss.
Not the feared king of half the city.
A father.
Terrified.
I stepped closer.
“We'll find him.”
He looked at me.
“You don't know that.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because he called me family.”
Dante stared.
Then he pulled me into his arms.
It lasted only a second.
But I felt his heart beating against mine.
Fast.
Human.
Real.
Then a voice came from behind us.
“Looking for this?”
I turned.
A man stood near the gate.
He held Matteo's jacket.
Dante raised his gun.
“Where is my son?”
The man smiled.
“Alive.”
“Where?”
“Bring the girl.”
I froze.
Dante's face went black.
“No.”
The man held up a phone.
Matteo appeared on the screen.
Tied to a chair.
Crying.
“Papa!”
Dante nearly lost control.
“Matteo!”
The man ended the video.
“Midnight.”
“What location?”
The man smiled.
“Red door.”
Then he shot himself.
The gun fell.
I stared.
Dante stared.
His men rushed forward.
But the message was clear.
They didn't want money.
They wanted me.
Dante looked at me.
“You're not going.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“My choice.”
“I won't risk you.”
“They already did.”
“I said no.”
I grabbed his face and forced him to look at me.
“Dante.”
His eyes met mine.
“If they took Matteo because they need me…”
I swallowed.
“Then I'm going.”
His jaw tightened.
“I won't let them touch you.”
I whispered:
“Then don't.”
He leaned his forehead against mine.
“Whatever happens tonight, stay behind me.”
I nodded.
Then his phone rang.
One of his men answered.
His expression changed.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found the real ransom message.”
He handed Dante the phone.
Dante looked at it.
His face went pale.
There were only three words.
BRING YOUR FATHER.
Dante whispered:
“My father.”
“But he's dead.”
Dante looked at me.
“No.”
May you like
He shook his head.
“Apparently he's not.”
