Chapter 7 - The Man Behind the Door
Matteo Bellini had disappeared seventeen years earlier.
Officially, he had moved to Italy.
Unofficially, Adrian had never cared.
Now he cared.
Because Matteo had worked for his father.
And Matteo had been responsible for security the night Lily died.
Adrian ordered a complete search.
They found nothing.
Then Ellie walked into the library carrying Rosie.
“Mr. Moretti?”
Adrian looked up.
“Yes?”
“Can Rosie sleep here?”
“Why?”
“She doesn't like the hallway.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“Why not?”
“There's a man there.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“What man?”
Ellie pointed toward the portrait gallery.
Adrian stood.
He took her hand.
“Show me.”
They walked down the hallway.
Ellie stopped beside a portrait of Adrian's father.
“There.”
Adrian saw nothing.
Then Ellie pointed at the wall.
“Behind him.”
Adrian examined the portrait.
There was a faint seam.
He pressed it.
The panel opened.
A hidden passage.
Inside was a small room.
A chair.
A desk.
Several monitors.
And dozens of photographs.
Adrian walked in.
Every photograph was of Ellie.
At the desk sat a man.
Older.
Thin.
Gray hair.
Matteo Bellini.
He smiled.
“You finally found me.”
Adrian raised his gun.
“You killed my family.”
Matteo shook his head.
“No.”
“You planted the bomb.”
“No.”
“You watched them.”
“Yes.”
Adrian's finger tightened.
“Why?”
Matteo sighed.
“Because your father ordered it.”
“Why would he kill Elena and Lily?”
“He didn't.”
Adrian froze.
“Then who?”
Matteo looked at Ellie.
“Your brother.”
Adrian stared.
“Marco?”
“Marco wanted revenge.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because Marco is not the man you think he is.”
A slow clap came from the darkness.
Adrian turned.
Marco stepped into the room.
He looked remarkably like Adrian.
Same dark eyes.
Same height.
Same cold expression.
But there was something different.
A scar crossed his jaw.
Marco smiled.
“Hello, little brother.”
Adrian raised the gun.
Marco laughed.
“Still predictable.”
Hannah appeared at the doorway with security behind her.
Marco looked at Ellie.
“The little girl.”
Adrian moved in front of her.
Marco's smile faded.
“Interesting.”
Adrian's voice was cold.
“You're not touching her.”
Marco looked at him.
“She already touched your life.”
“What do you want?”
“Everything Father denied me.”
“Money?”
“No.”
“Power?”
“No.”
Marco looked toward Elena's photograph.
“I want the truth.”
Adrian frowned.
“What truth?”
Marco's face hardened.
“Your father didn't order my family's deaths.”
He stepped closer.
“You did.”
Adrian went still.
“What?”
“You were nineteen.”
Marco's voice trembled.
“You were reckless. You gave the wrong information to the men watching us.”
“I was nineteen.”
“You were careless.”
“I didn't know.”
“You didn't care.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
Marco's eyes filled with rage.
“You killed them.”
Adrian lowered his weapon slightly.
For the first time, he wasn't sure who the villain was.
Marco looked at Ellie.
“And now you've found another child to save.”
Adrian's voice became deadly.
“Leave her out of this.”
Marco smiled.
“That is exactly why she matters.”
Then the lights went out.
When they came back on, Marco was gone.
So was Ellie.
Hannah screamed.
“ELLIE!”
Adrian turned.
The nursery door stood open.
Rosie lay on the floor.
May you like
And on the wall, written in red marker, were five words:
NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS.
