Chapter 8 - The Hunt
Adrian Moretti had spent twenty years hunting people.
He had never hunted someone he loved.
That changed when Ellie disappeared.
Every camera was searched.
Every vehicle checked.
Every gate sealed.
No one had seen her leave.
Which meant the answer was inside the mansion.
Hannah was hysterical.
“My daughter is four.”
Adrian grabbed her shoulders.
“I will find her.”
“You said that about Lily.”
He froze.
Hannah immediately regretted it.
“I didn't mean—”
“Yes.”
His voice was quiet.
“You meant it.”
He walked away.
The security chief approached.
“We found a tunnel entrance beneath the nursery.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Of course.”
They descended.
The tunnel led toward the water.
Halfway down, Adrian found Rosie's missing ear.
He picked it up.
Hannah nearly collapsed.
Then Adrian saw something.
A tiny trail of glitter.
Ellie's backpack had a broken charm.
The glitter from it had scattered across the floor.
“She left us a trail.”
They followed it.
The tunnel opened into an abandoned boathouse.
Inside was a chair.
Ellie sat in it.
Alive.
Her hands were tied.
A man stood behind her.
Marco.
Adrian raised his gun.
Marco held a knife near Ellie's shoulder.
“Drop it.”
Adrian did.
Marco smiled.
“Good.”
Ellie looked at Adrian.
“Mr. Moretti.”
“I'm here.”
“I wasn't scared.”
Adrian's throat tightened.
Marco looked at him.
“She reminds me of Lily.”
Adrian stared.
“Don't say her name.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't deserve to.”
Marco laughed bitterly.
“You think I don't?”
“You kidnapped a child.”
“I brought you here.”
“You kidnapped her.”
“I never touched her.”
Adrian looked at Ellie.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Marco had been telling the truth.
He hadn't harmed her.
“Then let her go.”
Marco shook his head.
“First, you listen.”
He pulled out a file.
“Your father's empire was built on stolen money.”
Adrian didn't react.
“I know.”
“No. You don't.”
Marco opened the file.
Inside were bank transfers.
Names.
Dates.
Political donations.
Bribes.
But one document caught Adrian's attention.
A hospital birth certificate.
Adrian's name.
Marco's name.
And another child.
A daughter.
Adrian stared.
“What is this?”
Marco's expression changed.
“Your father's first child.”
Adrian looked closer.
The mother's name was Elena Moretti.
The child had been born two years before Lily.
Adrian's face went white.
“That isn't possible.”
Marco whispered.
“Her name was Isabella.”
Hannah looked at him.
“Where is she?”
Marco looked toward Adrian.
“That is the question your father spent twenty years making sure nobody asked.”
A gunshot cracked outside.
Marco ducked.
Adrian grabbed Ellie.
Security rushed into the boathouse.
When Adrian looked up, Marco was gone.
But the file remained.
And inside it was a photograph of a little girl.
She had Adrian's eyes.
Hannah stared at the picture.
“Who is she?”
Adrian couldn't answer.
May you like
Then Ellie whispered:
“She looks like me.”
