Chapter 8 - THE LITTLE GIRL WHO REFUSED TO BE AFRAID
Lily woke inside a moving car.
Her eyes were covered.
She heard the engine.
She heard rain against the windows.
She remembered her father's voice.
I'm coming for you.
She believed him.
That was enough.
The car stopped.
Someone opened the door.
Lily was carried inside a building.
She was placed on a chair.
The blindfold came off.
Antonio stood in front of her.
"You look like your mother."
Lily stared.
"Are you Uncle Antonio?"
He smiled.
"Your mother told you about me?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"Mom said your name."
Antonio laughed.
"You are smarter than I expected."
Lily looked around.
"Where is my dad?"
Antonio crouched.
"He's coming."
"When?"
"Very soon."
"Then I won't be scared."
Antonio's smile disappeared.
"Why not?"
"Because my dad promised."
Something about the confidence in her voice unsettled him.
He turned away.
Lily noticed a small red light blinking on the wall.
A camera.
She remembered what Dominic had taught her that morning.
"If you ever get lost, look for cameras."
Lily smiled faintly.
Antonio didn't notice.
At the Moretti headquarters, Dominic had turned the city upside down.
Every street camera.
Every toll booth.
Every traffic signal.
Every private security system.
He wanted eyes everywhere.
Marcus entered.
"We found the vehicle."
Dominic stood.
"Where?"
"Long Island."
"Let's go."
Elena grabbed his arm.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"She's my daughter."
"Exactly."
Elena stared at him.
"Don't shut me out."
Dominic looked at her.
"I spent seven years without knowing I had a daughter."
His voice cracked.
"I'm not spending another minute away from her."
They left together.
The warehouse in Long Island was empty.
Dominic entered first.
He found the chair.
The blindfold.
A child's shoe.
His heart stopped.
"Lily?"
No answer.
Then he saw the camera.
A tiny red light.
Marcus looked at it.
"That's a live feed."
Dominic stared.
The screen suddenly turned on.
Antonio appeared.
Lily was beside him.
Dominic stepped toward the monitor.
"Let her go."
Antonio smiled.
"You came."
"Let her go."
"You know what I realized?"
Dominic said nothing.
"You love her."
Antonio looked at Lily.
"That makes her more valuable than any ledger."
Lily suddenly spoke.
"You're wrong."
Antonio frowned.
"What?"
"My dad doesn't need the ledger."
Dominic's eyes widened.
Antonio stared at her.
"Why?"
"Because my mom has something better."
Elena's face went pale.
Antonio looked at the screen.
"What?"
Lily smiled.
"She has the truth."
The feed cut out.
Antonio stood frozen.
Then he looked at Elena.
"What does she mean?"
Elena didn't answer.
Dominic turned toward her.
"What does Lily know?"
Elena whispered:
"Nothing."
But Dominic could see it.
She was hiding something.
May you like
Something bigger than the ledger.
Something that had been buried for seven years.
