Chapter 12 - THE DAUGHTER HE NEVER KNEW
Luca found Vivian in the mansion's kitchen.
She was sitting alone.
When he entered, she looked up.
"You found out."
Luca stopped.
"You knew?"
Vivian nodded.
"Not everything."
"How long?"
"Since I was sixteen."
Luca stared.
"You knew I was your father?"
"I was told you abandoned my mother."
"That's not true."
"I know now."
Luca couldn't move.
He looked at her differently.
Not as his fiancée.
Not as his enemy.
As his daughter.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Vivian laughed through tears.
"Because everyone needed a villain."
Luca sat across from her.
"What happened to Elena?"
"She died."
"When?"
"After I was born."
Luca closed his eyes.
"I never knew."
"I know."
"Did she ever tell you about me?"
Vivian nodded.
"She had a photograph."
Luca looked at her.
"Of me?"
"You were twenty-three."
He stared at the table.
"I was twenty-three."
"She loved you."
"Then why did she leave?"
"She didn't."
Vivian reached into her purse.
She pulled out a letter.
"She wrote this."
Luca took it.
The handwriting was delicate.
Luca,
If you ever meet our daughter, tell her I never wanted to keep her from you. I was afraid. Your family was dangerous, and I believed disappearing was the only way to keep her alive.
Luca's eyes blurred.
He continued reading.
One day she will find you. When she does, please don't punish her for the lies I told her.
Luca lowered the letter.
Vivian was crying.
"I spent my whole life thinking you hated me."
"I didn't even know you existed."
"I know."
He reached across the table.
She hesitated.
Then took his hand.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then the kitchen door opened.
Naomi entered.
"We have a problem."
Luca looked up.
"What?"
"Your mother is gone."
He stood.
"Again?"
"Marco took her."
Luca's expression changed.
"Where?"
"We tracked his vehicle."
"Where?"
"Saint Mary's."
Luca froze.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because the chapel burned an hour ago."
Naomi stared.
"What?"
"The entire building."
Luca grabbed his coat.
"Then we're going."
They reached the ruins.
Smoke still rose from the broken roof.
Marco stood outside.
His hands were raised.
Luca pointed his weapon.
"Where is my mother?"
Marco shouted:
"Inside!"
Luca moved.
"Don't!"
Marco's voice cracked.
"It's a trap."
Luca stopped.
"Who sent you?"
"Your grandfather."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"Victor?"
Marco nodded.
"He told me to bring Isabella here."
"Why?"
"Because he wanted to exchange her."
"For whom?"
Marco looked toward the burning chapel.
"Rafael."
Luca stared.
"What?"
"He has your father."
The words barely left Marco's mouth before an explosion rocked the ruins.
A figure emerged from the smoke.
Rafael.
He was carrying Isabella.
Luca ran toward them.
"Ma!"
Isabella reached for him.
Rafael handed her over.
"She's alive."
Luca held his mother tightly.
Then he looked at Rafael.
"Where were you?"
"Captured."
"By whom?"
"Your grandfather."
Luca's face hardened.
"Why?"
Rafael looked toward the ruins.
"Because Victor wants the reserve."
"We found it."
Rafael nodded.
"Then he has what he needs."
"No."
Luca shook his head.
"The vault required three bloodlines."
Rafael looked at Vivian.
Then at Luca.
"Yes."
Vivian stepped forward.
"What happens if I refuse?"
Rafael said:
"He kills your grandmother."
Isabella shook her head violently.
Luca understood.
The trap was simple.
Victor didn't need to control everyone.
He only needed to make them choose.
Luca looked at Vivian.
"You don't have to do this."
She shook her head.
"If my grandmother dies, I will."
Luca turned toward Rafael.
"Then we end this."
Rafael looked at him.
"How?"
Luca's expression became cold.
"We give Victor what he wants."
Rafael stared.
"You're going to open the reserve?"
"No."
Luca smiled.
"We're going to make him think we did."
Naomi understood first.
"A fake transfer."
Luca nodded.
"Exactly."
They returned to the mansion.
For the next three hours, they created a false trail.
Documents.
Bank records.
Encrypted files.
Everything Victor's people would expect to see.
Then Luca sent one message.
The reserve is open.
Within thirty seconds, his phone rang.
Victor.
Luca answered.
"Hello, Grandfather."
Victor's voice was calm.
"Bring Vivian."
"Where?"
"The old Moretti warehouse."
"Alone?"
"Bring Rafael."
Luca smiled.
"And my mother?"
"You can keep her."
The line ended.
Naomi looked at him.
"Do you think he believes you?"
Luca nodded.
"He believes exactly what he wants to believe."
Rafael looked at him.
"And if he doesn't?"
Luca checked his weapon.
"Then we stop pretending."
They arrived at the warehouse.
Victor stood in the center.
Behind him were twenty armed men.
Isabella was tied to a chair.
Vivian stepped forward.
Victor smiled.
"My granddaughter."
Vivian stared.
"You lied to me."
"About what?"
"Everything."
Victor shrugged.
"You survived."
Luca stepped forward.
"You wanted the reserve."
Victor smiled.
"Open it."
Luca handed him a device.
Victor connected it.
The screen displayed a balance.
$1,842,000,000
Victor smiled.
"Beautiful."
Luca watched him.
"There's only one problem."
Victor looked up.
"What?"
"The account is empty."
Victor's smile disappeared.
The screen changed.
TRANSFER COMPLETE.
Every bank account listed under Victor's name suddenly showed:
$0.00
Victor stared.
Luca smiled.
"I moved it."
"Where?"
"Somewhere you can't reach."
Victor raised his gun.
"You think you've won."
Luca looked at him.
"No."
He pointed toward the doors.
"I know."
They opened.
Police flooded the warehouse.
Victor stared in disbelief.
Luca's lawyer walked in.
Alive.
Victor's face collapsed.
The lawyer said:
"You should have checked the security cameras."
Victor turned toward Luca.
"How?"
Luca smiled.
"Because you taught me one thing."
"What?"
"Never trust family."
He paused.
"Trust evidence."
Victor looked at the cameras.
Every confession.
Every transaction.
Every kidnapping.
Every threat.
Had been recorded.
Victor slowly lowered his weapon.
Then smiled.
Because he knew something Luca didn't.
He leaned closer.
"Ask Rafael why he really disappeared."
Luca turned.
Rafael's face was pale.
Victor laughed.
"Your father didn't run from the council."
"He ran from you."
Luca stared at Rafael.
"Why?"
Rafael looked away.
"I killed someone."
"Who?"
Rafael whispered:
"Your mother."
Isabella's eyes widened.
The room went silent.
Rafael continued:
"Twenty-eight years ago, I was the one who shot Isabella."
Luca froze.
Then Rafael smiled sadly.
"She survived."
He looked at Isabella.
May you like
"But I thought she was dead."
And Luca realized the final secret had not yet been revealed.
