Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WITH THE RED SCARF
They found Bruno at an abandoned factory three miles from the estate.
The attack was a trap.
Anton’s men had stolen the dog from the clinic, knowing Matteo would follow. By the time they reached the factory, the place was filled with smoke and armed guards.
Matteo ordered Clara to stay inside the vehicle.
She ignored him.
Gunfire erupted as soon as the SUV crossed the gate.
Luca and Daniel returned fire while Matteo pulled Clara behind the armored door.
A man approached from the rear carrying a gas canister.
Clara recognized the red warning symbol.
She crawled through the broken window and struck him with the emergency hammer.
The attacker shoved her down.
A heavy body slammed into him.
Bruno.
The dog tore through the man’s coat and stood over Clara despite his bandaged hip.
“Bruno!”
He turned toward her.
Matteo reached them, his face full of rage and fear.
“You were told to stay inside.”
“And you were told not to bring me into a war.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“Then stop leaving me behind.”
Before he could answer, a red light began blinking beneath the SUV.
Luca shouted, “Bomb!”
Matteo grabbed Clara. Bruno ran beside them.
The explosion threw all three into the factory.
Clara woke beneath Matteo’s body.
For one terrible second, she thought he was dead.
Then his eyes opened.
“You are never leaving,” he whispered.
She stared at him.
“Was that a threat?”
“No.”
“Then what was it?”
“A promise I am afraid I cannot keep.”
Outside the factory, a woman watched through the smoke.
She wore a red scarf.
Bruno began barking.
The woman turned and disappeared.
Luca found an old photograph inside the factory office. It showed the same woman beside Bruno as a puppy.
“She trained him,” he said.
Matteo took the photograph.
“Mara Voss.”
Clara looked at him.
“Who is she?”
“The only handler Bruno ever trusted.”
“Then why does he fear her?”
“Because she was the one who punished him.”
Behind the photograph was a message.
THE HEIR IS NOT THE CHILD.
Clara read it twice.
“What does that mean?”
No one answered.
Her phone rang.
An unknown number.
A man’s voice spoke.
“Ask your mother why she exchanged the babies.”
The call ended.
Clara looked toward Matteo.
May you like
“Which babies?”
His face went completely still.
