Chapter 8 - THE DINNER WITH NO EXIT
They returned to Moretti House before dawn.
The estate was dark, every exterior light broken. Rain swept across the gardens, and the iron gates stood open.
Inside the old chapel, candles burned around the altar.
Mrs. Vale stood in the center aisle.
Beside her was the woman in the red scarf.
Clara knew her face.
Her mother.
“Evelyn?”
The woman’s eyes filled with tears.
“Clara.”
Clara moved forward, but Matteo caught her wrist.
Not to restrain her.
To remind her he was there.
Evelyn looked at their hands.
“Do not trust him,” she said.
Clara’s throat tightened.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“For twenty-five years?”
“I had no choice.”
Mrs. Vale smiled.
“Everyone says that when they are finally exposed.”
Matteo aimed his gun at her.
“Where is Anton?”
“Closer than you think.”
Luca stepped into the chapel.
Mrs. Vale looked at him without surprise.
“You should still be dead.”
“You should still be in prison.”
“I was never arrested.”
“That was the problem.”
Clara faced Evelyn.
“Tell me everything.”
Evelyn’s expression broke.
“Anton Moretti controlled your grandfather’s empire. When he discovered that Luca was the only obstacle to his power, he arranged Luca’s disappearance.”
“And my mother?”
“She tried to expose him.”
“Did she die?”
“No.”
Clara’s heart stopped.
“Then why did you leave me?”
“Because Anton knew about you.”
Evelyn took a trembling breath.
“Your aunt Margaret was paid to raise you. She was connected to Anton, but she changed her mind after she saw what he had done to Luca.”
Clara heard a gunshot outside.
The chapel doors slammed shut.
Men appeared behind the stained-glass windows.
“Down!” Daniel shouted.
Gunfire erupted.
Matteo pulled Clara behind the altar. Luca dragged Evelyn to the floor. Bruno attacked a guard who entered through the side door.
Mrs. Vale stood near the aisle.
A bullet struck her shoulder.
She fell.
The chapel began filling with smoke.
Matteo led Clara through a hidden passage behind the altar. They ran beneath the estate until they reached the greenhouse.
Evelyn followed, supported by Luca.
Clara turned on her.
“Who was the baby in the east wing?”
Evelyn looked toward Matteo.
“Your father’s third child.”
Matteo stared at her.
“I had no sister.”
“You did not know about her.”
“Where is she?”
Evelyn’s face became pale.
“We thought she died.”
“What do you mean, thought?”
“Anton showed us a dead infant. He claimed it was the baby.”
Clara looked at the photograph of the little girl beside the black puppy.
“Who is she?”
Before Evelyn could answer, a phone rang beneath the greenhouse floor.
Luca dug up a waterproof case.
A live video appeared.
Anton Moretti sat in a dark room.
Behind him stood Mara Voss.
Anton smiled.
“You have found Evelyn. Good.”
Matteo stepped toward the screen.
“What do you want?”
“The Moretti heir.”
Clara looked at Evelyn.
Anton’s smile widened.
“Tell them, Evelyn. Tell them whose baby you carried twenty-five years ago.”
Evelyn whispered, “Clara, the child was not Matteo’s sister.”
May you like
She looked at Matteo.
“The child was his daughter.”
