Chapter 2 – The Men Behind The Oak Doors

The heavy oak doors groaned as another violent impact shook their hinges.

The guests screamed, scrambling backward, overturning mahogany chairs and shattering crystal plates.

“Nobody moves!” Arthur Bellini shouted over the chaos.

The silver revolver in his hand didn’t waver. He kept it aimed squarely at Luca’s chest.

Luca didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look at the gun.

He was still clutching the crumpled photograph of the little boy.

“You told me my son’s heart stopped in the incubator,” Luca whispered, turning slowly to Vanessa.

Vanessa pressed her back against the banquet table, trembling violently.

“Luca, please,” she sobbed. “My father made me do it. I had to.”

“Answer him!” Michael yelled, wiping blood from his lip where he’d bitten it. “Tell him where Leo is!”

Hearing the boy’s name seemed to break something inside Luca.

“Emily,” Luca said, his voice terrifyingly calm. “Get behind me.”

I didn’t hesitate. I moved behind his broad shoulders, still clutching the empty silver wine pitcher like a shield.

CRACK.

The right dining room door splintered. A heavy boot kicked through the wood.

“Open the door, Arthur!” a gruff voice shouted from the hallway.

“Not yet!” Arthur yelled back. He stepped closer to Luca. “Sign the restaurant over to Carlo tonight. Transfer the shipping ports to my company. Do that, and your brother lives. Your son lives.”

Carlo Vitale, the wealthy Italian businessman, stood frozen in the corner.

He looked horrified.

“This was not the arrangement,” Carlo said in rapid Italian. “You said it was a simple business merger. You never mentioned kidnapping a child!”

“Shut up, Carlo!” Arthur snapped in English.

I translated Carlo’s words for Luca in a rapid whisper over his shoulder.

Luca’s eyes flicked to Carlo.

Then to Arthur.

“You think you can walk into my home, threaten my family, and leave alive?” Luca asked.

“I have ten armed men outside, Luca. Your security detail is already tied up in the basement,” Arthur sneered. “You have no leverage.”

I looked around the room.

My eyes landed on Vanessa.

She was clutching her red gown, crying. But as she shifted her weight, a heavy gold bracelet slipped down her wrist.

It caught the chandelier’s light.

My breath stopped.

I knew that bracelet.

It had a distinctive emerald clasp shaped like a clover.

My mother had worn that exact bracelet every day of my childhood. She claimed it was a gift from a wealthy family she used to nanny for. She had pawned it four years ago to pay for my college tuition.

Why was Vanessa Bellini wearing my mother’s pawned jewelry?

“Mrs. Bellini,” I blurted out, ignoring the gun. “Where did you get that emerald bracelet?”

Vanessa flinched.

Arthur’s eyes snapped toward me. “Shut that maid up!”

But Vanessa was staring at me, a new kind of terror dawning in her eyes.

“Emily Carter,” Vanessa whispered, recognizing my last name for the first time. “Your mother… is Sarah Carter?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice trembling.

Vanessa let out a choked gasp and covered her mouth.

“Dad,” Vanessa cried, looking at Arthur. “Dad, it’s her daughter! She’s the one!”

Arthur’s face contorted with rage.

He swung the revolver away from Luca and pointed it directly at my head.

“Change of plans,” Arthur snarled. “Break down the doors!”

Before I could scream, Luca threw his body in front of mine, just as the gun went off.

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