Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF LOYALTY
They returned to the estate through the underground entrance.
Isabella held Daniel's hand. Lucas walked beside them, resisting every instinct to touch his wife and son before they were ready.
Elena waited in the family wing with Lily.
When the door opened, Lily ran forward.
“Mr. Moretti!”
Then she noticed the boy.
“Who is he?”
Lucas knelt.
“This is Daniel. He's my son.”
Lily looked at Daniel's shoes, then at his face.
“I'm Lily.”
Daniel nodded. “I'm Daniel.”
She considered him.
“Do you like trucks?”
He hesitated. “Yes.”
“I have a red one.”
For the first time since arriving, Daniel smiled.
Elena watched Isabella closely.
“Mrs. Moretti?”
Isabella nodded.
“Thank you for keeping my husband alive.”
Elena glanced at Lily.
“She did that.”
Isabella knelt in front of the little girl.
“Then I owe you more than I can ever say.”
Lily shrugged.
“He looked like he needed help.”
Lucas watched the two children.
For the first time in three years, the mansion sounded like a home.
Then Daniel's security chief entered.
“Boss, we found Victor's car.”
“Where?”
“Near the old docks. But Victor wasn't inside.”
Lucas's expression hardened.
“Lock down the estate.”
“Already done.”
“Check every staff entrance. No one leaves without being cleared.”
The security chief nodded.
Isabella reached for Lucas's hand.
“Don't go after him.”
“He won't stop.”
“Then let the police handle it.”
Lucas looked at her.
“Victor arranged the fire. He kept you and Daniel hidden for three years. He tried to kill me yesterday.”
“I know. But I don't want Daniel to lose his father again.”
The words stopped him.
Lucas looked at his son.
“I won't leave the house.”
He turned to Daniel.
“Do you remember the story about the little boat?”
Daniel nodded faintly.
“You told it to me when I was small.”
“Would you like to hear it again?”
The boy looked at Isabella, then nodded.
Lucas sat beside him and began telling the story.
He was halfway through when the lights went out.
A sharp crash sounded from the eastern wing.
The guards shouted.
A red emergency light flickered on.
Then the alarm began.
Daniel's security chief appeared in the doorway.
“Boss, someone has entered through the service tunnel.”
Lucas handed Daniel to Isabella.
“Take him and Lily to the secure room. Elena goes with you.”
Isabella grabbed his wrist.
“Lucas—”
“I'll come back.”
She searched his face.
“Don't make promises you can't keep.”
He kissed her forehead.
“I intend to keep this one.”
He left with Daniel's security chief.
May you like
Behind them, the secure-room door closed.
And somewhere beneath the mansion, Victor Romano was walking through a passage he had helped build.
