Chapter 3 - Twenty Years of Lies
Victor’s voice drifted through the vent.
“Tell him, Emma.”
Luca’s expression became unreadable.
“Tell me what?”
Emma remained silent.
“Now.”
She finally spoke.
“My father didn’t die naturally.”
Luca waited.
“He disappeared six years ago.”
“And you think Victor did it.”
“I know Victor was involved.”
“That still doesn’t explain me.”
Emma looked directly at him.
“Your father tried to protect mine.”
Luca’s anger shifted into confusion.
“My father?”
“They discovered Victor was building something behind both their backs. Your father planned to remove him.”
“Victor was twenty-eight.”
“He was ambitious.”
“So was half Chicago.”
“Victor was different.”
Emma pulled a small memory card from beneath the lining of her uniform collar.
“I found this tonight.”
Luca took it.
“What’s on it?”
“Copies of Victor’s private financial records.”
“Where?”
“Inside your office.”
Luca stared at her.
“You broke into my office.”
“Yes.”
“While working for me.”
“Yes.”
“And now men are searching my house because of you.”
Emma crossed her arms.
“They’re searching your house because your best friend arranged your murder.”
Luca paused.
“Fair point.”
Despite everything, Emma almost smiled.
Then they heard movement near the hidden entrance.
Luca immediately killed the cellar light.
Darkness.
A voice outside the passage.
“Check downstairs.”
Emma whispered, “There’s another exit.”
“You said this was a dead end.”
“I lied.”
“You do that often?”
“When necessary.”
She moved behind several wine racks and pressed a brick.
A second narrow passage opened.
Luca shook his head.
“I’m firing whoever designed this house.”
“Your grandfather.”
“I’ll make an exception.”
They moved through the tunnel.
Minutes later they emerged inside the old greenhouse behind the mansion.
Rain hammered the glass roof.
Luca looked toward the driveway.
Black vehicles surrounded the estate.
Victor had taken everything.
The guards.
The gates.
The security room.
Luca’s own fortress now belonged to the man he had trusted.
Emma touched his arm.
“We need to leave.”
“No.”
“Luca.”
“He took my house.”
“It’s a building.”
“He took my men.”
“They chose.”
“He tried to take my life.”
“And failed.”
Luca looked at her.
Emma stepped closer.
“Victor thinks you’re wounded, angry, and predictable.”
“I am wounded and angry.”
“So surprise him.”
Luca considered that.
“What do you suggest?”
Emma held up the memory card.
“We make him believe he won.”
Twenty minutes later, Luca called Victor.
Victor answered immediately.
“Luca.”
Luca’s voice remained calm.
“You sound disappointed.”
A pause.
Then Victor sighed.
“You were always difficult to kill.”
“Apparently.”
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you’re not.”
Victor laughed.
“This doesn’t have to become ugly.”
“You sent men to kill me.”
“Business.”
“You threatened my house.”
“Insurance.”
“You betrayed my father.”
Silence.
That one landed.
Victor finally said, “Emma told you.”
“She told me enough.”
“Then she hasn’t told you everything.”
Emma looked at Luca.
Victor continued.
“She came into your house planning to destroy you.”
Luca’s eyes remained on Emma.
Victor laughed.
“Ask her what was supposed to happen after she found the evidence.”
Luca ended the call.
The greenhouse became quiet.
He looked at Emma.
“What was supposed to happen?”
She answered.
May you like
“You were supposed to go to prison.”
---
