Chapter 5 - Her Father's Voice
The voice belonged to Antonio Varelli.
Serena couldn't breathe.
“Dad?”
Roman grabbed her shoulder.
“Don't move.”
Another bullet struck the SUV.
Roman's security team returned fire.
The attackers disappeared into the garage.
Minutes later, silence returned.
Serena pushed herself upright.
“Where is he?”
Roman stared ahead.
“That wasn't your father.”
“How do you know?”
“Because your father never called you Sera.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Only one person did.”
“Who?”
Roman looked at the bracelet.
“Your older sister.”
Serena laughed once, nervously.
“I don't have a sister.”
Roman's silence frightened her.
“What aren't you telling me?”
He opened his phone.
A file appeared.
Inside was an old photograph of two baby girls.
Both wore identical silver bracelets.
Serena stared.
“Two?”
“Twins.”
Her knees weakened.
“My mother never told me.”
“She couldn't.”
“Why?”
Roman looked away.
“Because one baby disappeared.”
Serena's voice dropped.
“Me?”
“No.”
She stared at him.
“The other girl.”
Roman nodded.
“Your sister was taken the night you were born.”
“By whom?”
“Antonio.”
Serena covered her mouth.
“My father?”
“He believed one daughter would become a weakness.”
“So he abandoned her?”
“No.”
Roman looked directly at her.
“He used her as leverage.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Serena sat down.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your father threatened to kill her if I did.”
“Where is she now?”
Roman's phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
SHE IS WITH YOU.
Roman read it twice.
Serena saw the screen.
“With us?”
The lights went out.
Roman immediately reached for his weapon.
Someone moved behind Serena.
She felt a hand cover her mouth.
Then a woman's voice whispered into her ear.
“Don't scream.”
Serena froze.
The woman removed her hand.
In the darkness, Serena heard a familiar breathing pattern.
Then the emergency lights flickered on.
A woman stood behind her.
Same brown eyes.
Same delicate features.
May you like
Same small scar near the eyebrow.
Serena stared at her own face...
