Chapter 10 - The Night Chloe Disappeared
Antonio Moretti was alive.
But Leo heard only seven words before the line died.
“Get Chloe out. Richard knows where you are.”
Leo turned.
“Move.”
Too late.
The casino lights died.
Marco shouted from upstairs.
Gunfire erupted.
Leo pulled Chloe behind the vault wall.
Danny dragged Amelia toward the emergency tunnel.
“Go!”
Chloe grabbed Leo.
“Together.”
“I'll follow.”
“No.”
“Chloe.”
“No more impossible promises.”
Another shot.
Leo looked into her eyes.
Then nodded.
“Together.”
They ran.
The tunnel exited into an underground garage.
Three SUVs waited.
Marco opened one.
Chloe was almost inside when a hand grabbed her from behind.
A cloth covered her mouth.
She kicked.
Bit.
Fought.
Leo turned at the sound of her muffled scream.
“CHLOE!”
A van door slammed.
Leo reached it seconds too late.
The vehicle accelerated.
He fired at the tires.
Missed.
For the first time in years, Leo Moretti lost control.
Marco grabbed him.
“We track them.”
“She is pregnant!”
“I know.”
“They have her!”
“And we will get her back.”
Inside the van, Chloe forced herself to breathe.
Panic would not protect her daughter.
Think.
She had lost one shoe.
Her wrists were bound.
Two men sat opposite.
Neither spoke.
Chloe looked at the windows.
Blackened.
She counted turns.
Left.
Right.
Long straight road.
Bridge vibration.
Twenty-three minutes.
The van stopped.
She was taken into a building.
When the hood came off, Richard Hayes stood before her.
“You.”
He looked exhausted.
“I'm sorry.”
“You keep terrible company for someone who's sorry.”
“I didn't order this.”
“But you're here.”
“Yes.”
“Where is Victor?”
“Coming.”
Chloe's fear sharpened.
Richard approached.
“I can get you out.”
“Why?”
“Because Bradley finally learned what I am.”
Chloe stared.
“He rejected you.”
“He gave Leo my records.”
“You deserve worse.”
“Yes.”
Richard cut her restraints.
“There's a service corridor.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
At least one honest sentence.
“Then give me a reason.”
Richard handed her a phone.
A video showed Isabella Romano.
Alive.
Inside a medical facility.
Beside her was a cryogenic container.
The stolen embryo.
“Victor plans to implant it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“If your daughter inherits the Bennett-Moretti holdings, Victor loses everything. But if he can create another Moretti heir and challenge paternity, succession becomes tied up for years.”
“That's insane.”
“It doesn't have to win. It only has to create chaos.”
Chloe understood.
Victor survived in chaos.
Richard opened the service door.
“Go.”
“What about my mother?”
“Safe with Leo.”
“And you?”
“I'll delay Victor.”
Chloe stepped into the corridor.
Then stopped.
“Why did you help him?”
Richard's face aged ten years.
“Money at first.”
“And later?”
“Fear.”
Chloe nodded.
“That's what everyone uses to excuse the worst things they do.”
She left.
Leo found her twelve minutes later.
She emerged from an alley barefoot.
He jumped from the moving SUV.
Chloe barely had time to say his name before he wrapped both arms around her.
His body shook.
Actually shook.
“I'm okay.”
He pulled back.
“Baby?”
“Moving.”
His hand went immediately to her belly.
A kick met his palm.
Leo closed his eyes.
Then kissed Chloe.
Not carefully.
Not contractually.
Not because desperation had broken their judgment.
He kissed her because he had nearly lost her.
Chloe kissed him back.
When they separated, Leo pressed his forehead against hers.
“I love you.”
Everything became quiet.
Chloe stared.
He looked almost angry with himself.
“I should have said it differently.”
“No.”
“I had something considerably better planned.”
She laughed through tears.
“Leo Moretti had a plan?”
“A shocking development.”
“I love you too.”
His face changed.
Then Marco interrupted.
“We found Antonio.”
Leo turned.
“Where?”
Marco held up a phone.
“He sent coordinates.”
The coordinates led to an abandoned church in Queens.
Leo, Chloe, Amelia and Danny entered together.
One candle burned near the altar.
Antonio stepped from the shadows.
Older.
Thinner.
Alive.
Leo stopped.
His father looked at him.
Then Chloe.
Then her belly.
“My granddaughter.”
Leo's expression hardened.
“You have a great deal to explain.”
Antonio nodded.
“I do.”
A door slammed behind them.
Everyone turned.
Antonio whispered, “That's not one of my men.”
May you like
Footsteps approached from the darkness.
Then someone called Chloe's name.
