Chapter 5 - The Bride Who Knew Chloe’s Name
Arthur watched the recording twice.
Vivian backed away.
Chloe said nothing.
Luca stared at the screen.
“Your loyal friend.”
Arthur called Marco.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“I want him found.”
Luca asked, “Alive?”
Arthur looked at Chloe.
“Alive.”
He needed answers more than revenge.
They reached the diner twenty minutes later.
The pantry floor had been ripped open.
The metal case was gone.
But Chloe found something else.
A photograph.
Her father stood beside Salvatore Romano.
Between them stood Daniel.
Written on the back:
THOMAS — IF I FAIL, PROTECT BOTH CHILDREN.
Chloe frowned.
“Both?”
Arthur looked at Luca.
Luca looked equally confused.
A noise came from the kitchen.
Arthur drew his gun.
“Stay here.”
He moved through the doorway.
A chair lay overturned.
The rear entrance stood open.
Then a shot exploded.
Arthur shoved Chloe down.
Glass shattered above them.
Luca fired toward the alley.
The shooter vanished.
Arthur looked at Chloe.
“You hurt?”
“No.”
His hands checked anyway.
Then Vivian screamed.
They ran back.
Vivian stood beside the open floor compartment.
Inside, beneath where the metal case had been, was a second envelope.
It bore Chloe’s name.
She opened it.
Her father’s handwriting covered one page.
Chloe,
If you are reading this, the Romano secret has found you.
I lied about who I was because I wanted you to have an ordinary life.
Daniel Romano discovered something that could destroy his father. Before Daniel died, he trusted me with evidence and with one other responsibility.
Protect the children.
Not child.
Children.
Chloe looked at Arthur.
“There it is again.”
She continued.
Arthur is not his father. Never blame him for Salvatore’s sins.
And if Arthur ever comes to you, tell him the truth about the night Daniel died.
Chloe’s hand trembled.
The next page was missing.
Arthur stared at the torn edge.
“Marco.”
Luca said, “He has it.”
Vivian whispered, “My father might know.”
Arthur turned.
“You’re going to tell us everything.”
Vivian sank into a chair.
“My father never wanted peace.”
“Then why the marriage?”
“To get you into the cathedral.”
Chloe felt sick.
Vivian continued.
“He told me marrying you would protect our family. Then I heard him talking about the cup.”
“You knew they planned to poison Arthur?”
“Not until yesterday.”
“And you said nothing?”
Tears appeared.
“He threatened my younger sister.”
Arthur’s anger remained, but something changed.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
Harrison had hidden seventeen-year-old Amelia Croft two days before the wedding.
Vivian had been ordered to complete the ceremony and say nothing.
“If I warned you, he said Amelia would disappear permanently.”
Chloe looked at her.
“So when I entered—”
“I recognized you because Dad showed me your photograph.”
“Why?”
“He said if you appeared, I should keep you away from Arthur.”
Arthur asked, “Did he know about the baby?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Arthur turned away.
Every person around him had known about his child before he did.
Chloe saw what it did to him.
She reached for his hand.
Arthur looked down.
Her fingers closed around his.
No forgiveness had been spoken.
But he held on.
Then Luca’s phone rang.
He listened.
His expression changed.
“Found Marco.”
“Where?”
“Old Romano warehouse.”
They drove there.
Arthur ordered Chloe to remain in the armored SUV.
She ignored him after thirty seconds.
Inside, they found Marco tied to a chair.
His face was bloody.
Arthur stopped.
“Marco?”
Marco raised his head.
“You took your time.”
Arthur cut him loose.
“The diner.”
“I knew someone was watching the cameras.”
“So you staged it?”
“Yes.”
“The case?”
“Safe.”
Arthur stared.
“Why didn’t you answer?”
“Because I was busy getting kidnapped.”
“By whom?”
Marco looked toward Luca.
“Someone who knows Daniel had two children.”
Luca froze.
“What?”
Marco reached into his torn jacket.
The missing page from Thomas Henderson’s letter was folded inside.
He gave it to Chloe.
She read.
Then stopped breathing.
Arthur took the page.
Daniel had two children.
One was Luca.
The other was born after his death.
A daughter.
Arthur looked at Chloe.
Her face had turned white.
Because Thomas Henderson had written the daughter’s name.
Chloe Henderson.
And before anyone could speak, the warehouse lights went out.
May you like
A woman’s voice came from the darkness.
“Hello, little sister.”
