Chapter 4 - The Daughter Nobody Knew About
Luca Moretti did not move.
The man standing at the end of the hallway was impossible.
For three years, Luca had carried the memory of Matteo Carter’s death.
His brother.
His closest friend.
The only person who had ever been able to see Luca without fear.
And now Matteo was standing inside his mansion.
Holding a little girl who had spent the last hour trying to save a shirt.
Emma looked peaceful in his arms.
Too peaceful.
Like she trusted him.
Like she knew him.
Luca’s eyes moved from Emma to Matteo.
"Put her down."
The words were quiet.
But every person who worked for Luca knew what they meant.
Matteo smiled slightly.
"Still giving orders."
Mia stepped forward.
"No."
Both men looked at her.
Her face was full of fear.
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Fear.
"You can't be here."
Matteo looked at her.
"That is not how you welcome someone you loved."
Mia’s expression broke.
Luca noticed.
Loved.
Past tense.
There were too many unanswered questions.
Too many pieces that didn't fit.
"You were dead."
Matteo looked at Luca.
"That is what everyone believed."
Luca took one step forward.
"You let me believe you were dead."
Matteo's smile disappeared.
"Did you ever ask why?"
Luca's eyes hardened.
"Three years."
The hallway became silent.
"Three years, I searched for answers."
Matteo looked down at Emma.
"Maybe you were searching in the wrong place."
Emma suddenly moved.
Her small hand grabbed Matteo's collar.
"Daddy."
The word hit the hallway like a gunshot.
Luca froze.
Mia closed her eyes.
She knew.
The secret was no longer hidden.
Luca looked at Emma.
Then at Matteo.
Then at Mia.
"Daddy?"
His voice was barely controlled.
Mia whispered:
"Luca..."
"No."
He looked at her.
"Don't."
The pain in his voice was different from anger.
It was betrayal.
"Tell me I heard wrong."
Mia couldn't.
Because she couldn't lie anymore.
Matteo looked at Luca.
"She is my daughter."
Luca stared at him.
"You had a child."
"Yes."
"And you never told me."
Matteo said nothing.
That silence answered everything.
Luca stepped back.
For years, Matteo had been the one person he trusted completely.
The one person he would have protected with his own life.
But now he was standing in front of him with a daughter Luca never knew existed.
A daughter everyone had tried to hide.
"Why?"
Matteo looked at Emma.
"Because she was safer without you knowing."
Luca's expression changed.
"Without me?"
Matteo nodded slowly.
"You don't understand what happened."
"Then explain."
"I can't."
Luca laughed once.
A cold, humorless sound.
"That is always your answer."
Matteo looked at him.
"Because the truth would put her in danger."
Luca glanced at Emma.
The little girl was watching the adults carefully.
Children always noticed more than people thought.
She reached toward Luca.
"Mr. Luca."
He looked at her.
"Can you not be mad?"
The question almost broke him.
Not because of the words.
Because she was afraid.
Afraid of conflict.
Afraid of adults being angry.
Just like before.
Luca lowered himself.
"Why do you think I'm mad at you?"
Emma looked at the floor.
"Because I touched your shirt."
Luca closed his eyes for a moment.
A child had spent the entire day believing she was responsible for problems caused by adults.
"No."
His voice softened.
"I'm not angry at you."
Emma looked at him carefully.
"Promise?"
Luca nodded.
"Promise."
For a moment, the little girl smiled.
A small, innocent smile.
Then Matteo pulled her closer.
The movement was protective.
But Luca noticed something.
Matteo was not protecting Emma from him.
He was protecting her from something else.
Someone else.
"What happened three years ago?"
Matteo looked away.
"Luca."
"Answer me."
The hallway filled with tension.
Mia stepped between them.
"Stop."
Both men looked at her.
She wiped her tears.
"I should have told you."
Luca waited.
"I should have told you everything."
"Yes."
Her eyes dropped.
"But I was afraid."
"Of what?"
Mia looked at Matteo.
Then back at Luca.
"Of the people who wanted Emma gone."
Luca's expression changed.
"Who?"
Matteo answered.
"The same people who killed my old identity."
Luca looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
Matteo walked slowly forward.
"Three years ago, I found out someone inside our organization was selling information."
Luca became still.
"Our organization?"
Matteo nodded.
"Someone close."
"Who?"
Matteo didn't answer.
Luca understood.
The person was powerful.
Someone dangerous enough that Matteo had to disappear.
"You faked your death."
"Yes."
"You left me alone."
Matteo looked down.
"I had no choice."
Luca's jaw tightened.
"There is always a choice."
Matteo looked at him.
"Not when your enemy knows exactly where your family sleeps."
The words stayed in the air.
Family.
Luca looked at Emma.
Then at Mia.
He suddenly understood something.
The search.
The file.
The break-in.
They weren't looking for information.
They were looking for Emma.
"Who knows she is here?"
Matteo became serious.
"Too many people."
Luca immediately turned.
"Security."
No answer.
He pressed his earpiece.
Nothing.
The system was still down.
Matteo watched him.
"You see?"
Luca looked back.
"What?"
"They were never trying to get into your mansion."
A pause.
"They were trying to make you look the wrong way."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"What are you saying?"
Matteo stepped closer.
"They wanted you focused on me."
"And why?"
"Because while you were looking at the ghost..."
Matteo glanced toward Emma.
"Someone else was coming for her."
The lights suddenly flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the emergency lights turned red.
A sound came from downstairs.
A door opening.
Slowly.
Luca immediately moved in front of Emma.
Matteo did the same.
For the first time in three years, the two brothers stood side by side.
Not as enemies.
Not as strangers.
As family.
Mia grabbed Emma.
"Luca."
He looked toward the staircase.
"Take her."
"Where?"
"Safe room."
Mia nodded.
She picked Emma up.
The little girl looked back.
"Mr. Luca?"
He looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Don't let Daddy disappear again."
Luca froze.
Matteo looked away.
Because that sentence hurt both of them.
Mia carried Emma toward the hidden safe room.
Luca stayed behind.
Waiting.
Listening.
The footsteps downstairs became louder.
One person.
Then two.
Then more.
Someone had entered his mansion.
Someone who knew exactly where to go.
Luca reached for his weapon.
Matteo whispered:
"They're here."
The footsteps stopped.
A shadow appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
Then a familiar voice called out:
"Mr. Moretti..."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
May you like
Because the voice belonged to the one person he never expected to betray him.
His own security chief.
