Chapter 11 - The Other Child
Vincent did not tell Lily.
He told Elena.
Her answer was immediate.
"No."
"I wasn't going to."
"Good."
"Rebecca expects me to bring her."
"Then she expects wrong."
Rose agreed.
So did Antonio Romano when Vincent called.
"My grandson's name is Matteo."
His voice broke.
Ten years old.
Taken from school that morning by someone with forged authorization.
Rebecca knew systems.
Law.
Documents.
She had spent years learning how to make illegal acts appear administrative.
"What does she want Lily for?" Antonio asked.
"Level Two."
"What's that?"
Vincent explained enough.
Antonio went silent.
"Isabella knew?"
"I don't know."
"Ask her."
Vincent did.
At federal detention, Isabella looked exhausted.
"Rebecca approached me eight months ago."
"About what?"
"The marriage agreement."
"She arranged it?"
"Yes."
Vincent sat back.
"Why?"
"To put me inside your estate legally."
"To access systems."
"Yes."
"Did you know about children?"
"No."
He believed her.
"Why kidnap Lily?"
"I was told she held financial access."
"Did you know Thomas was alive?"
"Not until that night."
Isabella looked ashamed.
"I thought I was helping my family."
"By kidnapping a four-year-old."
Her eyes filled.
"I know."
Vincent did not comfort her.
"Where would Rebecca take Matteo?"
Isabella thought.
"She talked about a school."
"What school?"
"Saint Agnes."
Closed private academy outside the city.
Vincent knew the property.
Giovanni had donated money there years ago.
Of course.
They prepared quietly.
Federal agents wanted control.
Vincent agreed on one condition.
He entered first.
They refused.
He entered first anyway.
Saint Agnes stood abandoned.
Matteo was found in the library.
Alone.
Unhurt.
Too easy.
Vincent crouched.
"Matteo?"
The boy nodded.
"Where's the woman?"
"She left."
"When?"
"She said you'd come."
Vincent's stomach tightened.
"Did she give you anything?"
Matteo handed him an envelope.
Vincent opened it.
YOU KEEP CHASING CHILDREN.
YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING YOUR OWN HOUSE.
He called Elena.
No answer.
Rose.
No answer.
Marco.
"Boss?"
"Check Lily."
"She's with Elena in the garden."
"Now."
Footsteps.
Then Marco shouted.
"Boss."
Vincent's heart stopped.
"What?"
"Elena's here."
"And Lily?"
Silence.
"Marco."
"She's gone."
Vincent nearly dropped the phone.
Security footage showed Rose walking from the garden with Lily.
No struggle.
Lily held her hand willingly.
Vincent called Rose.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
His sister had taken her.
But why?
Then a message came from Rose.
I'M SORRY.
Vincent stared.
Another.
I HAD NO CHOICE.
Then location coordinates.
A marina.
He drove there.
Rose waited beside a small boat.
Lily sat inside wearing a life jacket.
Vincent approached with fury barely contained.
"What are you doing?"
Rose raised both hands.
"Listen."
"You took her."
"Rebecca contacted me."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she said she'd kill Matteo if anyone followed."
"Matteo is safe."
Rose closed her eyes.
"Thank God."
Vincent looked at Lily.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"Aunt Rose said we're going boating."
Aunt Rose.
The word hit both siblings.
Rose looked away.
Vincent lowered his voice.
"Get her out."
Rose did.
Lily ran to Vincent.
He crouched.
"Go with Marco."
"But the boat—"
"Later."
She pouted but obeyed.
Once she was gone, Vincent faced Rose.
"You never take her again."
"I know."
"Never."
"I know."
"Why marina?"
"Rebecca wanted us offshore."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
An explosion sounded across the water.
A yacht erupted in flames.
Rose stared.
"That was the boat she told us to approach."
Vincent understood.
Rebecca expected Rose and Lily aboard.
She intended to kill both.
"She's cleaning up."
Rose nodded.
"Because she already has what she needs."
"What?"
Rose's phone buzzed.
A photograph.
The Level Two control terminal.
Unlocked.
Vincent looked at Rose.
"How?"
Her face drained.
"She doesn't need Lily."
"What?"
"The biometric requirement can be bypassed with a close genetic match."
Vincent understood.
Thomas.
Giovanni.
Rose.
Or—
Him.
"She needs Moretti DNA."
Rose stared at Vincent.
Then at the photo.
A drop of blood sat on the terminal scanner.
Rebecca had a sample.
"From who?"
Vincent thought back.
Hospital records.
Old injuries.
Security medical exams.
His blood existed in multiple places.
Rose whispered, "Vincent."
The terminal screen changed.
ACCOUNT TRANSFER INITIATED.
Not identities.
Assets.
Rebecca had found the financial layer too.
A timer appeared.
00:59:59.
One hour.
Rose looked at him.
"Where is that terminal?"
Vincent recognized the wall behind it.
Wood paneling.
A brass lamp.
His father's study.
Not at the estate.
The original study.
The Moretti family office downtown.
He turned toward Marco.
"Move."
But before they reached the cars, Lily tugged Vincent's sleeve.
"Mr. Vincent?"
He looked down.
"What?"
"The lawyer lady told Mommy something before."
"When?"
"Before the trash cans."
"What did she say?"
Lily thought carefully.
Then repeated it.
"She said, 'When Vincent finds out who Elena really is, he'll give me everything himself.'"
Vincent looked toward Elena.
Her face went white.
May you like
And Rose whispered:
"Elena… what didn't you tell us?"
