Chapter 9 - The Woman Behind the War
Beatrice gripped Gabriel’s arm through another contraction.
“Find my father.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Gabriel.”
“No.”
Adrian appeared.
“Thomas was taken through the service corridor.”
“Go,” Beatrice told him.
Adrian nodded.
He went.
Gabriel stayed.
A retired obstetrician on Adrian’s security team was brought inside.
The baby was early, but the labor could still take hours.
They moved Beatrice into the safest room.
Chloe remained with her.
For the first time since the betrayal, Beatrice let her sister hold her hand.
“I’m scared,” Chloe whispered.
“I’m the one in labor.”
“I know.”
“Then stop shaking.”
Chloe laughed through tears.
It almost felt like before.
Almost.
Adrian tracked Thomas to an abandoned church.
There he found the black box.
But not Thomas.
A live video began playing on a tablet.
Thomas sat tied to a chair.
Samuel Voss stepped into frame.
Older.
Elegant.
Calm.
Then another person entered.
A woman.
Adrian stared.
He knew her.
Everyone did.
Evelyn Vale.
His mother.
Adrian’s face went still.
Back at the safe house, the feed was transmitted to Gabriel and Beatrice.
Adrian’s mother looked into the camera.
“My son.”
Adrian whispered, “No.”
Evelyn smiled.
“You were always too sentimental.”
The truth unfolded.
Evelyn Vale had joined Meridian decades earlier.
She had helped Voss engineer the conflict that killed her own husband.
Why?
Power.
Her husband wanted out.
Vittorio wanted out.
Thomas threatened exposure.
Evelyn and Voss turned everyone against everyone.
Adrian had spent his adult life blaming Rossi for a murder his own mother arranged.
Evelyn looked into the camera.
“Bring Beatrice.”
Adrian said nothing.
“Or Thomas dies.”
Thomas shouted, “Don’t!”
Evelyn struck him.
Adrian’s expression changed.
Not rage.
Grief.
Beatrice watched from the bed.
Another contraction hit.
Gabriel held her hand.
She crushed his fingers.
“Sorry.”
“I deserve worse.”
Despite everything, she laughed.
Then the monitor changed.
The doctor frowned.
“What?”
“Baby’s heart rate.”
Gabriel went pale.
“Is he okay?”
“For now. But we may need to deliver soon.”
Beatrice closed her eyes.
The plan was collapsing.
Then she remembered her father’s lesson.
When everyone expected one move, make another.
“Adrian.”
He looked at the screen.
“Your mother expects you to bring me.”
“Yes.”
“Then do it.”
Gabriel immediately objected.
Beatrice snapped, “I am not actually going.”
She outlined the plan.
Send a vehicle.
Make Evelyn believe Beatrice was inside.
Track Thomas during the exchange.
Meanwhile relocate Beatrice.
Adrian understood.
They executed it.
Evelyn took the bait.
Thomas was recovered.
But Voss escaped.
Again.
Beatrice was transferred through an underground garage to a private surgical suite.
By 5:12 a.m., labor accelerated.
Gabriel stayed beside her because she allowed it.
Not because he demanded it.
Hours passed.
Beatrice screamed.
Cried.
Threatened Gabriel twice.
Threatened the doctor once.
Then, at 8:43 a.m., a baby cried.
Everything stopped.
Beatrice sobbed.
Gabriel covered his face.
Their son was placed against her chest.
Tiny.
Warm.
Alive.
“Hello,” Beatrice whispered.
Gabriel stood beside her, tears running freely.
She looked at him.
“Meet your son.”
He bent carefully.
“Matteo.”
The name they had chosen months earlier.
Beatrice nodded.
“Matteo.”
Gabriel touched one finger to his son’s hand.
The baby gripped it.
Gabriel broke.
Beatrice watched him cry.
For one moment there was no Meridian.
No Vale.
No Rossi.
Just three people.
Then an alarm sounded.
The doctor turned.
Security rushed into the corridor.
Gabriel stood.
“What happened?”
A nurse appeared at the doorway.
Her face was white.
“The newborn identification system has been breached.”
Beatrice clutched Matteo closer.
“What does that mean?”
The nurse looked at the computer.
“Someone just registered another infant under your son’s name.”
Gabriel stared.
“Where?”
The nurse swallowed.
“At the Meridian clinic.”
Then the screen displayed a second birth record.
Same mother.
Same father.
Same time.
May you like
And beneath it was a message.
BRING US THE REAL CHILD.
