Chapter 4 - The Safe HouseOld Saint Mary's had been abandoned for years.
A church on the edge of the city.
Broken stained glass.
Empty pews.
Rain dripping through the roof.
Lorenzo entered with six men.
Mara stayed beside him.
“Movement upstairs.”
They climbed.
A door opened.
Vivian stepped out.
Her hands were raised.
“Don't shoot.”
Lorenzo stared at her.
“Where is my brother?”
“He left.”
“When?”
“An hour ago.”
“Where is Lucas's medication?”
Vivian looked away.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She started crying.
“I never wanted to hurt him.”
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
“You poisoned a child.”
“I was threatened.”
“By Matteo?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he said if I didn't do it, he'd kill my son.”
Lorenzo paused.
“You have a son?”
She nodded.
“Seven years old.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
That answer stopped Lorenzo.
“What?”
“Matteo took him.”
The room fell silent.
Mara looked at Lorenzo.
“This is bigger than Lucas.”
Vivian nodded.
“Matteo has been using people for years.”
“Why?”
“To control the family.”
She reached into her coat.
Pulled out a small notebook.
“Everything is in here.”
Names.
Payments.
Doctors.
Security personnel.
Judges.
Politicians.
And one final entry.
Lucas Duca — final phase.
Lorenzo stared at it.
“What is final phase?”
Vivian began crying.
“He plans to make Lucas's death look natural.”
Lorenzo's voice became ice.
“When?”
“Soon.”
“Where?”
“The estate.”
“Who is helping him?”
Vivian hesitated.
Then said:
“Someone you trust.”
Lorenzo looked at Mara.
“Who?”
Vivian's lips trembled.
“Your head of security.”
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
Daniel.
The man who had protected him for fifteen years.
The man who had been inside the house every night.
The man who had been standing beside Lucas's door.
Lorenzo pulled out his phone.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Then his phone buzzed.
A photograph.
Lucas sleeping in his hospital bed.
Taken from inside the room.
Lorenzo's blood turned cold.
A message followed.
Come home alone.
May you like
Your son has one hour.
Lorenzo ran.
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