Chapter 13 — The Trap
The old Rialto Theater had been abandoned for more than a decade.
Its marquee was missing half its letters.
Rain slid down the cracked glass doors.
Inside, the darkness smelled of dust, rust, and wet concrete.
It was exactly the kind of place where someone could disappear without leaving a trace.
Alessandro parked two blocks away.
“No one gets out until I say.”
I looked at him.
“Liam is inside.”
“I know.”
“Then I'm going.”
He turned toward me.
“Elizabeth.”
“I am not sitting in a car while my best friend is being tortured.”
His expression softened.
“I understand.”
“Then don't stop me.”
He studied me for several seconds.
Finally, he nodded.
“Stay beside me.”
Marco and Gabriel approached from another vehicle.
Gabriel looked pale.
His shoulder was still bandaged.
“Ready?”
Alessandro nodded.
“Your death has to look convincing.”
Gabriel gave a faint smile.
“I've been dead once already.”
Marco looked at him.
“Don't joke about that.”
Gabriel's smile disappeared.
“I wasn't.”
We moved toward the theater.
The front doors were unlocked.
Too easy.
Alessandro noticed it too.
“This is staged.”
“Obviously,” I whispered.
He looked at me.
“You're learning.”
“I'm learning because everyone around me keeps trying to kill me.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
Then it disappeared.
Inside, a single spotlight illuminated the center of the theater.
Liam was tied to a chair.
My heart stopped.
“Liam.”
He lifted his head.
“Emma?”
His voice sounded weak.
I started forward.
Alessandro grabbed my wrist.
“Wait.”
Liam suddenly shouted:
“Don't!”
I froze.
Then the lights came on.
Dozens of armed men appeared in the balconies.
Stefano stepped onto the stage.
He was smiling.
“Well.”
His eyes moved toward me.
“Elizabeth.”
Alessandro stepped in front of me.
“Let him go.”
Stefano laughed.
“You still think you can negotiate.”
“I know you want the trust.”
“No.”
Stefano's gaze shifted.
“I want something much more valuable.”
His eyes returned to me.
“I want control.”
Alessandro raised his gun.
Stefano didn't flinch.
“Put it down.”
“No.”
“Then Liam dies.”
Liam looked at me.
“Don't.”
I could see the fear in his eyes.
Not for himself.
For me.
Stefano smiled.
“You have ten seconds.”
Alessandro remained still.
“Ten.”
“Stefano.”
“Nine.”
I stepped forward.
“Stop.”
Alessandro turned.
“Elizabeth.”
“I'll do it.”
Stefano's smile widened.
“Good girl.”
Alessandro's eyes hardened.
“Don't.”
I whispered:
“Trust me.”
He looked at me.
Something passed between us.
Then he slowly lowered his weapon.
Stefano nodded.
“Better.”
He gestured.
Two men approached me.
They searched me.
Then another man took my phone.
Stefano stepped closer.
“Where is Gabriel?”
I said nothing.
His expression changed.
“You came without him?”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
I looked at him.
“You wanted one heir dead.”
His smile faded.
“Which one?”
I looked toward the stage.
Then said:
“Gabriel.”
A door opened behind Stefano.
Two men dragged someone inside.
Gabriel.
His hands were tied.
Blood covered his shirt.
Stefano stared.
“Alive.”
“For now.”
Gabriel looked at me.
“Elizabeth…”
Stefano raised his hand.
“Bring him here.”
Gabriel was dragged forward.
Stefano looked at all three of us.
“This is beautiful.”
He laughed.
“Three heirs in one room.”
Marco stepped forward.
“You'll never control the trust.”
Stefano smiled.
“I don't need to.”
He pulled a document from his coat.
“I only need one signature.”
He placed it on the table.
Gabriel stared.
“What is that?”
“A transfer.”
“To whom?”
Stefano looked at me.
“To Elizabeth.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“You will sign the trust over voluntarily.”
I stared at him.
“And if I refuse?”
Stefano pointed toward Liam.
“He dies.”
Liam shook his head.
“Don't do it.”
I looked at Alessandro.
He gave me the smallest nod.
I understood.
The plan was working.
I stepped toward the table.
“Give me the pen.”
Stefano smiled.
“That's my girl.”
I picked up the pen.
Then stopped.
“One condition.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“I want to know why.”
“Why what?”
“Why you killed my father.”
Silence.
Stefano's expression changed.
“Your father was weak.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“He betrayed the family.”
“He protected me.”
“He destroyed the succession.”
I stared at him.
“What succession?”
Stefano leaned closer.
“The one that was supposed to make me king.”
I smiled faintly.
“You never were.”
His face hardened.
“Sign.”
I lowered the pen.
Then noticed something on the document.
A small watermark.
A legal seal.
I recognized it.
My father's attorney.
I looked at Alessandro.
He saw it too.
This wasn't Stefano's document.
It was ours.
He had signed the trap without realizing it.
I smiled.
“Okay.”
I signed.
Stefano took the document.
Then laughed.
“You really are your father's daughter.”
I looked at him.
“Thank you.”
He froze.
“What?”
I stepped back.
“Because you just signed it too.”
His smile disappeared.
The theater lights suddenly exploded.
Gunfire erupted.
Alessandro moved instantly.
He tackled me behind a row of seats.
Marco fired toward the balcony.
Gabriel broke free.
Liam dropped to the floor.
Security flooded the theater.
Stefano ran.
I grabbed Alessandro.
“Where is he going?”
“Back exit.”
We chased him.
Through the backstage corridors.
Past dressing rooms.
Past broken mirrors.
Finally, Stefano reached a locked door.
He turned.
Alessandro aimed his weapon.
“It's over.”
Stefano laughed.
“You think this ends here?”
Alessandro stepped forward.
“It ends tonight.”
Stefano looked at me.
“You don't understand what you are.”
I stopped.
“What am I?”
He smiled.
“The reason your mother disappeared.”
Then he pulled a small remote from his pocket.
My blood went cold.
“What is that?”
May you like
Stefano pressed the button.
The theater exploded behind us.
