CHAPTER 5 THE NIGHT MAYA DISAPPEARED
The mansion doors exploded inward.
Wood splintered across the foyer.
Glass shattered.
The first wave of armed men rushed through the smoke.
Julian fired once.
The man in front dropped.
Daniel pulled Derek behind the stone wall.
"Don't waste ammunition!"
Julian didn't answer.
His attention was fixed on the driveway.
More vehicles were arriving.
Too many.
This wasn't an attack designed to kill one man.
It was an operation.
Organized.
Planned.
And aimed at one person.
Maya.
Julian pulled out his phone.
"Call her."
Derek looked at him.
"She won't answer."
"Call her anyway."
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Voicemail.
Julian's jaw tightened.
"Again."
Derek called.
Still nothing.
Julian looked at Daniel.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
"You said they came for her."
"They've been watching her for weeks."
"How do you know?"
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Because I was watching them."
Julian stared at him.
"You were watching Maya?"
"I was protecting her."
"You could have contacted me."
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because anyone connected to you could have been compromised."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No."
Daniel looked at the gunfire outside.
"I expect you to understand that your family has been infiltrated for years."
A bullet struck the wall above them.
Derek ducked.
"We need to move."
Julian nodded.
"Basement."
Daniel grabbed his arm.
"No."
Julian looked at him.
"The basement connects to the old tunnel."
"I know."
"You don't."
Julian's expression changed.
"How do you know?"
"Because Father showed it to me."
Daniel stared at him.
"Then you know what happens if they reach the basement."
Julian understood.
The old tunnels didn't lead merely outside.
They led toward the lake.
And beneath the lake estate was an underground storage room.
One his father had used for documents.
Money.
Weapons.
Secrets.
Julian had never been allowed inside.
Now he knew why.
Across Chicago, Maya was unaware that a war had begun.
She was standing inside her apartment.
The lights were off.
Her phone was charging on the kitchen counter.
She stared at it.
Julian had called eleven times.
She had seen the missed calls.
She simply hadn't known what to say.
After the shooting at the bakery, she had returned to the apartment with Rosa.
Then she had spent twenty minutes staring at the wall.
Her mother had lied.
Julian's father had lied.
Daniel was alive.
Mendoza was alive.
And apparently, her entire childhood had been built around a secret nobody trusted her enough to explain.
She picked up her phone.
Julian's name was still on the screen.
She pressed call.
He didn't answer.
Maya frowned.
She tried again.
Nothing.
A strange feeling settled over her.
Julian always answered.
Even when he was angry.
Especially when he was angry.
She called Derek.
No answer.
Her stomach tightened.
She walked toward the window.
Then stopped.
Across the street was a black sedan.
Same model as the one outside the bakery.
Maya's breath caught.
She stepped away from the window.
Her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She stared at it.
Then answered.
"Hello?"
No one spoke.
"Hello?"
A man's voice finally came through.
"You should have listened to your mother."
Maya froze.
"Who is this?"
"You have ten minutes."
"For what?"
"To leave your apartment."
Her blood ran cold.
"Why?"
"Because they're coming."
"Who?"
The line went dead.
Maya stood motionless.
Then the lights in her apartment flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then disappeared.
She looked toward the hallway.
Someone was outside.
A shadow moved beneath the door.
Maya backed away.
Her hand searched for something.
Nothing.
Then her phone vibrated again.
A text.
Don't call Julian.
Another message arrived.
He can't save you this time.
Maya's heart pounded.
She ran toward the fire escape.
At the Lake Geneva estate, Julian reached the basement.
The door opened with a metallic groan.
Daniel entered first.
Derek followed.
Julian stayed behind.
He looked at the men moving through the mansion.
Then he turned.
"Go."
Derek frowned.
"What?"
"Get to Maya."
"You need me here."
"No."
Julian's voice was absolute.
"You need to get her out."
Derek stared at him.
"Where?"
"Anywhere safe."
"There is nowhere safe."
"Then make somewhere."
Derek hesitated.
Julian stepped closer.
"If they reach her before you do, I'll never forgive myself."
Derek's expression softened.
"You already care too much."
Julian looked away.
"Just go."
Derek left.
Julian followed Daniel into the tunnel.
The door closed behind them.
Darkness swallowed the house.
Maya climbed down the fire escape.
Her hands shook.
The metal was freezing.
She reached the alley.
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No voices.
She ran.
She didn't know where she was going.
She only knew she had to move.
She turned the corner.
A black SUV accelerated toward her.
Maya jumped backward.
The vehicle stopped inches away.
The passenger door opened.
A man stepped out.
She recognized him.
The man from the bakery.
"You."
He smiled.
"Get in."
"No."
He grabbed her arm.
Maya fought.
"Let me go!"
Another man appeared behind her.
A cloth covered her mouth.
The smell was sharp.
Chemical.
Her vision blurred.
She kicked.
Twisted.
Tried to scream.
Then the world disappeared.
Julian felt something was wrong.
He didn't know why.
He simply knew.
His body had learned to recognize danger before his mind could name it.
He stopped walking.
Daniel looked back.
"What?"
Julian pulled out his phone.
He called Maya.
Voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
He called Derek.
This time, Derek answered.
"Julian."
"Where are you?"
"Ten minutes away from her apartment."
"You're too late."
"What?"
Julian closed his eyes.
He could feel it.
"She's gone."
Derek stopped.
"How do you know?"
"I know."
"Julian—"
"Find her."
"I'm trying."
"Find her."
"I will."
Julian ended the call.
Daniel stared at him.
"They took her."
Julian looked at him.
"Yes."
Daniel's expression became grim.
"Then we have a problem."
Julian stepped closer.
"What?"
Daniel hesitated.
"They don't need Maya alive."
Julian's eyes turned cold.
"What?"
"If they only wanted her as leverage, they would have contacted you."
"Then why take her?"
"Because Maya is the only person who can unlock something they need."
"What?"
Daniel looked away.
"The Moretti archive."
Julian frowned.
"What is that?"
"A ledger."
"What kind?"
"Names."
Daniel's voice became quieter.
"Every transaction between the Morettis, Mendoza, and the Crofts."
Julian understood.
"Evidence."
"Enough to destroy all three families."
"And Maya has access?"
"Not consciously."
Julian's expression changed.
"Explain."
Daniel looked at him.
"Her mother hid the access key inside something Maya has had since childhood."
"What?"
Daniel answered:
"A necklace."
Maya woke in darkness.
Her head throbbed.
Her hands were tied.
She tried to move.
Nothing.
A chair.
Cold concrete.
She listened.
Water dripping somewhere nearby.
A generator humming.
Footsteps.
Then a door opened.
Light flooded the room.
Maya squinted.
A man entered.
Not the man from the bakery.
Older.
Gray hair.
Expensive coat.
He carried no weapon.
He didn't need one.
Maya recognized him from somewhere.
She couldn't remember where.
"Who are you?"
He pulled a chair across from her.
"My name is Adrian Vale."
Maya shook her head.
"I don't know you."
"You knew my father."
"I don't."
"He knew yours."
Maya stared at him.
"My father is dead."
Vale smiled.
"That's what you were told."
Maya's stomach dropped.
"What do you want?"
"The necklace."
Her hand instinctively moved toward her throat.
The necklace was gone.
Her eyes widened.
Vale noticed.
"You understand now."
"Where is it?"
"Safe."
"Give it back."
He smiled.
"You don't even know what it is."
"It's mine."
"No."
He leaned closer.
"It's your mother's."
Maya stared at him.
"What does it do?"
"Nothing."
"Then why do you want it?"
"Because of what it opens."
Maya swallowed.
"The archive."
Vale smiled.
"Very good."
"Where is it?"
"Your mother knows."
"She'll never tell you."
"I don't need her."
He stood.
"I have you."
Maya's heart pounded.
"You won't hurt me."
Vale looked amused.
"Why?"
"Because Julian will find me."
His smile disappeared.
"That's exactly what we're counting on."
Julian reached the underground chamber.
Daniel opened a steel door.
Inside were shelves.
Boxes.
Files.
Photographs.
Julian walked toward the nearest table.
Daniel pulled out a file.
"This is where Father kept everything."
Julian opened it.
Bank records.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
He turned another page.
Then stopped.
A photograph.
His father.
Rafael Mendoza.
Isabella Moretti.
And Daniel.
All standing together.
But this photograph was different.
Maya was there too.
A child.
Maybe five years old.
Julian stared.
"She was around us."
Daniel nodded.
"She always was."
"Why didn't I know?"
"Because Father wanted you to forget."
"Forget what?"
Daniel looked at him.
"That you met her before."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"I've never met Maya before she came to work for me."
Daniel shook his head.
"Yes, you have."
Julian stared at him.
"When?"
Daniel pointed at the photograph.
"That day."
Julian looked closer.
There he was.
Seventeen years old.
Standing beside Daniel.
And holding the hand of a little girl.
Maya.
His breath caught.
A memory surfaced.
A summer afternoon.
A little girl crying.
Daniel telling him:
"Don't let go of her hand."
Julian closed his eyes.
He remembered.
He remembered everything.
The girl had been frightened.
Her mother had been screaming.
His father had ordered him to leave.
Then Daniel had taken the girl away.
Julian had never seen her again.
Until years later.
When Maya walked into his penthouse.
He had felt something familiar.
He simply hadn't known why.
Julian whispered:
"I knew her."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"She knew me."
"Yes."
"Why didn't she remember?"
"Because she was five."
Julian stared at the photograph.
Then at Daniel.
"What happened that day?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Your father tried to kill Isabella."
Julian looked up.
"What?"
"Isabella escaped."
"And Maya?"
"Your father wanted her."
"Why?"
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Because Maya witnessed something."
"What?"
"She saw who killed her father."
Julian froze.
"Maya's father was murdered?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"By whom?"
Daniel looked at him.
"Victor Croft."
Julian's face hardened.
"My father killed her father."
"Yes."
"Then why did he keep her alive?"
"Because she was the only witness."
Julian stared at him.
"She was five."
"Children remember more than adults think."
"Does she know?"
"No."
"Then why are they after her now?"
Daniel pointed toward the necklace in the photograph.
"Because they think the necklace contains the location of the archive."
Julian's eyes narrowed.
"And does it?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
Julian turned.
"Where is it now?"
Daniel's expression changed.
"They took it."
Julian's phone vibrated.
A text.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
A photograph appeared.
Maya.
Bound to a chair.
Alive.
Terrified.
Julian's blood turned cold.
Another message appeared.
COME ALONE.
Then:
BRING DANIEL.
And finally:
OR SHE DIES.
Julian stared at the screen.
Daniel read his expression.
"They have her."
Julian nodded.
"Yes."
"Then we need a plan."
Julian looked at him.
"No."
Daniel frowned.
"No?"
Julian put the phone away.
"I'm going."
"That's what they want."
"I know."
"They'll kill you."
"I know."
"They'll kill Maya."
Julian's eyes became terrifyingly calm.
"Not if I get there first."
Daniel grabbed his arm.
"Julian, listen to me."
Julian stopped.
"They aren't trying to kill you."
"Then what?"
"They want you to open the archive."
Julian stared.
Daniel's voice became quieter.
"And once you do..."
He paused.
"They'll have everything they need to destroy you."
Julian looked at the photograph of Maya.
Then at the old files.
Then at his brother.
For years, he had believed his empire protected him.
Now he understood.
The empire was the cage.
And Maya was the key.
Maya sat alone in the concrete room.
The necklace lay on the table.
Adrian Vale stood behind her.
"You've been asking yourself why Julian cares about you."
Maya said nothing.
"He didn't know."
"Know what?"
"Who you were."
Maya looked at him.
"You said my father was murdered."
"Yes."
"By Victor Croft."
"Yes."
"Then why would Julian protect me?"
Vale smiled.
"Because Julian doesn't know what his father did."
Maya's voice trembled.
"Then tell me."
"I could."
He picked up the necklace.
"But first..."
He held it toward her.
"...tell me what your mother told you about the symbol."
Maya stared at it.
A tiny silver pendant.
She had worn it since childhood.
Her mother had always told her never to remove it.
Maya had never questioned why.
Until now.
She looked at the symbol.
A small crown surrounded by three interlocking circles.
Her mother had once called it a family charm.
But it wasn't a charm.
It was a seal.
Maya whispered:
"That's not a family symbol."
Vale smiled.
"No."
"What is it?"
"The seal of the Moretti bloodline."
Maya's heart stopped.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"My mother wasn't a Moretti."
"She was."
"No."
"Her real name was Isabella Moretti."
Maya shook her head.
"No."
Vale leaned closer.
"And your father?"
Maya stared at him.
"Who was he?"
Vale smiled.
"Rafael Mendoza."
Maya stopped breathing.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot exploded somewhere outside.
Men shouted.
A door slammed open.
Vale turned.
Maya heard a familiar voice.
Cold.
Controlled.
Furious.
"Step away from her."
Julian.
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
Vale smiled.
"I knew you'd come."
Julian stepped into the doorway.
His weapon was raised.
His eyes never left Maya.
"Let her go."
Vale laughed.
"You came alone."
Julian's voice was quiet.
"Not exactly."
Behind him stood Daniel.
Alive.
Armed.
And staring directly at Vale.
Vale's smile disappeared.
Daniel spoke one sentence.
"You should have stayed dead."
Julian glanced at him.
"Why?"
Daniel's expression was grim.
"Because he was there the night Isabella died."
Maya stared.
Vale raised his weapon.
Julian fired first.
The room erupted into chaos.
Maya screamed.
Daniel tackled Vale.
Julian ran toward her.
He cut the ropes around her wrists.
"Maya."
She collapsed against him.
He caught her.
His arms tightened around her.
"You're safe."
She clung to him.
"You came."
"Of course I came."
"They told me you couldn't save me."
Julian looked at her.
"They were wrong."
Maya pulled back.
Her eyes were wet.
"Julian..."
"What?"
"My mother lied to me."
"I know."
"My father..."
She couldn't finish.
Julian's expression softened.
"We'll figure it out."
"No."
She shook her head.
"You don't understand."
"What?"
She looked at him.
"They said my father was Rafael Mendoza."
Julian froze.
Daniel stopped moving.
Even Vale, bleeding on the floor, smiled.
Maya looked between them.
"Is it true?"
Nobody answered.
That silence was answer enough.
Julian stared at Maya.
Then at Daniel.
Then at the necklace.
Suddenly the entire puzzle shifted.
Maya wasn't merely connected to the war between the families.
She was the center of it.
And if Rafael Mendoza was truly her father...
then Julian had been protecting the daughter of the man his father had spent his life trying to destroy.
Julian's voice was barely audible.
"Who was your father, Maya?"
She looked at him.
And before anyone could answer, the mansion's entire security system activated.
Every alarm began screaming.
Daniel's face changed.
"They found the archive."
Julian tightened his grip around Maya.
"Who?"
Daniel looked toward the corridor.
"Everyone."
Outside, headlights flooded the snow.
Dozens of vehicles surrounded the estate.
The war was no longer hidden.
It had arrived at Julian Croft's doorstep.
May you like
And this time...
they had come for Maya.
