Chapter 7 - The Girl Who Vanished
Leo Rossi had faced death many times.
He had never felt it move this fast.
One second, Lily had been in a hospital bed.
The next, she was gone.
Leo stood in the center of the hospital corridor with the phone still pressed against his ear.
"What do you mean she's gone?"
The nurse was crying.
"We checked the room. She wasn't there."
"Who was guarding her?"
"Two security officers."
"Where are they?"
"They're unconscious."
Leo's face became expressionless.
"Lock down the hospital."
"We already—"
"Lock it down."
He ended the call.
Mateo was already running toward the elevators.
Adrian followed.
Beatrice stood frozen.
Then she heard Leo say her name.
"Beatrice."
She looked up.
"Come with me."
She didn't move.
"My sister..."
Leo stopped.
"What?"
Beatrice's voice shook.
"She's my sister."
The words sounded strange.
Impossible.
But somehow they no longer felt impossible.
Leo walked toward her.
"Yes."
Beatrice stared at him.
"I've spent my whole life wondering why I felt like something was missing."
Leo's eyes softened.
"So have I."
She swallowed.
"Bring her back."
"I will."
"No matter what."
Leo nodded.
"No matter what."
The hospital cameras showed three people entering Lily's room.
A nurse.
A security guard.
And a woman wearing a gray coat.
The woman's face was hidden.
But the security guard had opened the door for her.
Mateo paused the footage.
"She had authorization."
Leo leaned closer.
"From who?"
Mateo enlarged the badge.
His expression changed.
"Hospital administration."
"Name."
"There's no name."
Leo's jaw tightened.
"Fake badge."
Adrian stood behind him.
"Victoria."
Leo turned.
"You think she did this?"
"I know she did."
"How?"
"Because Victoria never does anything without a reason."
Adrian pointed at the screen.
"Look at her left hand."
Leo froze.
A silver bracelet.
A distinctive black stone.
He had seen it before.
In the photograph from the cemetery.
Victoria had been wearing it.
Leo's eyes hardened.
"Find her."
Mateo nodded.
Three hours later, a black SUV was found abandoned near the river.
Inside was a child's stuffed rabbit.
Lily's rabbit.
Beatrice picked it up.
Her hands trembled.
"No."
Leo looked at her.
"It's a message."
She shook her head.
"She wouldn't leave this."
"What?"
"Lily doesn't sleep without it."
Leo looked at the rabbit.
A tiny smear of blood stained one ear.
His face went cold.
Mateo called.
"We found the vehicle."
"Where?"
"Near the old Rossi warehouse."
Leo knew the place.
His father's first warehouse.
The place where Adrian had supposedly died.
Leo looked at Adrian.
"Is this where it happened?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
"Then that's where we're going."
The warehouse was empty.
Too empty.
Leo entered with Mateo and six armed men.
Beatrice stayed behind.
Adrian insisted.
"No."
She looked at him.
"You don't tell me where I can go."
"You don't understand what's inside."
"I understand my sister is inside."
Adrian stepped closer.
"I've lost people because they followed me into places like this."
Beatrice stared at him.
"Then stop losing people."
She walked past him.
Adrian looked at Leo.
"She has your stubbornness."
Leo almost smiled.
"Unfortunately."
They entered together.
The warehouse smelled of dust and oil.
Old machinery sat beneath plastic sheets.
The walls were covered with faded markings.
Then Beatrice stopped.
"Wait."
Everyone froze.
"What?"
She pointed toward a wall.
A child's drawing had been scratched into the paint.
A house.
A woman.
Two little girls holding hands.
Underneath them were three letters.
B + L + E
Beatrice touched the drawing.
"I made this."
Leo stared.
"You remember?"
"Not everything."
She closed her eyes.
"I remember Lily."
"But you didn't know her."
"I knew her before I knew her name."
Adrian looked away.
Leo noticed.
"You knew she was here."
Adrian didn't answer.
Leo grabbed him.
"You knew?"
Adrian finally spoke.
"Elena brought both children here."
"When?"
"After the bombing."
Leo's eyes widened.
"Lily was here?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't she tell me?"
"Because she knew someone was watching you."
"Who?"
Adrian looked toward the darkness.
"Your father."
Leo's expression changed.
"My father was dead."
"Dead men can still leave orders."
Before Leo could respond, the warehouse lights came on.
A speaker crackled.
Victoria's voice filled the room.
"Hello, Leo."
Leo raised his weapon.
"Where is Lily?"
A laugh echoed.
"You always were impatient."
"Where is my daughter?"
"Safe."
"Let me hear her."
Silence.
Then a small voice came through the speaker.
"Daddy?"
Leo's heart broke.
"Lily!"
"Papa..."
Her voice was weak.
"Where are you?"
"I don't know."
Victoria spoke again.
"She's unharmed."
Leo's grip tightened.
"What do you want?"
"The ledger."
"You already know I don't have it."
"Then bring me Beatrice."
Beatrice stepped forward.
"No."
Leo looked at her.
Victoria laughed.
"She has always been brave."
Leo spoke into the microphone.
"You touch her, and I will destroy everything you have."
"You still don't understand."
"What?"
"This isn't about the ledger."
A pause.
"It's about blood."
The speakers went silent.
Then the doors of the warehouse slammed shut.
Gas began pouring from the vents.
Mateo shouted.
"Gas!"
Leo grabbed Beatrice.
Adrian kicked open a side door.
Everyone ran.
Outside, Beatrice collapsed.
Leo caught her.
She coughed violently.
Adrian looked back at the warehouse.
"This was a test."
Leo stared at him.
"What?"
"Victoria wanted to see who would protect Beatrice."
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Adrian looked at Beatrice.
"Because now she knows."
"Knows what?"
"That you are willing to die for her."
Leo didn't understand.
Adrian's voice dropped.
"Exactly what she needed to know."
Across the city, Victoria stood beside Lily.
The little girl sat on a chair.
She wasn't tied.
She wasn't crying.
She simply looked frightened.
Victoria knelt beside her.
"You know your father loves you."
Lily nodded.
"Then tell me something."
Victoria held out a photograph.
"Who is this?"
Lily stared.
It was a photograph of Beatrice as a child.
Lily's eyes widened.
"Bee."
Victoria smiled.
"Good."
She placed another photograph beside it.
A picture of Elena.
Lily looked at it.
"Mommy?"
Victoria's smile disappeared.
"Yes."
Lily touched the photograph.
"Mommy."
Victoria stood.
"Now tell me."
She leaned closer.
"Where did your mother hide the key?"
Lily shook her head.
"I don't know."
Victoria grabbed her chin.
"You do."
Lily began crying.
"I don't."
Victoria released her.
Then the door opened.
A man entered.
He wore a dark suit.
A scar ran across his cheek.
Lily looked at him.
"Uncle Adrian?"
The man smiled.
"No, sweetheart."
He removed the disguise from his face.
The man beneath it was someone Leo had never met.
But Victoria knew him.
She whispered:
"Daniel."
May you like
The man nodded.
"Your father is closer than he thinks."
