Chapter 12 - THE BLOOD OF A MORETTI
Chaos erupted inside the cabin.
The plane dove steeply as the pilot began an emergency descent toward London.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and scrambled toward the back cabin. Sofia was weeping over the baby, who was turning a terrifying shade of blue.
"She's choking!" Sofia screamed.
I fell to my knees beside them. "Let me see her."
I gently took the baby from Sofia's trembling hands. I remembered a first aid course I had taken to help care for my mother.
I flipped the tiny infant face down along my forearm, supporting her jaw, and delivered three firm strikes between her shoulder blades.
Nothing.
Teresa prayed furiously. Luca stood in the doorway, entirely helpless against this kind of enemy.
I struck again. Firm, steady.
Suddenly, the baby coughed. A small piece of plastic—a broken button from the yellow sweater—flew out of her mouth onto the carpet.
The baby let out a loud, piercing, beautiful cry.
Color flooded back into her cheeks.
Sofia collapsed against the wall, sobbing in relief. I handed the child back to her mother.
"You saved her," Teresa whispered, kissing my forehead. "You have the steady hands of a true Moretti."
The plane hit the tarmac in London hard, the brakes screaming as we taxied to a halt.
Outside the windows, dozens of armed British police officers surrounded the jet, their lights flashing blue and red in the London fog.
Luca turned to us, his expression resolute.
"They're going to board the plane," Luca said rapidly. "They're looking for a kidnapped maid and a stolen child. We have to give them exactly what they're looking for, but on our terms."
He looked at my mother. "Clara. Give me the medallion."
My mother didn't hesitate. She unclasped the heavy gold necklace and pressed it into Luca's hand.
The cabin door hissed open. Armed officers poured in, weapons drawn.
"Hands where we can see them!" the lead officer shouted.
Luca raised his hands slowly.
"We received a tip from a Mr. Donatello," the officer barked. "He claimed you kidnapped a woman named Hannah Collins."
I stood up from the floor, wiping the sweat from my brow.
"I wasn't kidnapped," I said, my voice ringing clear and strong through the quiet cabin. "My name is Hannah Moretti. I am traveling with my family of my own free will."
The officer frowned, lowering his weapon slightly. "Are you sure, miss?"
"I've never been more sure of anything," I said, looking at Luca, Teresa, and Sofia.
Luca smiled, a genuine, proud smile.
He stepped forward, handing a thick leather folder to the lead officer. "Here are our passports, Officer. And here is an envelope addressed to the Director of Interpol. It contains evidence of human trafficking, extortion, and fraud committed by a man named Donatello. I suggest you arrest him for filing a false report before he leaves Chicago."
The officer took the folder, his eyes widening as he recognized the seal on the envelope.
Six months later.
The sun shone brightly over the rolling hills of the Moretti estate in Naples.
I sat on the terrace, sipping espresso and watching my mother walk through the gardens, her health fully restored by the Mediterranean air.
Teresa sat beside me, knitting a tiny blue sweater. Her hands shook a little less these days.
Sofia was on the lawn, laughing as Luca held her beautiful, healthy baby girl high in the air.
Donatello was in federal prison. Vanessa’s illegal operations had been seized. The Moretti name was clear.
Luca walked up the stone steps, holding a letter. He sat down beside me and slid it across the table.
It was the paperwork making me a legal, recognized partner in the Moretti family trust.
"You don't have to sign it if you want your old life back," Luca teased gently.
I picked up the pen.
I thought about the cold Chicago mansion, the endless scrubbing, the fear of not being able to pay the bills. I looked at the family surrounding me—a family I never knew I had, a family that fought for me.
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"I'm exactly where I belong," I smiled, and signed my name.
Hannah Moretti.
