Chapter 6 - THE CONFESSION
I slammed the heavy door shut, locked the deadbolt, and collapsed against the wood, gasping for air.
Sophie buried her face in my neck, trembling uncontrollably.
The gunshot still echoed in my ears.
“Hannah?”
I looked up.
Teresa Moretti was sitting up in her large four-poster bed. The little brass bell was clutched tightly in her hand. Her face was pale, but her eyes were sharp and completely lucid.
“Mrs. Moretti,” I breathed, carrying Sophie over to the bed. “There was a shot downstairs. I’m so sorry, I—”
Teresa reached out and gently took Sophie from my arms, pulling the little girl onto her lap and stroking her blonde hair.
“Hush, bambina,” Teresa murmured, rocking her gently. “It’s over now. The bad lady is gone.”
I stood by the bed, my hands shaking.
“Mrs. Moretti, did you know? About Vanessa and Marco?”
The old woman looked at me, her dark eyes filled with sorrow.
“I knew Marco was a snake. I knew Vanessa was cruel. But I didn’t know they killed my Catherine until tonight.”
She kissed the top of Sophie’s head.
“Sophie, sweetheart, I need you to put your headphones on and watch your cartoon on the iPad for a few minutes. Can you do that for Grandma?”
Sophie sniffled, nodded, and grabbed the tablet from the nightstand. She pulled the large headphones over her ears, drowning out the world.
Teresa waited until the child was distracted before looking back at me.
“Hannah, come here.”
I stepped closer to the bed.
Teresa reached under her pillow and pulled out a small, worn leather journal.
“My husband, God rest his soul, built this family’s empire on blood and secrets,” Teresa said softly. “When he died, he wanted Luca to legitimize the business. To clean it up. Marco hated that.”
She handed me the journal.
“Marco wanted the old ways. He knew Luca wouldn’t listen to him, so he used Vanessa. He pushed her into Luca’s bed, hoping to control him through her.”
I opened the journal. The pages were filled with names, dates, and bank account numbers.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Marco’s offshore accounts,” Teresa said. “He’s been stealing from the family for five years. Catherine found out. That’s why they killed her.”
My stomach turned. “Catherine knew?”
“She was smart, that girl,” Teresa smiled sadly. “She hid the evidence. But she trusted the wrong person.”
I looked up. “Who?”
“Your mother.”
The journal slipped from my hands, landing on the thick carpet.
“No,” I whispered.
“Evelyn was Catherine’s private nurse during her pregnancy with Sophie,” Teresa explained gently. “They became close. When Catherine realized she was in danger, she gave Evelyn the real will and the evidence against Marco, asking her to keep it safe.”
Tears filled my eyes. “My mother took it?”
Teresa nodded. “But Marco found out. He threatened Evelyn. He told her that if she ever spoke a word, he would kill you.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
My mother hadn’t run away to find a better job.
She had run away to save my life.
“She’s been hiding for nine years,” I cried. “She’s been living in fear for nine years because of this family!”
“And she did a wonderful job,” Teresa said firmly. “She raised a brave, kind daughter who protected me when no one else would.”
Suddenly, the doorknob rattled.
I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat.
“Mom? Hannah? Open the door.”
It was Luca.
I rushed to the door and unlocked the deadbolt.
Luca stepped into the room.
He had taken off his vest and shoulder holster. There was a small spot of blood on the cuff of his white shirt.
He looked exhausted, like he had aged ten years in the last hour.
“Where is Marco?” Teresa asked quietly.
“Gone,” Luca said, his voice flat.
He didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t ask.
He walked over to the bed and looked down at his daughter, who was still watching her iPad, completely oblivious.
Luca gently stroked Sophie’s hair, then looked at his mother.
“Vanessa is gone too. They won’t bother us anymore.”
Teresa sighed, her shoulders sagging in relief.
“Good.”
Luca turned to me.
“Hannah. Pack your bags.”
I froze. “What?”
“Pack your bags. Go home to your mother. I’m sending two of my best men to guard your apartment. Tomorrow morning, I’m flying both of you to a private clinic in Switzerland. The best doctors in the world will take care of her dementia.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. “Mr. Moretti, I can’t accept—”
“You saved my mother’s dignity,” Luca interrupted, stepping closer. “You protected my daughter. You uncovered the truth about my wife. You will never have to worry about money or safety again.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver locket.
He pressed it into my hand, folding my fingers over the cold metal.
“Catherine trusted your mother. I trust you.”
I looked down at the locket, then up into Luca’s dark, intense eyes.
For a moment, the air between us crackled with something unspoken. Something heavy and real.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He nodded once, then stepped back.
“Go pack, Hannah.”
I turned and walked toward the door.
But just as my hand touched the knob, Teresa spoke.
“Wait.”
I stopped.
The old woman looked at Luca, her eyes suddenly filled with panic.
“Luca, if Marco is gone... who sent the message?”
Luca frowned. “What message, Mom?”
Teresa reached over to her bedside table and picked up a piece of folded black paper.
“Someone slid this under my door ten minutes ago.”
Luca walked over and took the paper.
He unfolded it.
As he read the words, the color completely drained from his face.
He looked at me, his eyes wide with genuine terror.
“Hannah,” he whispered. “Where is your mother right now?”
“She’s at home,” I stammered. “With the night aide. Why?”
Luca turned the paper around so I could see it.
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Written in perfectly typed white letters was a single sentence:
We have Evelyn. Give us the will, or she dies tonight.
