Chapter 5 - The Blood Test Nobody Was Meant to See
Adrian had imagined ghosts.
He had never expected one to call him.
“Elena died.”
“So did Claire.”
The answer silenced him.
“Where are you?”
“Close enough.”
“Why Sophie?”
“Wrong question.”
“Then give me the right one.”
“Ask why Dad wanted everyone to believe I died.”
The call ended.
Adrian immediately ordered the number traced.
Nothing.
Claire stood across the room watching him.
“You believe it was her?”
“I know my sister's voice.”
“After twenty-two years?”
“Yes.”
Sophie wandered toward him.
Children had a strange ability to ignore the rules adults constructed around disaster.
“Was that your sister?”
Adrian looked down.
“Yes.”
“Is she mean?”
Despite everything, Claire almost smiled.
“I don't know anymore.”
Sophie considered this.
“My mom says people can get mean when they're scared.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“I say too many things around you.”
Adrian crouched.
“What else does your mother say?”
“That you're handsome.”
“Sophie.”
The girl's grin lasted approximately two seconds.
Then the windows exploded.
Adrian threw himself over her.
Claire hit the floor.
Dominic returned fire.
The attack lasted less than thirty seconds.
Long enough.
When it ended, two guards were injured.
And Claire was gone.
The rear service door stood open.
Adrian found her phone on the floor.
On its screen was a message.
PIER 19. BRING SOPHIE OR CLAIRE DIES.
Adrian crushed the phone in his hand.
Dominic said, “We aren't bringing her.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Adrian looked at Sophie.
“We make them believe we are.”
---
Claire woke inside a shipping container.
Elena Moretti sat opposite her.
She was forty-seven now.
A scar ran from her ear toward her collarbone.
“You.”
Claire recognized her from photographs.
“You've been doing this?”
“Some of it.”
“You threatened my daughter.”
“I protected your daughter.”
“You shot at us.”
“No.”
Elena leaned forward.
“That's the problem. There are two groups hunting Sophie.”
Claire stared.
“One wants her dead.”
“And you?”
“I need her alive.”
“For the money?”
Elena laughed.
“This was never about money.”
She placed a laboratory report on the floor.
Claire picked it up.
DNA PATERNITY ANALYSIS.
Sophie Vale.
Adrian Moretti.
Probability of paternity: 99.99%.
Claire looked up.
“How did you get this?”
“I've had samples for years.”
“You've been testing my child?”
“I needed proof.”
“Why?”
Elena's expression changed.
“Because Sophie isn't merely Adrian's daughter.”
“I know about the trust.”
“You know the decoy.”
Claire's blood went cold.
Elena pushed another document toward her.
It was older.
Handwritten.
Signed by Vittorio.
“The legitimate companies were never the important inheritance.”
Claire read.
Her stomach turned.
Names.
Judges.
Politicians.
Police officers.
Bank accounts.
Decades of payments.
Evidence capable of dismantling the Moretti organization and everyone it had purchased.
“The archive,” Elena said, “can only be opened with two biological keys.”
Claire looked up.
“Adrian and his child.”
“Yes.”
“Why would Vittorio create that?”
“He didn't trust his own empire.”
Elena leaned closer.
“He wanted Adrian to have a way out.”
A gunshot sounded outside.
Elena stood.
“That wasn't mine.”
Another.
Then another.
Men shouted.
Claire backed away.
Elena drew a pistol.
The container door opened.
Dominic stood there.
“Elena.”
She aimed at him.
He aimed back.
Claire froze between them.
Then Dominic lowered his weapon.
“My father said you'd be here.”
Elena stared.
“Daniel's alive?”
Dominic's face tightened.
“Not anymore.”
Something broke behind Elena's eyes.
For the first time, Claire understood.
Cross hadn't merely protected Sophie.
He had worked with Elena.
Before anyone could speak, automatic fire erupted outside.
Dominic grabbed Claire.
“Move!”
They escaped through the container yard.
Adrian appeared between two rows of freight containers with Sophie behind armored cover.
Claire screamed.
“You brought her?”
“She doesn't leave my sight.”
“Adrian!”
Then Sophie saw Claire.
“Mom!”
She ran.
Claire caught her.
Adrian reached them.
A bullet struck the steel beside his head.
“Car. Now.”
They moved.
Elena followed.
For a few frantic minutes, enemies became irrelevant.
Survival was simpler.
They reached the armored SUV.
Dominic slammed the door.
“Drive!”
As the vehicle tore away, Adrian looked at his sister.
Twenty-two years.
No hug.
No tears.
Only one question.
“Who is trying to kill my daughter?”
Elena stared through the windshield.
“The man Dad trusted more than either of us.”
“Name.”
Elena looked at Dominic.
Then Adrian.
“Marcus.”
Adrian laughed in disbelief.
“Marcus saved Claire.”
“Yes.”
“He was shot protecting us.”
Elena's expression remained flat.
“Was he?”
Adrian remembered the angle.
The darkness.
Marcus collapsing.
A wound conveniently missing his heart.
Elena continued.
“Marcus didn't save Claire from Vittorio.”
“Then why?”
“He saved her because he needed her pregnancy to continue.”
Adrian felt the first pieces lock together.
“He needed Sophie.”
“Yes.”
“For the archive.”
“Yes.”
“Then why hunt her?”
“Because he no longer needs her.”
Elena placed the DNA report in Adrian's hands.
“He already has what he needs.”
Adrian looked at the report.
A second child was listed beneath Sophie's name.
A male.
Twelve years old.
Adrian stared at the paternal match.
99.99%.
His voice dropped.
“What is this?”
Elena answered.
May you like
“Proof that Sophie isn't your only child.”
---
