Chapter 13 - The Truth Beneath the Lake House Floor|
At six the following morning, Luca stood in the kitchen wearing a black shirt and dark trousers.
His tattoos were visible along his forearms.
He hadn't slept.
Neither had I.
But the fear in his face had become something else.
Determination.
Not the reckless anger I'd once associated with the Moretti name.
Something colder.
More careful.
More focused.
The police had been informed about the planned meeting.
The lake house was being watched from a distance.
Caroline's attorney had provided the information she could safely disclose.
And Luca had made one decision that surprised everyone.
He would not confront Victor alone.
"That man has spent thirty years controlling our family," Luca said quietly.
Marco nodded.
"Yes, boss."
"I'm not giving him another opportunity."
I stood beside the counter.
"What about Benjamin?"
Luca looked at me.
His eyes softened.
"We're going to bring him home."
I wanted to believe him.
More than anything.
Before leaving, Luca approached me.
"Claire."
"Yes?"
"If Benjamin comes back before I do, stay with him."
My heart tightened.
"Of course."
He hesitated.
Then added:
"And if anything happens to me—"
"No."
He stopped.
I looked directly into his eyes.
"Don't say that."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Luca gave a small nod.
"All right."
I swallowed.
"Just come back."
His expression changed.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then whispered:
"I intend to."
The lake house stood at the edge of a frozen property outside Chicago.
Tall trees surrounded the building.
Snow covered the roof.
For years, Luca had avoided the place.
It reminded him of Caroline.
Of Benjamin's early childhood.
Of summers that seemed impossibly peaceful now.
When he arrived, the building appeared empty.
But the police knew someone had been there recently.
Fresh tire tracks marked the driveway.
A downstairs light glowed behind the curtains.
Luca remained outside while investigators secured the area.
Eventually, an officer approached.
"Mr. Moretti, we found someone."
Luca's heart stopped.
"Benjamin?"
The officer shook his head.
"An elderly woman."
Mrs. Carter.
She was sitting in the kitchen.
Her hands were trembling.
Tears streamed down her face.
When she saw Luca, she began crying harder.
"Mr. Moretti."
Luca stopped in the doorway.
For years, he'd trusted her.
She had helped raise Benjamin.
Prepared Caroline's meals during her pregnancy.
Cared for his household after the funeral.
Now she sat in front of him, ashamed.
"Where is my son?" Luca asked.
Mrs. Carter covered her face.
"I don't know."
His expression hardened.
"What?"
"Michael took him."
Luca went still.
"When?"
"Last night."
"Where?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
Luca closed his eyes.
For a moment, rage threatened to overwhelm him.
Then he remembered Claire's words.
Benjamin needed him to think.
Not lose control.
He took a slow breath.
"Mrs. Carter, tell the investigators everything."
She nodded.
"I will."
Her voice broke.
"Mr. Moretti, he threatened my daughter."
"I know."
She looked up.
"You found Elena?"
"She's safe."
Mrs. Carter began sobbing.
"Oh, thank God."
Luca looked at her.
"You should have told me."
She nodded.
"I know."
"You should have asked for help."
"I was afraid."
Silence.
Then she whispered:
"I love that little boy."
Luca's expression changed.
For a moment, he could see how Victor had used her fear.
That didn't excuse what she'd done.
But it explained why a woman who loved Benjamin had made such a terrible decision.
"Then help us bring him home."
Mrs. Carter nodded through tears.
"There's something you should know."
Luca leaned forward.
"What?"
"Michael wasn't supposed to take Benjamin."
He frowned.
"Explain."
"Victor only wanted the boy brought here to pressure you into opening the music box."
Luca went still.
"The music box?"
Mrs. Carter nodded.
"But Michael said the plan had changed."
His stomach tightened.
"Changed how?"
She swallowed.
"He said Benjamin was worth more than the documents."
The room became silent.
Luca stared.
"What does that mean?"
Mrs. Carter lowered her eyes.
"Michael said whoever controlled the boy could control the inheritance."
Luca felt cold.
For years, he'd believed family wealth meant protection.
Now it had made his nine-year-old son a target.
He stood.
"Where's the nursery?"
Mrs. Carter pointed toward the stairs.
"Second floor."
Investigators accompanied him.
The room had barely changed since Benjamin was a baby.
Yellow curtains.
A white rocking chair.
A wooden crib that had long since been moved against the wall.
And on a shelf sat a small music box.
Luca remembered Caroline winding it while Benjamin slept against her shoulder.
He had almost forgotten the melody.
Now the sight made his eyes burn.
The brass key fit perfectly.
A quiet click echoed through the room.
Inside was a hidden compartment.
A thin envelope rested beneath the mechanism.
Luca opened it carefully.
Several documents lay inside.
Original ownership agreements.
Financial records.
A photograph of his grandfather standing beside Victor Moretti.
And a signed statement from Luca's father.
Luca stared.
The statement described how Victor had diverted family money, forged authorizations, and concealed evidence after Luca's grandfather discovered the scheme.
But there was something else.
A second confession.
Michael's name appeared repeatedly.
Luca's heart pounded.
Then he reached the final page.
A handwritten note from his father.
Luca,
I failed this family by hiding the truth.
I believed silence would protect you and Michael.
Instead, it gave Victor power over both of you.
If you ever find this, don't repeat my mistakes.
Tell the truth, even if it destroys the empire.
Luca closed his eyes.
For years, he had tried to become the kind of man his father respected.
Now his father was asking him to become someone better.
Then his phone rang.
Marco.
"Boss."
Luca answered immediately.
"What?"
"We found Michael."
Luca stood.
"Where?"
"At a private airfield outside the city."
His heart stopped.
"And Benjamin?"
Marco hesitated.
"He's there."
Luca gripped the phone.
"Is he safe?"
"For now."
Luca closed his eyes.
Then Marco continued.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Victor isn't with them."
Luca frowned.
"Where is he?"
A pause.
Then Marco whispered:
"At the Moretti mansion."
Luca went completely still.
May you like
"What?"
"He's looking for Claire."
