Chapter 2 - The Voice Behind the Walls

Nobody moved after Caterina spoke.

Not Luca.

Not Emma.

Not Belini.

Lily held Emma’s hand with both of hers.

“Your daughter,” Caterina had said.

The words remained in the hall long after the speakers went silent.

Luca looked at Emma.

“Is Lily mine?”

Emma’s face had gone white.

Before she could answer, Belini stood.

“This is insane.”

Luca did not look at her.

“Sit.”

She sat.

Emma swallowed.

“Yes.”

The room changed.

Luca did not.

At least not visibly.

He looked at Lily.

Three years old.

Curly hair.

Hazel eyes.

A small dimple beside her mouth.

His daughter.

He had seen her in staff corridors for almost a year.

Never knowing.

“How long?” he asked.

Emma’s voice broke.

“Since before she was born.”

“That is not what I asked.”

“I tried to tell you.”

Belini made a sound.

Too small.

But Luca heard it.

Emma did too.

Luca turned.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No.”

He stepped toward her.

“You reacted.”

Belini’s jaw tightened.

Emma whispered:

“She was there.”

Luca looked back.

“Where?”

“The hospital.”

Silence.

Emma continued.

“I went into labor early. Lily was born at a private clinic in Queens. Belini came before you did.”

Luca’s eyes hardened.

“I was never told.”

“I know.”

Emma looked toward Belini.

“She told me you had sent her.”

Belini laughed once.

“That is a lie.”

Emma shook her head.

“You brought papers.”

“What papers?”

“A paternity waiver.”

Luca became still.

Belini answered too quickly.

“There was no waiver.”

Emma’s eyes filled.

“There was. You told me Luca wanted no connection to the child.”

Luca looked at Marco.

“Pull every record from that clinic.”

Marco nodded.

Antonio remained seated under guard.

His expression had become unreadable.

Then the house speakers crackled again.

Caterina.

“Luca.”

He looked up.

“Where are you?”

“Close enough.”

“Come inside.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because Antonio is still breathing.”

Every eye moved toward the old consigliere.

Antonio smiled faintly.

“Caterina.”

The speakers went silent.

Then the lights in the west corridor blinked.

One door unlocked.

Marco raised his weapon.

Luca looked toward the hall.

A woman appeared.

White hair.

Dark-red coat.

Scar beside her left cheek.

Caterina Moretti.

Luca’s mother.

Dead fourteen years.

She walked into the dining hall as though she had left that morning.

Luca stared.

“Mom.”

Caterina looked at him.

Then at Lily.

Her face softened.

“My granddaughter.”

Lily hid behind Emma.

Caterina stopped.

She did not approach.

“Good.”

Luca’s voice was low.

“You gave Alessandro the vial.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To keep Matteo alive.”

Alessandro stood.

“You said they were watching me.”

“They were.”

“Who?”

Caterina looked at Antonio.

Then at Belini.

“Both.”

Antonio’s smile disappeared.

Belini did not move.

Caterina continued.

“The poison was never poison when I handed it to Alessandro.”

Marco frowned.

“What was it?”

“A harmless sedative.”

Alessandro exhaled.

“I switched it with another sedative.”

For the first time that night, Caterina almost smiled.

“You always were cautious.”

Luca did not.

“Then who wanted me dead?”

Caterina looked at Belini.

Belini’s face tightened.

But Caterina shook her head.

“Not her.”

Luca’s gaze shifted.

Antonio.

The old man finally looked afraid.

Caterina said:

“He wanted you unconscious long enough to move Lily.”

Emma pulled her daughter close.

“Move her where?”

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Caterina’s answer came quietly.

“Back to the place Belini sent her the night she was born.”