Chapter 5 - The Man at the Gate
Richard stood outside the gates in a black car, smiling at the security camera.
That smile used to confuse people.
It was calm. Polished. Charming.
The smile of a man who donated to children’s hospitals and remembered waiters’ names.
But I knew what lived beneath it.
I knew how quickly that smile disappeared behind closed doors.
“He can’t come in,” I whispered.
“He won’t,” Luca said.
We watched from the security room as Richard looked up toward the camera.
“Claire,” he said pleasantly. “I know you’re in there.”
Maya was upstairs with Elena.
Still, I felt Richard’s voice crawl beneath my skin.
“You took my daughter without permission,” he continued. “That’s kidnapping.”
“She’s my daughter too,” I said.
“He’ll use that,” Luca replied.
“I know.”
Richard’s smile widened.
“You’re frightened,” he said to the camera. “You’re confused. I forgive you. Bring Maya out, and we can talk.”
Luca leaned toward the microphone.
“You have thirty seconds to leave my property.”
Richard’s expression changed.
Just a flicker.
Then he recognized Luca.
“Moretti,” he said. “Interesting.”
“You know him?” I asked.
Luca didn’t answer.
Richard laughed softly. “Of course you do. You think you can hide behind him, Claire? You have no idea who you’re standing beside.”
Luca’s face became unreadable.
“Twenty seconds,” he said.
Richard raised both hands. “Fine. But she’s still my wife. And Maya is still my daughter. You can buy walls, Moretti. You can’t buy family court.”
Then he got into his car and drove away.
I collapsed into a chair.
Luca crouched in front of me, his voice quieter now.
“He won’t take her.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know men like him.”
“You know him?”
Luca’s gaze moved toward the dark monitor.
“Years ago, Richard tried to acquire land owned by one of my companies. He used threats, pressure, lies. When he failed, he went looking for leverage.”
“What leverage?”
“Me.”
A chill moved through me.
Luca stood. “I have enemies, Claire. Powerful ones. My son became a target the moment he was born.”
“That’s why you had Dante on the plane.”
“Yes.”
“And Theodore’s mother?”
His eyes closed briefly.
“Her accident may not have been an accident.”
The words hung between us.
Before I could respond, Elena rushed into the room.
“Mr. Moretti,” she said, pale. “The little girl is gone.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“Elena!” I screamed, running.
Maya’s bedroom window was open.
Her stuffed rabbit lay on the floor.
And on the bed was a single white envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Maya asleep in the backseat of Richard’s car.
Below it, written in black ink:
May you like
COME ALONE.
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