Chapter 8 - The Wrong Kidnapper
Valentina left through the east terrace with the microSD card taped beneath her watchband and a second card in her pocket.
Nico argued once.
She ignored him.
The note pointed her to the abandoned greenhouse at the edge of the Carbone property.
Glass walls black against the evening.
Door open.
She entered with her pistol low.
“Lily?”
A small voice answered from behind overturned planting tables.
“Mommy?”
Valentina moved fast.
Evelyn stepped into view with both hands raised.
Lily was behind her.
Alive.
Valentina aimed at Evelyn’s chest.
“Move away from her.”
Evelyn did.
“I took her.”
“You have three seconds to explain why you’re still breathing.”
“I saw Marco’s men going upstairs.”
“Which men?”
“Paolo and Mendes. They were not assigned to the nursery.”
Valentina knew both.
Old Bellini loyalists.
“So you assaulted my guards?”
“No. One of Marco’s men did. I grabbed Lily and used the service stairs.”
Lily ran to Valentina.
Valentina dropped to one knee and caught her.
“Did she hurt you?”
Lily shook her head.
“Aunt Evelyn gave me crackers.”
Evelyn almost laughed from relief.
Valentina stood without letting Lily go.
“Why the note?”
“I needed you alone.”
“That was stupid.”
“I needed to tell you something before Marco heard it.”
Lily tugged Valentina’s sleeve.
“Mommy.”
“What?”
“Uncle Marco said you don’t need me.”
Valentina’s body went still.
“When did he say that?”
Lily pointed vaguely toward the house.
“He came in my room when Rosa was downstairs.”
“When?”
“Before lunch.”
Evelyn whispered, “He knew.”
Valentina looked at her.
“Knew what?”
“That Lily was the trust.”
Glass exploded above them.
Valentina threw Lily down and covered her.
Evelyn jerked backward.
Blood sprayed across a planter.
A rifle shot.
Valentina dragged Lily behind the concrete base of a potting bench.
The greenhouse lights died.
Outside, garden lamps went dark one after another.
Then the old speaker system crackled overhead.
Marco’s voice filled the greenhouse.
May you like
“Now we can stop pretending.”
