Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE ESTATE WENT DARK
The power failed at 11:42 p.m.
Every light in the west wing went out.
I was in Emma's room, reading her a bedtime story.
She looked up.
"Mommy?"
I hugged her.
"It's okay, sweetheart."
Then the emergency lights flickered.
And died.
My stomach tightened.
The Moretti estate had backup generators.
Alessandro had told me so himself.
Why weren't they working?
I reached for my phone.
No signal.
Then I heard footsteps outside.
Slow.
Heavy.
I held Emma closer.
Someone tested the door handle.
My blood turned cold.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
The handle moved again.
Then a voice whispered:
"Claire."
I froze.
It wasn't Luca.
It wasn't Mrs. Alvarez.
It was Marco.
"Open the door."
I held Emma tightly.
"What do you want?"
"Just to talk."
I looked toward the window.
Two stories above the garden.
No safe way out.
Marco spoke again.
"Claire, don't make this difficult."
I backed away.
Then another voice came from the hallway.
"Step away from that door."
Alessandro.
My heart slammed.
Marco laughed.
"Brother. You shouldn't be here."
Alessandro's voice was cold.
"Neither should you."
I heard movement.
A sharp command.
Then Luca's voice.
"Hands where I can see them."
Silence.
A moment later, Alessandro called:
"Claire, it's safe."
I opened the door.
He sat in his wheelchair beneath the emergency exit light.
Luca stood beside him.
Marco was being held by two security officers.
His face was furious.
"You have no idea what you're doing!"
Alessandro looked at him.
"Then explain why you disabled the generators."
Marco's expression changed.
"I didn't."
Luca held up a security access log.
"Your credentials were used."
Marco looked away.
Alessandro stared at his brother.
"Why?"
Marco said nothing.
Then Emma peeked around my shoulder.
She looked at Alessandro.
"Sad man?"
His expression softened instantly.
"I'm here, sweetheart."
She held out Buttons.
"He's scared."
Alessandro looked at the rabbit.
Then at his brother.
And something in his face changed.
Not rage.
Not hatred.
Clarity.
He turned toward Luca.
"Call the police."
Marco's smile vanished.
May you like
"Alessandro—"
"No more family exceptions."
