Chapter 4 - THE CHILD MY FATHER-IN-LAW WANTED
I stared at Luca.
"My baby?"
He nodded.
"Salvatore believes the child will give him leverage over Dante and the trust."
I shook my head.
"That's insane."
"He's been planning this for months."
I stood too quickly.
A sharp pain crossed my lower abdomen.
Luca rose.
"Elena?"
"I'm fine."
But I wasn't.
My baby shifted.
I pressed both hands against my stomach.
"Why would Salvatore care about my child?"
Luca hesitated.
"Because of the succession clause."
I stared.
"What succession clause?"
He explained that my grandfather's trust contained provisions protecting my descendants.
The forty-percent ownership interest could pass to my child under certain conditions.
Salvatore had been trying to gain control over the trust assets through fraudulent documents and pressure.
A child born into the Moretti family complicated his plans.
I felt cold.
"So he wants to control my baby?"
Luca nodded.
"He wants you isolated. Frightened. Dependent."
I looked toward the door.
"And Vivian?"
"She was supposed to provoke you into leaving."
I laughed bitterly.
"She succeeded."
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"But why would Dante cooperate?"
Luca looked uncomfortable.
"I don't know everything."
"Then tell me what you do know."
He sighed.
"Dante has been meeting Vivian because she works for Salvatore."
My chest tightened.
"That doesn't make it better."
"I know."
"He brought her into our bedroom."
Luca looked down.
"I know."
"He humiliated me while I was carrying his child."
Luca nodded.
"Nothing excuses that."
For the first time that night, I felt someone was actually hearing me.
A knock sounded.
Not three slow knocks.
Five rapid ones.
Luca stood.
A man's voice came from the hallway.
"Mrs. Moretti? Hotel security."
Luca looked at me.
"Don't answer."
The voice continued.
"We've received a report of a disturbance."
Luca moved toward the window.
I looked at the clock.
2:06 a.m.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Miriam.
Police are on the way. Stay inside. Do not open the door.
I showed Luca.
He nodded.
"Good."
Then the voice outside changed.
"Elena."
My blood froze.
It was Dante.
"Open the door."
I stared.
Luca looked at me.
For the first time, he seemed uncertain.
Then Dante spoke again.
"Please."
One word.
Not an order.
Not a threat.
May you like
A plea.
And somehow, that frightened me more.
