Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER WHO STOLE THREE YEARS
Adrian had imagined his brother's return a thousand times.
He had imagined an embrace.
Tears.
Questions.
Relief.
Instead, he felt only cold fury.
Luca stood beneath the chandelier wearing a perfectly tailored navy suit.
He looked healthy.
Wealthy.
Untouchable.
Five years had passed since Adrian watched his coffin disappear beneath the earth.
And now Luca was smiling as though he'd simply returned from a long vacation.
"You're alive," Adrian said.
Luca spread his hands.
"Clearly."
Adrian took one step forward.
"How?"
Luca shrugged.
"Death is a useful disguise."
Behind Adrian, Evelyn made a small sound.
Luca's gaze moved toward her.
"Evie. I told you to finish the gallery."
Adrian stepped between them.
"Don't speak to her."
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"Still protective."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"She's my wife."
Luca laughed.
"Your wife disappeared three years ago."
"Because you took her."
"That's one interpretation."
Adrian felt the old instinct rise.
The instinct that had made him feared in Chicago.
The desire to solve betrayal through violence.
But Evelyn was standing behind him.
Terrified.
He could not afford to lose control.
"Why?" he asked.
Luca's smile faded.
"Because you took everything from me."
Adrian stared.
"What are you talking about?"
"The family business. Father's trust. Mother's affection."
"Luca—"
"You were always the golden son."
Adrian shook his head.
"You were my brother."
"And I was always second."
Silence.
Luca walked toward a side table and poured himself a drink.
"Do you remember the night Father died?"
Adrian's expression hardened.
Their father had been murdered twelve years earlier.
A shooting outside a restaurant.
A rival family was blamed.
Adrian had inherited control of the organization.
Luca had received a smaller share of legitimate holdings.
"What about it?" Adrian asked.
Luca took a sip.
"Father was going to change his will."
Adrian frowned.
"He never told me."
"Of course not."
Luca smiled bitterly.
"He was going to give me the shipping companies."
Adrian stared.
"And you think I stopped him?"
Luca's eyes hardened.
"I know you did."
Adrian shook his head.
"You're wrong."
Luca laughed.
"That's what you always say."
Evelyn whispered:
"Luca, please."
He turned.
"Quiet."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Don't."
Luca studied him.
Then smiled.
"Still pretending to be the hero."
He looked at Evelyn.
"Tell him."
She shook her head.
Luca's voice hardened.
"Tell him what happened the night you disappeared."
Evelyn's breathing became shallow.
Adrian turned toward her.
"Evie?"
She looked at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
Then she whispered:
"I was pregnant."
Adrian stopped breathing.
The room became silent.
"What?"
Evelyn covered her mouth.
"I was going to tell you."
Adrian stared.
Three years.
He had searched for her for three years.
He had imagined every possible tragedy.
But never this.
"Pregnant?"
She nodded.
Adrian looked at Luca.
His brother smiled.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
Adrian's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Where is the child?"
Evelyn began crying.
Luca placed his glass down.
"That's the question, isn't it?"
Adrian moved toward him.
Luca raised one hand.
"Careful, brother."
Two guards appeared at the corridor entrance.
Adrian stopped.
Luca smiled.
"You came here alone. That was careless."
Adrian looked toward Evelyn.
Her face was white.
"Where is my child?"
Luca leaned closer.
"Alive."
Adrian felt his knees weaken.
May you like
Then Luca whispered:
"But whether you ever meet her depends on how cooperative you become."
