Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED TWICE
Sofia Moretti had been hiding for six years.
Not because she wanted to.
Because someone had threatened her son.
After Matteo's death, she discovered records showing that Bellini Holdings had been using Moretti shipping routes to move illegal cargo without authorization.
Matteo had planned to expose the operation.
Then he died.
Sofia received a message.
A photograph of Leo sleeping in his crib.
Beneath it were four words.
KEEP QUIET OR LOSE HIM.
She fled Sicily.
Changed her name.
Moved repeatedly.
And lived in fear.
Three weeks before the explosion, Sofia contacted a former Moretti accountant.
She wanted to return to New York.
She believed Dominic had finally separated enough of the family business from Bellini interests to protect her.
The accountant arranged a meeting at Warehouse Seventeen.
But someone intercepted the communication.
When Sofia arrived, Bellini security was waiting.
She managed to escape briefly with Leo.
Then the explosion occurred.
Dominic had been at the warehouse because Luca received an anonymous warning that a woman and child were in danger.
He arrived minutes before the blast.
And when the fire erupted, he carried Leo toward the exit.
He remembered that much.
Then darkness.
Luca explained the timeline while I lay in bed.
I listened.
Then asked:
“Where's Sofia?”
He looked down.
“We're still searching.”
I closed my eyes.
“Find her.”
“We will.”
I opened my eyes.
“Alive.”
Luca nodded.
“Alive.”
That night, Grace entered my room.
She carried medication and a fresh dressing kit.
I watched her work.
Her hands were steady.
Gentle.
She didn't treat my scars as something ugly.
She treated them as injuries that needed care.
“Grace.”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“Why did you refuse the transfer?”
She hesitated.
“Because the authorization wasn't valid.”
“Even after Vanessa threatened you?”
Grace smiled faintly.
“Patients don't stop being patients because someone powerful gets angry.”
May you like
I looked at her.
For the first time in years, I didn't know what to say.
