Chapter 4 - The Shadow of Dominic
The command room on the basement level of the Costa estate looked like a military war center.
Monitors covered the concrete walls, displaying live camera feeds of the estate perimeter, thermal tracking sweeps of the surrounding woods, and news broadcasts from across the country.
Adrian stood before the primary screen, his arms folded across his chest, his jaw set like iron.
Isabella sat in a leather swivel chair beside him, sipping a mug of hot coffee that one of the guards had brought her. Sophia was fast asleep upstairs under the watchful eyes of two armed guards whom Isabella had personally vetted before leaving the nursery.
On the screen, a news anchor was reading a statement from Dominic Moretti’s legal team.
“Dominic Moretti, head of Moretti Global Logistics, has issued an emergency appeal following the disappearance of his daughter, Valentina, and her infant child. According to legal representatives, evidence suggests both were abducted by rival shipping magnate Adrian Costa during an escalating trade dispute in Chicago...”
“It’s a masterstroke,” Victor said, pacing behind Adrian’s chair. “He’s using the legal system and the federal authorities to force a search warrant on this estate. If the FBI arrives with a warrant, they find the child. If they find the child, state social services take custody of Sophia until paternity and guardianship can be argued in court.”
“And once she’s in state custody,” Isabella realized, her voice trembling, “Dominic’s men can pull her out through legal petitions or bribes.”
“Precisely,” Victor snapped. “Which is why we must move the child immediately. We fly her out tonight on a private transport to Europe before the federal court signs the warrant.”
“No,” Adrian said flatly.
Victor stopped pacing, glaring at his nephew. “Adrian! You are letting emotion cloud your judgment! Valentina was a spy! This child is a liability!”
“This child is a Costa!” Adrian roared, turning on his uncle with a terrifying intensity that made the other guards in the room straighten up in alarm. “She carries my blood! I will not ship my daughter across the world like contraband because Dominic Moretti played a legal card!”
“Then what is your plan?!” Victor demanded. “Wait for fifty federal agents to breach the gates?”
Adrian turned to Isabella. “You said Valentina had an accounting firm in Boston.”
“Yes,” Isabella nodded. “Clara Vance Accounting.”
“Did she keep physical ledgers or digital files?”
“Both,” Isabella said, leaning forward. “She had a blue flash drive that she wore on a silver chain around her neck. She told me it contained everything she needed to buy her freedom if her father ever tracked her down.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Where is that drive now?”
Isabella reached into her collar.
Slowly, she pulled out a thin silver chain that had been hidden beneath her shirt. Hanging from the link was a small, brushed-steel USB drive.
Victor gasped. “You had it the entire time?”
“Valentina gave it to me six months ago,” Isabella said, looking at Adrian. “She told me never to hand it to anyone unless I was absolute certain they would use it to protect Sophia, not destroy her.”
Adrian stepped closer to her, staring at the silver chain nestled against her chest.
“Do you trust me, Isabella?” he asked softly.
Isabella looked into his silver-gray eyes—the same eyes that belonged to the innocent baby sleeping upstairs. She saw the ruthlessness that made men fear him, but beneath it, she saw a fierce, unyielding sense of honor that refuse to allow his family to be harmed.
“I don't trust your uncle,” Isabella said plainly, causing Victor to scowl. “And I don't trust your business. But I trust that you won't let anyone hurt your daughter.”
She unclasped the chain and laid the drive in his palm.
May you like
Adrian took the drive, his thumb brushing against her warm fingers. He turned to his lead tech officer.
“Plug it in,” Adrian ordered. “Let's see what Valentina stole from her father.”
