CHAPTER 4 The Enemy Inside #3
The more she spoke, the quieter he became.
When she finished, his face was terrifying.
“What does ‘we already have’ mean?”
“I don’t know.”
Dante turned toward Matteo.
His expression changed.
“Medical records.”
Sofia stared.
“What?”
“Did Matteo ever have blood drawn?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Routine tests. Once when he had a fever.”
“Where?”
“The clinic.”
His jaw tightened.
“Anyone else?”
She tried to remember.
Then froze.
“At birth.”
Dante looked at her.
“What?”
“The hospital took blood.”
“For newborn screening.”
“Yes.”
“Which hospital?”
“St. Catherine’s in Marseille.”
Dante was already calling Luca.
“Get every record from Matteo’s birth hospital.”
Pause.
“And Dante?”
Sofia said.
He looked at her.
“The doctor.”
“What doctor?”
“The one who delivered him.”
Her mouth went dry.
“I never thought about it before.”
“Name?”
“Dr. Vale.”
Dante went still.
“First name?”
“I think…”
Sofia searched her memory.
Then found it.
“Adrian.”
Dante’s eyes changed.
“Adrian Vale?”
“Yes.”
Luca’s voice came through the phone.
“Boss?”
Dante barely seemed to hear.
“Find Adrian Vale.”
Sofia watched him.
“What?”
Dante disconnected.
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because Adrian Vale isn’t an obstetrician.”
Her stomach dropped.
“What are you talking about?”
“He worked for Gabriel Vescari.”
Silence.
Sofia could not breathe.
“No.”
“He was one of his medical researchers.”
“No.”
Dante’s voice lowered.
“If that man delivered Matteo—”
“No.”
“Then they didn’t just watch his birth.”
Sofia’s legs weakened.
Dante caught her.
“They were there.”
She clutched his shirt.
For once, she did not care.
Three years ago, she had believed she had escaped.
She had believed she had given birth alone.
Hidden.
Safe.
But someone from Vescari’s organization had been standing in the delivery room.
Holding her son before even she had.
Dante wrapped one arm around her.
Not possessive.
Protective.
Sofia pressed her forehead against his chest.
“I failed him.”
“No.”
The word came immediately.
“You didn’t.”
“I let them near him.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have known.”
“No.”
Dante lifted her face.
“You ran while pregnant. Alone. You built another identity. You raised him without anyone discovering who you were for years.”
His eyes held hers.
“You kept him alive.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Dante wiped one away.
“You did not fail him.”
She looked at him.
For the first time in years, Sofia believed him.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
Then Dante’s phone vibrated.
Luca.
Dante answered.
“What?”
His expression changed as he listened.
“Where?”
Pause.
“Alive?”
Another pause.
Dante’s jaw tightened.
“We’re coming.”
He disconnected.
Sofia straightened.
“What happened?”
“They found Enzo.”
“Your uncle?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Dante looked at her.
“Inside the estate.”
Her blood chilled.
“He was here the whole time?”
“Apparently.”
“Where was he?”
Dante’s face became grim.
“In my father’s old chapel.”
Sofia stared.
“Why?”
“We’re going to ask.”
“You said I stay here.”
“That was before.”
“Before what?”
Dante looked at her.
“Before Enzo told Luca he will only speak if both of us are present.”
Sofia’s pulse increased.
“Why me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is he involved?”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
Dante nodded.
“He had Marina’s blood on his shirt.”
Sofia went cold.
“He killed her?”
“That’s what I intend to find out.”
Matteo shifted in her arms.
Sofia looked down.
She could not bring him.
Dante read her thoughts.
“He stays here with Luca’s sister.”
“Who?”
“Isabella.”
“I don’t know her.”
“You will.”
“I’m not leaving him with a stranger.”
“She isn’t a stranger to me.”
“That does not help.”
Dante exhaled.
Then looked at Matteo.
“What if he stays with Luca?”
Sofia considered.
Luca she trusted slightly more.
“Will he be safe?”
“Yes.”
“Can you guarantee that?”
Dante held her gaze.
“With my life.”
The answer silenced her.
Ten minutes later, Sofia walked beside Dante through the oldest section of the Moretti estate.
The chapel had been built by Dante’s grandfather.
Small.
Stone.
Private.
Candles burned near the altar despite the lockdown.
Two guards stood outside.
Luca waited beside the door with Matteo in his arms.
The boy looked perfectly comfortable, tugging at Luca’s tie.
Sofia hesitated.
Dante touched her lower back.
“Five minutes.”
She looked at him.
“You said that like you actually believe it.”
“I’m optimistic.”
“You?”
“Rarely.”
She almost smiled.
Then they entered.
Enzo Moretti sat in the front pew.
Hands restrained.
Silver hair.
Expensive suit stained with blood.
He looked older than Dante remembered.
But not weaker.
When he saw Sofia, he smiled.
“There she is.”
Dante stepped between them.
“You speak to me.”
Enzo laughed softly.
“Still possessive.”
Dante’s expression hardened.
“What happened to Marina?”
“Wrong question.”
“You’re in no position to choose.”
Enzo looked at Sofia.
“You became more beautiful.”
Dante moved.
Fast.
His hand closed around Enzo’s throat.
“Look at her again like that and I remove your eyes.”
Sofia stared.
“Dante.”
He released him.
Enzo coughed.
Then smiled again.
“You always were predictable around her.”
Dante’s body went still.
Sofia noticed.
“What does that mean?”