Chapter 15 - THE WAREHOUSE OF BROKEN PROMISES|
The warehouse stood beside an abandoned stretch of riverfront where rusted cranes leaned over empty loading docks. Rain streaked the windshield as Ettore parked behind a row of disused shipping containers.
Donatella sat beside him, holding a copy of the inheritance agreement.
"Camille said to come alone," she reminded him.
"And you believed her?"
"No. But if she thinks we're following her instructions, she may keep Adrian alive long enough for us to reach him."
Ettore checked his phone.
"Marco is coordinating with the prosecutor. The police have been notified, but the officers are waiting beyond the industrial district until we identify the hostages."
"Raffaele will have guards watching every entrance."
"Then we won't use an entrance he expects."
They left Salvatore in a secured vehicle with a medical team. Ettore had wanted his father to remain at the church, but Salvatore insisted on being present for the operation. His strength was limited, yet his knowledge of the warehouse's old service tunnels was invaluable.
Donatella followed Ettore through a narrow passage behind the loading dock. They found a metal door secured with a chain. Inside, the air smelled of oil, damp wood, and rust.
A single overhead lamp illuminated a table in the center of the warehouse.
Camille Voss stood beside it.
She was elegant, with sharp features and a dark coat. Donatella recognized her from the corporate photographs attached to the shell-company records.
"Where is Adrian?" Ettore demanded.
Camille gestured toward a closed office at the far end.
"Alive. For now."
"Why are you helping Raffaele?"
"Because he owns my debts, my company, and half the officials who could put me in prison."
"Then help us expose him," Donatella said.
Camille laughed bitterly.
"You think truth is a magic key? I spent fifteen years believing that. I watched my brother lose his business, my mother lose her home, and my family lose everything because we trusted a man who promised protection."
She opened a folder and pushed it across the table. Inside were copies of emails showing that Raffaele had directed the transfers through her companies. He had promised her a share of the inheritance in exchange for creating false records.
"He never intended to pay me," she said. "Once Adrian disappeared, he planned to blame me for the entire scheme."
"Then why not go to the authorities?" Donatella asked.
"Because Raffaele has photographs of my daughter leaving school. He threatened to take her from me."
Donatella's anger softened into understanding, though not forgiveness.
"Where is your daughter now?"
"With my sister. Outside the city. She doesn't know any of this."
Ettore lowered his voice.
"Give us the evidence. We'll get your daughter somewhere safe, and you'll have a chance to testify before the prosecutor."
Camille looked toward the office.
"Raffaele is coming. He told me to hand you the agreement and then leave. He doesn't know I've copied his messages."
"Does Adrian know who he is?" Donatella asked.
"Some of it. He remembers his mother's name, but not much about his childhood."
A metallic sound echoed from the rear of the warehouse.
Camille went pale.
"He's here."
Raffaele entered with four armed men. His face showed no surprise when he saw Ettore.
"Family reunion," he said. "How touching."
Ettore stood between him and Donatella.
"Let Adrian go."
"Give me the original inheritance agreement."
Donatella held it up.
"You can have a copy. The original is already with an independent prosecutor."
Raffaele's eyes narrowed.
"You're bluffing."
"Then you have nothing to lose by letting Adrian walk out."
For the first time, Raffaele seemed uncertain.
He turned to Camille.
"You stupid woman."
Camille stepped back.
"I have the emails, the transfer orders, and the names of every account you used."
Raffaele's expression twisted with fury. He raised his pistol toward her.
A gunshot exploded.
Camille fell against the table, clutching her arm.
Ettore lunged for cover as his guards moved in. Donatella ran toward the office, where she heard a man's voice shouting for help.
She reached the door and pulled it open.
Inside, a battered man sat handcuffed to a chair.
His eyes were the same color as Ettore's.
"Adrian?" she whispered.
He looked at her, frightened and confused.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Donatella. I'm your sister."
May you like
Before he could respond, Raffaele appeared behind her.
"No," he said. "She's the reason your mother died."
