CHAPTER 4 — Luka Moretti Was Never a Stranger
CHAPTER 4 — Luka Moretti Was Never a Stranger
Maya had spent the entire night trying to answer one question.
Why did Luka Moretti know her father?
By sunrise, she had twenty-seven more questions.
None of them had answers.
Emma slept beside her in the small bedroom of the safe house, wrapped in a pale yellow blanket. Every few minutes, Maya reached over just to make sure her daughter was breathing.
She had never been this afraid.
Not even when Daniel walked away.
Because betrayal was painful.
But betrayal was understandable.
This was different.
This was a world she hadn't known existed.
A world where her father had left secret files.
Her mother might still be alive.
Her husband had been working for people she couldn't identify.
And the tattooed stranger sleeping in the next room had apparently known her family for years.
Maya sat on the edge of the bed.
She looked at Emma.
"Who are you?"
The baby opened her eyes.
Maya smiled sadly.
"I mean... who are all of us?"
A knock sounded at the door.
She immediately froze.
Another knock.
Three short taps.
Luka.
He had told her that was his signal.
She opened the door.
He stood outside holding two cups of coffee.
"You didn't sleep."
"Neither did you."
"I don't sleep much."
"That's not healthy."
He handed her the coffee.
"Neither is trusting strangers."
She stared at him.
"Then stop being one."
Luka looked at her for several seconds.
"Okay."
He stepped inside.
"Ask me anything."
Maya placed the black M-17 file on the table.
"Start here."
Luka sat opposite her.
"Your father and I met eleven years ago."
"Where?"
"Rome."
"My father went to Rome?"
"He went there looking for someone."
"Who?"
"Me."
Maya frowned.
"Why would he look for you?"
"Because I had information he needed."
"About M-17?"
"Yes."
She folded her arms.
"What did you know?"
"That a private group had been collecting genetic information from certain families for decades."
"For what?"
"Control."
"That's vague."
"It was supposed to be."
Luka opened the file.
"Your father discovered that several powerful families were using genetic records to determine inheritance rights, ownership, and succession."
Maya stared.
"You're saying they could control who inherited money?"
"Money. Companies. Land. Political influence."
"That's insane."
"Your father thought so too."
"What did he do?"
"He tried to expose them."
"And they killed him?"
Luka paused.
"That's what everyone believes."
Maya's eyes narrowed.
"You don't."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I saw him alive after the night they said he died."
Her heart stopped.
"You saw my father?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Six days later."
"Where?"
"At a private clinic outside Naples."
Maya stood.
"You knew he was alive?"
"I knew he was alive then."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"He made me promise."
"What promise?"
Luka looked down.
"That I would protect you before I told you anything."
Maya shook her head.
"Protect me from what?"
Luka met her eyes.
"From the people who killed him."
The room seemed to shrink.
Maya sat down.
"My father knew he was going to die."
"Yes."
"And he asked you to protect me."
"Yes."
"Why me?"
Luka didn't answer.
"Why not my mother?"
His silence was enough.
Maya whispered:
"You knew about her."
"I knew she was alive."
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
"How long?"
"Eleven years."
She looked away.
Eleven years.
Eleven years believing her mother was dead.
Eleven years grieving.
Eleven years visiting a grave that apparently belonged to someone else.
"You should have told me."
"I wanted to."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because your mother wasn't safe."
Maya laughed bitterly.
"Neither am I."
"That's why I'm here."
She stared at him.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
"Why do you care?"
Luka leaned back.
"Because your father saved my life."
Maya went silent.
"How?"
"I was twenty-three."
Luka looked toward the window.
"I had made a lot of mistakes."
"Criminal ones?"
"Some."
He didn't elaborate.
"I was working for the wrong people. Your father found out."
"What did he do?"
"He gave me a choice."
"Between what?"
"Keep working for them and die."
He looked at Maya.
"Or walk away."
Maya studied him.
"And you walked away."
"Yes."
"Then what?"
"Your father helped me disappear."
"Why?"
"Because he believed people could change."
Maya glanced at Emma.
"Did you?"
Luka smiled faintly.
"I'm still trying."
Maya turned another page.
A photograph fell out.
It showed a young Luka standing beside her father.
But this time, there was someone else.
A teenage girl.
Maya stared.
The girl was her.
Younger.
Maybe fourteen.
Standing beside her father at a summer event.
Luka was in the background.
She picked up the photograph.
"I don't remember this."
"You weren't supposed to."
"Why?"
"Because your father didn't want you to know I existed."
"Why?"
"Because someone was watching you."
Maya studied the photograph.
"Who?"
"Your mother."
Her heart stopped.
"My mother was watching me?"
"She was trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"Your mother's family."
Maya stared.
"My mother's family?"
Luka nodded.
"Your mother's maiden name wasn't Bennett."
She waited.
"What was it?"
Luka's answer came quietly.
"Moretti."
Maya dropped the photograph.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
"That's impossible."
Luka said nothing.
"You're a Moretti."
"Yes."
"My mother was a Moretti."
"Yes."
Maya looked at him.
"Then..."
Luka finished the sentence.
"We're related."
Maya stood abruptly.
"No."
Luka didn't move.
"No."
"I know."
"You're telling me you're my family?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Your mother and my father were siblings."
Maya stared at him.
The tattoos.
The surname.
The strange familiarity she had felt when she first saw him.
It suddenly made sense.
But that didn't make it easier.
"My entire life..."
She shook her head.
"My entire life, nobody told me."
"Your father wanted it that way."
"Why?"
"Because the Moretti family was divided."
"Over M-17?"
"Over power."
Luka looked toward Emma.
"And your daughter has become the center of it."
Maya's voice trembled.
"Why?"
"Because your father discovered that the Moretti bloodline wasn't the only one connected to M-17."
"Which one?"
Luka hesitated.
"Yours."
A car engine sounded outside.
Luka immediately stood.
Maya picked up Emma.
"Someone's here."
"I know."
He looked through the blinds.
Then his expression changed.
"It's Daniel."
Maya's heart jumped.
"Why is he here?"
"I don't know."
Luka reached for his weapon.
Maya stopped him.
"Don't."
"He could be working for them."
"He might be."
A knock sounded.
"Maya."
Daniel's voice.
Her entire body froze.
He sounded different.
Not arrogant.
Not cold.
Afraid.
"Maya, please."
Luka looked at her.
"Don't open it."
Daniel knocked again.
"I know about M-17."
Maya stared at Luka.
Daniel continued.
"I know what they want."
Silence.
"And I know what my family did to yours."
Luka's jaw tightened.
Maya walked toward the door.
"Don't."
She stopped.
"Why?"
"Because this could be a trap."
Daniel spoke again.
"They gave me twenty-four hours."
Maya's blood ran cold.
"Twenty-four hours for what?"
Daniel answered:
"To bring them your daughter."
Maya immediately pulled Emma closer.
Luka moved beside her.
Daniel's voice cracked.
"I didn't come here to take her."
"Then why did you come?"
"Because I finally realized what happens if I don't help you."
Silence.
"I die."
Maya stared at the door.
Daniel continued.
"And so does everyone else."
Luka opened the door.
Daniel stood alone.
No weapon.
No bodyguards.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
His face looked exhausted.
He looked at Maya.
Then at Emma.
For the first time, he looked like a father.
"I'm sorry."
Maya's eyes hardened.
"You should be."
Daniel swallowed.
"I know."
"You walked away."
"I know."
"You left me alone after I gave birth."
"I know."
"You didn't even hold her."
Daniel looked at Emma.
"I was afraid."
"Of your daughter?"
"Of what she represented."
Maya shook her head.
"That's not an excuse."
"I know."
Luka stepped closer.
"What do you know about M-17?"
Daniel looked at him.
"I know your family is involved."
Luka's expression didn't change.
"Continue."
"I know Maya's mother is alive."
Maya gasped.
"You've seen her?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"Because I met the man who works for her."
Luka went still.
"Who?"
Daniel looked at Maya.
"The person who paid me."
"Name."
Daniel hesitated.
"Lucia Moretti."
Maya's heart stopped.
Luka's face changed.
"That's impossible."
Daniel shook his head.
"She is alive."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"What did she want?"
Daniel looked at Emma.
"Your daughter."
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small silver pendant.
Maya recognized it immediately.
Her mother had worn it in every photograph from Maya's childhood.
She had believed it was buried with her.
Daniel placed it on the table.
"She gave me this."
Maya picked it up.
Her fingers trembled.
Inside the pendant was a tiny photograph.
Her mother.
Alive.
And beside her...
A baby.
Maya stared.
"Who is that?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know."
Luka took the pendant.
He opened the hidden compartment.
A tiny strip of paper was folded inside.
He unfolded it.
Three words were written there.
M-17 LIVES TWICE.
Luka's face became completely still.
Maya looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
He didn't answer.
"Tell me."
Luka looked at Emma.
Then at Maya.
"It means your daughter isn't the first child born with the M-17 marker."
Maya's heart pounded.
"Who was the first?"
Luka looked at Daniel.
Daniel answered.
"Your mother."
Maya stared at him.
"My mother?"
Daniel nodded.
"Your mother was M-17."
The truth hit harder than any physical blow.
Maya couldn't speak.
Her mother.
The woman she had believed was ordinary.
The woman whose death had destroyed her childhood.
The woman who had supposedly left behind nothing but memories.
She had been the original subject.
Luka closed the pendant.
"That's why your father tried to destroy the program."
Maya whispered:
"And that's why they wanted Emma."
"Yes."
"Because she inherited it."
"Yes."
Daniel stepped forward.
"I can help you."
Maya looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because I owe you."
"You owe me more than help."
"I know."
"Then don't ask me to forgive you."
"I won't."
She stared at him.
"Then what do you want?"
Daniel looked at Emma.
"One chance to make sure she grows up."
Luka studied him.
"You may get that chance."
Daniel looked at him.
"But first, you need to tell us where the money came from."
Daniel's face went pale.
"What money?"
"The five million dollars."
Maya turned toward him.
"You were paid to leave me?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"By whom?"
He looked at Luka.
Then at Maya.
"I never saw his face."
"Who contacted you?"
"A lawyer."
"Name?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Victor Moretti."
Luka's expression hardened.
"My father."
Maya stared at him.
"Your father is alive too?"
Luka didn't answer.
Daniel whispered:
"He's the man behind M-17."
A sound came from outside.
A gunshot.
The window shattered.
Luka grabbed Maya and pulled her to the floor.
Daniel dropped beside them.
Emma began crying.
Maya held her tightly.
Another shot.
Then silence.
Luka looked toward the broken window.
"They found us."
Daniel whispered:
"Who?"
Luka's eyes hardened.
"My father."
Maya stared at him.
The man she had once thought was a stranger was her cousin.
His father was the man behind M-17.
Her mother was the original M-17.
Her daughter was the second.
And her husband had been paid to deliver them.
Luka looked at Maya.
"Now you understand why I signed the birth certificate."
She shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you're still hiding something."
Luka stared at her.
Maya held Emma closer.
"You didn't just come to protect my daughter."
Luka said nothing.
"You came because you knew who her father was."
His eyes changed.
Daniel looked at him.
Maya's voice dropped.
"Didn't you?"
Luka finally answered.
"I knew before you did."
Maya's heart stopped.
"Who is Emma's biological father?"
Luka looked toward Daniel.
Then back at Maya.
And before he could answer, the lights went out.
The safe house fell into darkness.
A voice came through the broken window.
"Tell Maya the truth, Luka."
The voice was unmistakably male.
Old.
Calm.
Powerful.
"Tell her who the father really is."
Maya stopped breathing.
Because Luka's face had gone completely white.
May you like
And for the first time since he entered her life, he looked afraid.
To be continued.
