Chapter 11 — The Night Lorenzo Disappeared
Chapter 11 — The Night Lorenzo Disappeared
At 11:47 p.m., Lorenzo Duca died.
At least, that was what the world was supposed to believe.
The first report came through the police scanner just after midnight.
A black sedan had exploded on Riverside Drive.
One occupant.
No survivors.
The license plate belonged to Lorenzo Duca.
Within fifteen minutes, three news helicopters were circling the area.
Within thirty minutes, every major crime reporter in New York knew.
Within an hour, Lorenzo's death was the only thing anyone was talking about.
The Duca heir was dead.
The empire had lost its leader.
And somewhere inside a dark room, someone was celebrating.
That was exactly what Lorenzo wanted.
Because Lorenzo Duca wasn't dead.
He was watching.
The plan had begun six hours earlier.
Only four people knew.
Lorenzo.
Marco.
Elena.
And Victor.
At least, Lorenzo believed those were the only four.
The location was an abandoned warehouse beneath the Williamsburg Bridge.
Rain struck the broken windows.
A single light hung from the ceiling.
Lorenzo stood in the center of the room wearing a black shirt, no jacket, no watch, no weapon visible.
Marco placed a photograph on the table.
"Once the car explodes, the fire will destroy the biometric scanner."
Lorenzo nodded.
"The body?"
"An artificial reconstruction. Same height. Same dental records. Same surgical scar."
"Good."
Marco looked uncomfortable.
"You understand what happens if this goes wrong?"
Lorenzo smiled without humor.
"I've already been poisoned, betrayed, hunted, and nearly murdered."
He looked at the burning cigarette between his fingers.
"What's one fake death?"
Marco didn't smile.
"The problem isn't Serena."
"I know."
"Or Rafael."
"I know."
"It's whoever is controlling both of them."
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
"That's why I'm disappearing."
He turned toward the window.
Rain slid down the glass.
"I need them to believe they've won."
At 12:26 a.m., the news broke.
BREAKING: LORENZO DUCA PRESUMED DEAD AFTER VEHICLE EXPLOSION.
Serena watched the television in silence.
She was sitting in a private apartment in Midtown.
No jewelry.
No makeup.
No red dress.
For the first time since Lorenzo had known her, she looked exactly like what she was.
A woman waiting for something.
A man stood behind her.
Rafael.
He held a phone.
"Is it confirmed?"
Serena didn't answer.
The television showed burning wreckage.
Then a reporter announced:
"Sources close to the Duca organization say dental records appear to confirm that the deceased is Lorenzo Duca."
Rafael exhaled.
"He's dead."
Serena closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she smiled.
Not the elegant smile she used at parties.
Not the gentle smile Lorenzo had known.
This smile was different.
Cold.
Victorious.
"Finally."
Rafael looked at her.
"You don't sound sad."
Serena poured herself wine.
"I spent three years pretending to love that man."
She raised the glass.
"Why would I mourn him?"
Rafael laughed.
"Then it's over."
Serena shook her head.
"No."
She looked at him.
"Now it begins."
At 1:14 a.m., another message arrived.
DUCA EMPIRE SECURITY HAS COLLAPSED.
A second message:
BANK ACCOUNTS FROZEN.
A third:
BOARD MEMBERS REQUEST EMERGENCY CONTROL.
Rafael smiled.
"Everything is moving."
Serena nodded.
"The Romano people are ready."
"And the other families?"
"Waiting."
"Who takes control?"
Serena looked at him.
"I do."
Rafael's smile disappeared.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Your father expected—"
"My father is not in charge anymore."
Rafael stared.
Serena leaned closer.
"He taught me everything."
She paused.
"Unfortunately for him, he forgot to teach me obedience."
Across the city, Lorenzo watched the same broadcast.
But he wasn't alone.
Marco stood beside him.
Elena sat across the room.
Victor was connected through a secure video line.
The television showed Serena.
Lorenzo stared at her face.
"She's happy."
Marco nodded.
"Too happy."
Lorenzo looked at Victor.
"You were right."
Victor frowned.
"About what?"
"They believed the death."
Victor hesitated.
Then said:
"Of course they did."
Lorenzo studied him.
Something about the answer bothered him.
Not the words.
The certainty.
He looked at the photograph from the hidden room.
Victor and Serena.
Six months earlier.
Standing beside the poison.
Lorenzo still hadn't confronted him.
Not yet.
He needed Victor.
He needed the antidote.
And he needed the truth.
But now there was another problem.
Mia was missing.
Lorenzo turned to Elena.
"Any news?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"Where would Serena take her?"
"I don't know."
"You knew Serena for years."
"Not like this."
Lorenzo stared at his mother.
"Then start remembering."
Elena looked wounded.
But Lorenzo didn't care.
Not tonight.
Tonight, everyone was a suspect.
At 2:03 a.m., the first trap was triggered.
A Duca account transferred fifty million dollars to a foreign holding company.
Marco smiled.
"They're moving the money."
"Track it."
"We already did."
"Where?"
"Zurich."
Lorenzo shook his head.
"Too obvious."
Marco frowned.
"What?"
"Serena knows we'd track Zurich."
He pointed toward the transaction.
"Look at the timing."
Marco examined it.
"The transfer happened nine minutes after the news report."
"Exactly."
Lorenzo leaned forward.
"She's showing us the money."
"Why?"
"Because she wants us to believe she's stealing the empire."
Marco stared.
"Then what is she really after?"
Lorenzo looked at the screen.
"Something worth more than money."
At 2:19 a.m., the second trap was triggered.
A message arrived from a number believed to belong to Serena.
If Lorenzo is dead, I want the M-17 key.
Lorenzo stared at it.
His heart slowed.
Marco looked at him.
"She knows about the key."
"Yes."
"Who told her?"
Lorenzo didn't answer.
Elena whispered:
"Victor."
Victor's face appeared on the screen.
"I never told her."
Lorenzo looked at him.
"Then how does she know?"
Victor remained silent.
Lorenzo smiled.
"That's what I thought."
Victor's expression hardened.
"You don't trust me."
"No."
"After everything I've done to help you?"
"Exactly."
Victor leaned closer to the camera.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with."
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
"Then tell me."
Victor didn't respond.
"Tell me."
Silence.
Lorenzo ended the call.
Marco looked at him.
"Why did you cut him off?"
"Because I wanted to see his reaction."
"And?"
Lorenzo looked toward the dark window.
"He was afraid."
"Of Serena?"
"No."
Lorenzo's voice became quiet.
"Of the person Serena reports to."
At 3:05 a.m., someone entered the Duca estate.
Security cameras showed a hooded figure moving through the east wing.
Marco zoomed in.
"Female."
"Serena?"
"No."
The figure entered Lorenzo's study.
Opened the safe.
Removed nothing.
Then left.
Lorenzo frowned.
"She wasn't looking for the key."
"What was she doing?"
"Searching."
"For what?"
Lorenzo stared at the footage.
Then he realized.
"The father's recording."
Marco looked at him.
"But Serena already knows about it."
"No."
Lorenzo pointed at the screen.
"She knows the recording exists."
He paused.
"She doesn't know what it contains."
At 3:47 a.m., the woman was captured.
She wasn't Serena.
She wasn't Elena.
She wasn't Rafael.
She was one of Lorenzo's personal attorneys.
The same woman who had managed his father's estate.
She was brought into the warehouse.
Lorenzo sat across from her.
"Who sent you?"
She refused to speak.
Lorenzo placed a photograph on the table.
Victor.
Serena.
The poison.
The woman's eyes changed.
Lorenzo noticed.
"You know him."
She looked away.
"Who?"
"Victor Hale."
"I don't know anyone by that name."
"Wrong answer."
Lorenzo placed another photograph on the table.
This one showed her entering the hidden laboratory six months earlier.
Her face went white.
"Who sent you?"
She remained silent.
Lorenzo leaned back.
"You have two choices."
"What?"
"You tell me."
He paused.
"Or I let Serena find you."
The woman looked terrified.
"She'll kill me."
"Exactly."
She broke.
"The order came from the council."
Lorenzo frowned.
"What council?"
"The Black Table."
Marco went still.
Lorenzo had heard the name once.
His father had mentioned it.
Never explained it.
Never repeated it.
The woman continued.
"They control the families."
"Who leads it?"
"I don't know."
"Who speaks for them?"
She began crying.
"Nobody knows."
Lorenzo leaned forward.
"Then how do you receive orders?"
"Through one person."
"Who?"
The woman whispered:
"Serena."
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
"Serena is the voice?"
"No."
The woman shook her head.
"She's only the messenger."
"Then who is the leader?"
The woman looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
"Someone inside your family."
At 4:16 a.m., Lorenzo received a message.
One sentence.
MIA IS ALIVE.
He froze.
Another message appeared.
COME ALONE.
Then an address.
A warehouse in Queens.
Marco immediately said:
"Absolutely not."
Lorenzo was already standing.
"They want me to go."
"That's the point."
"Exactly."
"Boss, you're supposed to be dead."
Lorenzo looked at him.
"Then let's give them what they expect."
The warehouse was empty.
Lorenzo entered alone.
At least, it appeared that way.
A single bulb hung from the ceiling.
A child's drawing lay on the floor.
The same door.
The same red circle.
The number seventeen.
Lorenzo picked it up.
A voice came from the darkness.
"You really came."
Lorenzo turned.
Serena stepped into the light.
She was holding a gun.
Her eyes were wet.
For the first time, she looked genuinely afraid.
"Lorenzo."
He stared at her.
"You look disappointed."
She lowered the weapon slightly.
"I thought you were dead."
"I was supposed to be."
She took a step closer.
"Why?"
"Because I needed to know who would celebrate."
Serena's lips trembled.
"I didn't."
Lorenzo laughed.
"I saw you."
"You saw what they wanted you to see."
"Then tell me the truth."
Serena stared at him.
"You don't want the truth."
"Try me."
She looked around.
Then whispered:
"Your mother is alive."
"I know."
"Your father didn't die naturally."
"I know."
"Victor created the poison."
"I know."
Serena's eyes widened.
"You know?"
"I know enough."
She lowered the gun.
"But you don't know who ordered it."
"Tell me."
Serena looked at him.
Then she said:
"Your father."
Lorenzo froze.
"What?"
"Antonio ordered the poison."
"No."
"He did."
"You're lying."
"He wanted to poison himself."
Lorenzo stared.
"Why?"
"Because he knew someone would eventually use M-17 against you."
She stepped closer.
"He needed to make your blood compatible with the antidote."
Lorenzo shook his head.
"That makes no sense."
"It does if you understand what you are."
"What am I?"
Serena's eyes filled with tears.
"You are not Antonio Duca's son."
Lorenzo felt the room tilt.
He had heard it before.
But hearing it from Serena made it real.
She continued.
"You're Gabriel Romano's son."
Lorenzo's face went cold.
"Your father was my grandfather's brother."
Serena looked at him.
"You and I share blood."
Silence.
Lorenzo stared.
"You knew."
"Yes."
"For three years."
"Yes."
"And you still married me?"
"We were never married."
"You planned to."
"I planned to."
"Why?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Because the Black Table needed access to your empire."
"And the poison?"
"To control you."
"And Mia?"
Serena's expression changed.
"I didn't take her."
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
"Then who did?"
Before Serena could answer, a gunshot tore through the warehouse.
Serena jerked backward.
Blood appeared on her shoulder.
Lorenzo caught her before she fell.
He looked toward the darkness.
A second shot struck the wall.
Then a voice echoed through the warehouse.
"You should have stayed dead, Lorenzo."
Lorenzo recognized it.
Victor.
The lights went out.
When they returned seconds later, Serena was gone.
So was the shooter.
Only one thing remained on the floor.
A child's drawing.
But this time, Mia had drawn something different.
Three figures.
One woman.
One man.
One child.
And beneath them, in the shaky handwriting she had only recently learned to form:
DAD.
Lorenzo stared at the word.
Mia had never called him that.
Not once.
Then he understood.
The drawing wasn't about him.
It was a warning.
She wasn't calling him Dad.
She was telling him where to look.
Lorenzo turned the paper over.
On the back was an address.
And beneath it:
THE MAN WHO RAISED YOU IS NOT THE MAN WHO SAVED YOU.
Lorenzo stared into the darkness.
His fake death had worked.
Serena had revealed herself.
Victor had revealed his involvement.
The Black Table had surfaced.
But Lorenzo had just discovered the most dangerous secret of all.
Someone had been shaping his entire life since before he could remember.
And that person knew exactly who he really was.
May you like
The hunt was no longer for the people trying to kill Lorenzo Duca.
It was for the person who had created Lorenzo Duca in the first place.
