Chapter 2 - The Trap Closes
I stared at him in complete disbelief as the horrifying reality of his words crashed over me.
Luca had always been incredibly ruthless in business, but using his billions to buy my employer was a terrifying new level of obsession.
"You cannot legally do that to me," I stammered, my heart hammering violently against my ribs.
"I am Luca Moretti, Nia, and I can do whatever I want," he replied with a chillingly calm demeanor.
Evelyn shifted uncomfortably behind him, her perfectly painted lips pressing into a very thin line of annoyance.
"Luca, you are causing a massive scene in front of the mayor and half the city council," she hissed, glancing nervously across the dining room.
He finally turned to his wife with a look so incredibly cold it could freeze boiling water.
"Go wait in the car right now, Evelyn," he commanded without raising his voice even a fraction.
She looked thoroughly humiliated, but she quickly turned on her designer heels and marched out of the restaurant.
I used his momentary distraction to grab Leo's hand and pull both of my children aggressively toward the side exit.
We practically sprinted through the revolving glass doors and out into the chilly, unforgiving Chicago afternoon.
I frantically waved my hand in the air, praying for an empty yellow taxi to drive past us.
Before a cab could even slow down, a massive black SUV pulled smoothly up to the curb directly in front of us.
Four massive men in dark suits stepped out simultaneously, effectively boxing us in against the brick wall of the restaurant.
Luca walked out of the building a few seconds later, buttoning his suit jacket with infuriating ease.
"Get in the car, Nia, and bring my children with you," he ordered.
"I am absolutely not going anywhere with you," I shouted, pulling the twins behind my legs protectively.
"You can either get in the car voluntarily, or we can have a very public custody battle right here in the street," he threatened.
I knew the paparazzi practically lived in this upscale neighborhood, and a public scandal would deeply terrify my children.
Reluctantly, I climbed into the luxurious leather interior of the SUV with Leo and Mia clinging to my coat.
Luca slid into the seat directly across from us, his dark eyes analyzing every single feature on my children's faces.
"I want a paternity test conducted by my personal medical team at the hospital today," he demanded as the car pulled into heavy traffic.
"Absolutely not," I fired back instantly without a second thought.
"I will never let you subject them to a sterile laboratory just to satisfy your sudden, arrogant curiosity."
Luca leaned back against the headrest, a highly dangerous smirk slowly forming on his handsome face.
"That is perfectly fine, Nia, because I do not actually need your permission to find out the truth."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, clear plastic evidence bag.
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Inside the sealed bag was the exact same white linen napkin that Leo had been drawing his messy spaceship on.
"I already have all the DNA I need to legally take them away from you forever," he whispered.
