Chapter 7 - The Betrayal
The horrifying confession hung in the dusty, red-lit air like a suffocating blanket.
Evelyn was not just a pathetic pawn manipulated by her powerful, corrupt father.
She was a ruthless, cold-blooded monster actively trying to murder two innocent five-year-old children to secure her stolen empire.
Luca struck the mercenary across the face with the butt of his weapon, knocking the man completely unconscious in a fit of pure rage.
"She wants to wipe out my only true heirs so her family can legally inherit Moretti Global," Luca growled, pacing the ruined floor.
"We cannot stay here, Luca, if she knows about this safehouse, she will simply send more heavily armed men," I panicked.
He nodded in fierce agreement, quickly checking the ammunition magazines on his tactical vest.
"There is an old, forgotten maintenance tunnel that leads directly to the subway system three blocks away," he explained rapidly.
We quickly gathered the terrified twins, wrapping them in dark jackets to hide them in the shadows.
Luca pried open a heavy metal grate hidden behind the massive industrial pantry shelves.
The dark, damp tunnel smelled strongly of mold and stale water, but it was our only chance at absolute survival.
We walked in tense, agonizing silence for nearly thirty minutes, guided only by the weak beam of my tactical flashlight.
Luca carried Mia in his strong arms, while I held Leo's trembling hand tightly in mine.
Finally, we reached a heavy iron ladder leading up to a massive street-level manhole cover.
Luca climbed up first, easily pushing the heavy iron disc aside and climbing out into an abandoned parking garage.
He reached down and pulled the twins up, then grabbed my hand to hoist me onto the solid concrete floor.
Just as we thought we had finally escaped the deadly trap, the massive fluorescent lights of the parking garage violently flickered on.
Dozens of elite, heavily armed guards stepped out from behind the parked cars, completely surrounding us in a massive circle.
Evelyn stepped out from the absolute center of the formation, wearing a pristine white designer coat and holding a silver handgun.
"You really thought you could outsmart me in my own city, Luca?" she sneered with absolute, arrogant victory.
Luca immediately pushed me and the children behind his broad back, raising his weapon toward his treacherous wife.
"If you hurt them, Evelyn, I will hunt you down to the absolute ends of the earth," Luca promised with deadly, terrifying calm.
Evelyn laughed, a cruel, soulless sound that echoed loudly through the concrete parking structure.
She pointed her silver handgun directly at my chest, completely bypassing Luca entirely.
"You don't understand, Luca, I don't actually need to kill you to win this little game."
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She placed her free hand gently over her perfectly flat stomach with a sickening, victorious smile.
"I am currently three months pregnant with your legal, undisputed heir, which means these two little bastards are entirely expendable."
