“That man is supposed to be buried.”

Alexander’s security chief, Marco Bellini, stared at the enlarged surveillance image.

The driver was older than Alexander remembered.

His hair had turned silver.

A thin scar crossed his left eyebrow.

But there was no mistaking his face.

Daniel Bennett.

Claire’s father.

The man Alexander had been told died eleven years earlier.

Alexander gripped the edge of the desk.

“That’s impossible.”

Marco swallowed.

“Boss, I attended his funeral.”

“So did I.”

Alexander remembered standing beside Claire in the cemetery.

She had been twenty-four.

Her father had supposedly died in a warehouse fire.

Alexander had held her while she cried.

He had promised she would never be alone again.

Now that same man had appeared in the driver’s seat of Vanessa’s SUV on the night Claire disappeared.

“Find him,” Alexander ordered.

Marco hesitated.

“Boss, there’s another problem.”

Alexander turned.

“What?”

“We checked Vanessa’s vehicle records.”

“And?”

“The SUV was transferred into her name three weeks ago.”

“From whom?”

Marco placed a document on the desk.

Alexander read the name.

Daniel Bennett.

For several seconds, he didn’t move.

Then he picked up his phone.

“Get Vanessa here.”

Twenty minutes later, Vanessa entered the mansion wearing a cream-colored coat and an expression of carefully practiced concern.

“Alexander, darling, I heard you found something about Claire.”

He placed the photograph on the table.

“Who is this man?”

Vanessa glanced at it.

Her face changed.

Only slightly.

But Alexander noticed.

“I don’t know.”

“Look again.”

“I said I don’t know him.”

Alexander moved closer.

“Then explain why he was driving your SUV.”

Vanessa’s lips parted.

“Someone must have borrowed it.”

“Who?”

“I don’t remember.”

Alexander placed another document in front of her.

“Daniel Bennett transferred the vehicle to you three weeks ago.”

Vanessa’s hand trembled.

“I can explain.”

“Then start.”

She looked toward the doorway.

“Not here.”

Alexander’s voice became dangerously quiet.

“You’re going to tell me everything.”

Vanessa suddenly began crying.

“Daniel came to me because he wanted to find his daughter.”

Alexander froze.

“What?”

“He said Claire was in danger. He said someone inside your organization was watching her.”

Alexander stared.

“Why would he come to you?”

Vanessa wiped her eyes.

“Because he knew you wouldn’t listen.”

“Why?”

“Because you were too busy protecting your empire.”

The words struck a nerve.

Alexander stepped back.

“Where is he now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Vanessa.”

“I swear!”

Then Marco entered the room.

“Boss, we found something.”

He held a small black device.

A tracking transmitter.

It had been hidden inside the lining of Claire’s hospital bag.

Alexander stared at it.

“Who put that there?”

Marco’s face was grim.

“We traced the signal history.”

“To whom?”

“Your private security network.”

Alexander slowly turned toward him.

Marco continued.

“Someone used your own system to track Mrs. Moretti.”

Vanessa suddenly stepped backward.

“Alexander, I need to pick up my son.”

“You’re not leaving.”

Her expression hardened.

“You don’t understand what’s happening.”

“Then explain it.”

Vanessa looked at Marco.

Then at the guards.

And finally at Alexander.

“Claire was never the real target.”

Alexander’s stomach dropped.

“What?”

Vanessa whispered, “The baby was.”

Silence filled the room.

Alexander felt a coldness he had never experienced.

“Who wanted my daughter?”

Vanessa shook her head.

“If I tell you, he’ll know.”

“Who?”

She looked toward the security camera above the doorway.

“Someone who can see everything happening inside this house.”

Alexander immediately turned.

“Shut down the cameras.”

Marco reached for his radio.

But before he could speak, every monitor in the security room went black.

Then the mansion’s emergency lights flickered.

A voice came through the speakers.

Male.

Calm.

Almost amused.

“Alexander, you always were slow to recognize a trap.”

Alexander knew that voice.

He hadn’t heard it in eleven years.

“Daniel?”

A low chuckle answered.

“Hello, son-in-law.”

Alexander gripped the desk.

“Where is Claire?”

“Safe.”

“Where is my daughter?”

“With her mother.”

Alexander exhaled shakily.

“Then why are you doing this?”

Daniel’s voice changed.

“Because the last time I trusted a Moretti, I lost eleven years of my life.”

Alexander frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

“Ask Marco what happened at the warehouse.”

Alexander turned.

Marco had gone pale.

“Marco?”

His oldest friend said nothing.

Daniel continued.

“Ask him who locked the doors.”

Alexander felt a terrible suspicion forming.

Eleven years ago, Daniel Bennett had supposedly died in a warehouse fire.

Marco had been responsible for security that night.

And Alexander’s father had ordered the investigation closed.

“Marco,” Alexander said slowly, “tell me he’s lying.”

Marco looked toward the exit.

Then he pulled a gun from beneath his jacket.

“Boss, I’m sorry.”

Alexander stared at the weapon.

Marco’s voice broke.

“I was supposed to make sure Claire never reached that alley.”

Alexander’s heart slammed against his ribs.

“What did you just say?”

Marco raised the gun.

“But her father got there first.”

Before Alexander could move, a sharp metallic click sounded behind Marco.

The elderly housekeeper stood in the doorway.

Holding a pistol with both hands.

“Put it down, Marco.”

Everyone froze.

Alexander stared at the woman who had served his family for twenty-three years.

“Mrs. Whitcomb?”

Her voice was steady.

“Mr. Moretti, I’ve been waiting eleven years to tell you the truth.”

Marco slowly lowered his weapon.

The housekeeper looked directly at Alexander.

“Your father didn’t die from a heart attack.”

Alexander felt the room tilt.

She continued.

“And Daniel Bennett wasn’t the man he tried to destroy.”

Then she spoke the words that changed everything.

“Your father was murdered because he discovered who was stealing from the Moretti family.”

Alexander whispered, “Who?”

Mrs. Whitcomb looked at Marco.

“The same man who has been standing beside you all these years.”