Chapter 5 - Enemies at the Hudson House
The Moretti estate in the Hudson Valley looked less like a home and more like a place designed to survive a siege.
Stone walls.
Iron gates.
Security cameras covering every approach.
Dense forest on three sides.
The river behind it.
Evelyn saw all of that before the SUV even stopped.
“This is what you call a house?”
Vincent got out first.
“It has bedrooms.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Noah climbed out after her and looked up at the enormous structure.
“Whoa.”
Vincent glanced at him.
“Good whoa or bad whoa?”
“Good.”
Evelyn gave Vincent a warning look.
“Do not impress him with organized-crime architecture.”
Noah whispered, “I’m already impressed.”
Vincent hid a smile.
Luca met them at the front steps.
“Perimeter is sealed. Twelve men outside. Four inside. Cameras are clean.”
“Phones?”
“Locked network.”
“Road?”
“Watched.”
Evelyn crossed her arms.
“You two sound like you’re preparing for war.”
Vincent looked at her.
“We’re preparing so there isn’t one.”
Inside, the house was surprisingly warm.
Old hardwood.
Bookshelves.
Family photographs.
Noah immediately stopped in front of one.
It showed a younger Vincent standing beside Dominic Moretti.
Vincent looked no older than twenty.
Noah pointed.
“That’s you?”
“Yes.”
“You looked weird.”
Vincent stared at him.
Evelyn laughed before she could stop herself.
Vincent looked over.
It was the first time he had heard that sound from her in seven years.
For a second, neither knew what to do with it.
Noah moved to another photograph.
“Who’s this?”
“My mother.”
“Where is she?”
Vincent’s expression shifted.
“She died when I was seventeen.”
“Oh.”
Noah looked down.
“Sorry.”
Vincent walked over.
“You don’t have to be sorry.”
“My mom says people say sorry when they don’t know what else to say.”
“Your mom says a lot.”
“She does.”
Evelyn narrowed her eyes.
“I’m standing right here.”
Noah smiled.
Later, while Noah ate grilled cheese in the kitchen under Luca’s watch, Vincent and Evelyn entered Dominic’s old study.
Marco had arrived separately.
On the desk sat every document they had taken from the cathedral.
Vincent picked up the brass key.
“We open the box tomorrow morning.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Noah stays here.”
Marco replied, “The bank requires him physically present.”
“Then we don’t open it.”
Vincent looked at her.
“We need the ledger.”
“I need my son alive.”
“So do I.”
“Then stop acting as if the ledger matters more.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“It may be the only thing that ends this.”
“Or starts something worse.”
Marco cleared his throat.
“Dominic left another safeguard.”
Both turned.
“What safeguard?” Vincent asked.
“If the box is accessed improperly, its contents are automatically copied to three outside attorneys.”
Vincent stared at him.
“You’re telling me that now?”
“I only confirmed it this afternoon.”
Evelyn asked, “Outside attorneys?”
“None connected to the Morettis.”
“What happens if Dominic’s instructions aren’t followed?”
Marco answered carefully.
“The records go to federal authorities.”
Vincent looked toward the window.
“Dominic built a dead-man switch.”
“Yes.”
Luca entered.
“Boss.”
Vincent immediately noticed his tone.
“What?”
“We found a tracker.”
“Where?”
“Under the rear axle of the second SUV.”
Evelyn’s face changed.
“Someone followed us?”
“They tried.”
Vincent asked, “How long has it been there?”
“Could have been planted at the cathedral.”
“Signal?”
“Active until five minutes ago.”
Vincent looked at Luca.
“So they know the general area.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn immediately turned toward the door.
“I’m taking Noah.”
Vincent caught her arm.
“Where?”
“Away from here.”
“That’s exactly what Alessandro wants. You on the road.”
She pulled free.
“And staying in the place he knows we came to is better?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because here I control the ground.”
A loud crack interrupted them.
Then another.
Not gunshots.
Something struck the exterior gate.
Luca touched his earpiece.
“What happened?”
Static.
Then a guard’s voice.
“Vehicle at the north entrance. Driver says he has a delivery.”
Luca frowned.
“At ten at night?”
Vincent’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t open it.”
The voice came again.
“Boss, vehicle is—”
The line died.
Then the lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the house.
Evelyn immediately ran.
“Noah!”
Vincent followed.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Red.
Dim.
Luca drew his weapon.
“Generator should have kicked in.”
Vincent shouted, “Lock the interior!”
They reached the kitchen.
Noah was under the table.
One of Vincent’s guards stood near the back door.
Vincent dropped beside the boy.
“You okay?”
Noah nodded quickly.
“I heard something.”
“I know.”
Evelyn pulled him close.
Vincent looked at the guard.
“Basement safe room.”
The guard nodded.
Evelyn immediately objected.
“I’m not leaving you.”
Vincent looked at her.
“You are not staying here during an attack.”
“I didn’t say Noah stays.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Luca takes him.”
Vincent stared at her.
“And you?”
“I know Alessandro.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I know what he wants.”
“The key.”
“And Noah.”
Vincent’s expression hardened.
“Which is why you go with him.”
Evelyn moved closer.
“If Alessandro thinks all three of us are hiding, he’ll tear this house apart.”
“So?”
“So give him something else to look at.”
Vincent realized what she meant.
“No.”
“Vincent—”
“No.”
“You keep saying you lost seven years.”
His eyes flashed.
“I did.”
“Then trust the woman who survived them.”
That stopped him.
Another sound came from outside.
Glass breaking.
Luca shouted from the hallway.
“Movement east side!”
Vincent looked at Evelyn.
“I hate this plan.”
“So do I.”
He turned to Noah.
“Go with Luca.”
Noah grabbed his mother.
“You’re coming?”
“In a minute.”
“You promise?”
Evelyn hesitated.
Vincent saw it.
He crouched.
“I promise she comes back.”
Noah looked at him.
“You can’t promise for her.”
Vincent almost smiled despite the situation.
“You really are her son.”
Noah still wouldn’t move.
Evelyn kissed his forehead.
“Go.”
Luca took his hand.
They disappeared through the service corridor.
Vincent looked at Evelyn.
“You stay behind me.”
“No.”
“That part isn’t negotiable.”
She reached into a drawer and pulled out a heavy flashlight.
Vincent stared.
“What are you doing?”
“Improvising.”
“You’re holding a flashlight.”
“It’s metal.”
“That is not reassuring.”
The first intruder entered through a side corridor.
Vincent moved before the man saw him.
A short struggle.
A weapon hit the floor.
Evelyn kicked it away.
Vincent drove the man into the wall.
“Who sent you?”
The attacker said nothing.
Vincent twisted his arm.
“Who?”
“Alessandro.”
Evelyn stepped closer.
“How many?”
The man laughed.
“Enough.”
A second intruder appeared.
Evelyn saw him first.
“Vincent!”
She swung the flashlight hard into the man’s wrist.
His pistol fell.
Vincent disarmed him seconds later.
He looked at her.
“You’ve done that before.”
“No.”
“That was very specific for a first attempt.”
“I’ve had a difficult seven years.”
Gunfire erupted outside.
Vincent dragged both men into the pantry and locked the door.
Then Luca’s voice came through the emergency radio.
“Boss, safe room breached.”
Vincent went still.
“What?”
“Secondary tunnel. They knew about it.”
Evelyn’s face drained.
“Noah?”
Static.
Then:
“They took him.”
Everything inside Vincent changed.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
His face simply emptied.
Evelyn grabbed his jacket.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“No what?”
“I know that look.”
“You haven’t seen me in seven years.”
“I know it anyway.”
Vincent said nothing.
“You are not going after them angry.”
“They took my son.”
“Our son.”
The words landed.
Our son.
Evelyn tightened her grip.
“And if you lose control, Alessandro wins.”
Vincent forced himself to breathe.
Luca appeared at the doorway, bleeding from his forehead.
“I’m sorry.”
Vincent looked at him.
“You alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then stop apologizing.”
Luca held up a phone.
“They left this.”
It rang.
Vincent answered.
Alessandro’s voice came through.
“Now we understand each other.”
Vincent’s voice was terrifyingly calm.
“Let me speak to him.”
A pause.
Then Noah’s voice.
“Vincent?”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Vincent closed his eyes briefly.
“I’m here.”
“They said not to be scared.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Mom okay?”
Vincent looked at Evelyn.
“She’s here.”
Evelyn took the phone.
“Noah?”
“Mom.”
“I’m coming for you.”
“I know.”
His voice shook slightly.
Evelyn steadied hers.
“Do exactly what they tell you unless someone tries to hurt you. Understand?”
“Yes.”
Alessandro returned to the line.
“Touching.”
“What do you want?” Vincent asked.
“The key.”
“You know where it is.”
“And the boy’s verification.”
“You already have the boy.”
“I need you to open the box.”
Vincent understood.
“He won’t authenticate without a legal guardian present.”
“Correct.”
“Where?”
“Moretti Trust. Midnight.”
Evelyn whispered, “That bank closes at six.”
Alessandro heard.
“Not for family.”
Vincent said, “If he has one scratch—”
“Save the threats.”
Alessandro’s voice hardened.
“Bring Evelyn. Bring the key. No Luca. No soldiers.”
The line went dead.
Vincent handed the phone back.
Luca said, “It’s a trap.”
Evelyn stared at the dark window.
“Yes.”
Vincent looked at her.
“But we go.”
She nodded.
“Of course we go.”
Marco entered from the hallway.
His face was pale.
“There may be another way.”
Vincent turned.
“What?”
Marco pointed to Dominic’s letter.
“The bank doesn’t require Noah’s blood.”
Evelyn frowned.
“You said genetic verification.”
“Yes.”
“Then what does it require?”
Marco looked at Vincent.
“A direct paternal match.”
Silence.
Vincent understood.
“Mine.”
“Yes.”
Alessandro didn’t know.
And for the first time that night, Vincent smiled.
It wasn’t warm.
May you like
It was the smile of a man who had just realized his enemy had made a mistake.
“Then we give him exactly what he thinks he wants.”
