Chapter 18 - THE CHOICE OF ALEJANDRO MORETTI
The location was abandoned twelve miles outside the city.
An old railway station.
A place that had not been used for almost twenty years.
No cameras.
No guards.
No escape routes.
Exactly the kind of place someone would choose if they wanted a man like Alejandro Moretti to come alone.
Bruno blocked the entrance.
“No.”
Alejandro looked at him.
“You heard the message.”
Bruno shook his head.
“I heard a trap.”
Alejandro looked through the windshield.
Rain covered the broken windows of the old station.
“I know.”
Bruno stared.
“You know?”
Alejandro nodded.
“And I’m still going.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You cannot do this.”
Alejandro turned.
“You lied to me for three years.”
Daniel accepted the pain in his voice.
“Yes.”
“But you still came back.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Because I promised Kiara I would bring her home.”
The name stopped Alejandro.
For a moment…
He saw his daughter.
Five years old.
Running through the garden.
Laughing.
Calling him Daddy.
Then he remembered the empty bedroom.
The untouched toys.
The grave.
The years stolen from him.
Alejandro looked at Daniel.
“You get one chance.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
Alejandro stepped out of the car.
Bruno grabbed his arm.
“Boss.”
Alejandro looked at him.
“If I don’t come back…”
Bruno immediately interrupted.
“No.”
Alejandro continued.
“You take Emma and Olivia away.”
Bruno’s eyes hardened.
“I said no.”
Alejandro looked at his oldest friend.
“Bruno.”
The word carried weight.
The same voice that had commanded armies.
Bruno finally lowered his head.
But his eyes were different.
Not obedience.
Pain.
“Come back.”
Alejandro walked into the station.
Alone.
The old doors creaked.
The smell of rust and rain filled the air.
Then he heard it.
A child crying.
His heart stopped.
“Emma?”
No answer.
He walked deeper.
Then a light turned on.
A small room appeared.
And inside…
Emma was sitting in a chair.
Safe.
Unharmed.
Beside her stood Victor.
But Victor was not alone.
A woman stood behind him.
A woman Alejandro recognized.
His face changed.
“No…”
The woman looked at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Alejandro.”
His entire body froze.
Because the woman standing there was supposed to be dead.
Maria Moretti.
His wife.
Kiara’s mother.
The woman buried three years ago.
The woman whose death had destroyed him.
The woman whose funeral he attended alone.
“No.”
His voice cracked.
“You died.”
Maria looked down.
“I wanted you to believe that.”
The room became silent.
Victor smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Alejandro stared at him.
“You were behind everything.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed at Maria.
“She was.”
Alejandro turned.
His wife closed her eyes.
“It's not that simple.”
His voice became cold.
“Explain.”
Maria looked at Emma.
“I saved Kiara.”
A pause.
“But I could not save myself.”
Alejandro stepped forward.
“Where is my daughter?”
Maria looked toward the door.
And whispered:
“She is closer than you think.”
A sound came from behind him.
A small voice.
“Daddy?”
Alejandro turned.
The world stopped.
A girl stood there.
Older.
Taller.
But the pink ribbon was the same.
The eyes were the same.
The smile was the same.
Kiara.
Alejandro could not move.
Three years of pain.
Three years of anger.
Three years of questions.
Collapsed in one second.
“Kiara…”
The girl started crying.
“Daddy.”
And Alejandro Moretti…
The man who never bowed.
May you like
The man who never begged.
Dropped to his knees.
