Chapter 6: The Girl in the Photograph
808 Words
The room fell into a suffocating silence.
Olivia stared at the photograph in her trembling hands.
A little girl with bright hazel eyes smiled innocently at the camera, clutching a worn teddy bear. She couldn't have been older than four.
Slowly, Olivia turned the picture over again.
The blood-red words stared back at her.
She knows the truth.
"What truth?" Olivia whispered.
Luca took the photograph from her, his jaw tightening as he examined it once more.
Marco stood by the door, waiting for instructions.
"Where did you find this?" Luca asked.
"In the assassin's jacket pocket, Boss."
"And no other documents?"
Marco shook his head.
"Nothing. Just the photograph."
Luca's eyes darkened.
"This wasn't meant for me."
Olivia looked at him.
"It was meant for me?"
"I believe so."
"But I don't know that little girl."
Luca remained silent.
Something wasn't adding up.
He could feel it.
The assassin had risked her life to bring that photograph into the mansion. It had to mean something.
And someone wanted Olivia to see it.
Luca walked toward the fireplace, staring into the dancing flames.
His mind raced through every possibility.
Then...
A memory surfaced.
Five years ago.
The night he disappeared.
A little girl...
He frowned.
No.
It couldn't be.
"Boss?"
Marco's voice broke his thoughts.
Luca turned.
"Find out who she is."
Marco nodded.
"We'll search every missing persons database."
"Not just that."
Luca handed him the photograph.
"Check orphanages."
"Private schools."
"Birth records."
"Hospitals."
"I want a name before sunrise."
"Yes, Boss."
Marco hurried out.
Olivia folded her arms.
"You're hiding something."
Luca looked at her.
"I don't know enough yet."
"But you recognized her."
"I thought I did."
"You thought?"
He sighed.
"Five years ago..."
"The night I left..."
"I saw a little girl outside the hospital."
Olivia frowned.
"What hospital?"
"The one where my father died."
"What happened?"
Luca closed his eyes briefly.
"She was crying."
"She had lost her parents."
"I bought her a teddy bear."
Olivia's eyes widened.
"The same teddy bear?"
He nodded slowly.
"I think so."
"But that's impossible."
"It was years ago."
"I know."
"So why would someone send you her picture now?"
Luca didn't answer.
Because he already feared the answer.
Someone was reopening the past.
Hours later...
The mansion had finally grown quiet.
Most of the guards remained on high alert, patrolling every hallway and every entrance.
Olivia couldn't sleep.
She stepped onto the balcony, hoping the cool night air would calm her thoughts.
The gardens stretched endlessly below.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Yet she knew armed men were hidden among the trees.
Nothing about this place was normal.
She heard footsteps behind her.
Luca.
"I thought you'd be asleep," he said.
She gave a small laugh.
"After today?"
He leaned against the balcony railing beside her.
"I'm sorry."
She looked at him.
"You keep saying that."
"Because I mean it."
"For leaving?"
"For everything."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Olivia spoke.
"I hated you."
"I know."
"I told myself every day that if I ever saw you again..."
"I would never forgive you."
Luca nodded.
"I expected that."
"But when you pushed me out of the way tonight..."
Her voice softened.
"...I realized something."
He waited.
"I never stopped loving you."
The confession hung between them.
Luca's breathing became uneven.
For the first time in years, the ruthless mafia king seemed vulnerable.
He slowly reached for her hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
"I never stopped loving you either."
Before either of them could say another word...
A loud explosion shook the entire mansion.
BOOM!
The balcony trembled violently.
Windows shattered throughout the estate.
The security alarms screamed once again.
Marco's voice echoed through the mansion speakers.
"Boss!"
"The east gate has been breached!"
Luca instantly pulled Olivia behind him.
"What happened?"
One of the guards shouted from below.
"A truck exploded outside the gate!"
Marco's voice came through Luca's earpiece.
"It was a diversion!"
"They've cut the power to the eastern security system!"
Luca's face turned deadly cold.
"How many intruders?"
"We don't know."
Luca drew his pistol.
"Lock Olivia in the panic room."
"No!" Olivia protested.
"I'm not hiding again."
"You don't have a choice."
"I'm tired of being treated like I'm helpless."
Luca looked into her eyes.
"This isn't about control."
"It's about keeping you alive."
She grabbed his arm.
"Then tell me the truth."
"Everything."
"No more secrets."
Luca hesitated.
Before he could answer...
A masked figure suddenly appeared on the rooftop opposite the balcony.
The stranger raised a sniper rifle.
Time seemed to stop.
"Down!" Luca shouted.
He threw himself over Olivia just as the rifle fired.
The bullet shattered the balcony railing, missing Olivia's head by inches.
The sniper disappeared into the darkness.
Luca looked toward the rooftop, his eyes blazing with fury.
"They're no longer trying to scare us," he said.
"They've declared war."
- Writer
