THE INVISIBLE HEIRESS

PROLOGUE

Francis POV

“Find Lyanna,get her out of here,there is somewhere in Milan,a place called the Faction,I have some money stashed there that would be enough for you.” Luke said to me,as he readied his gun for the ongoing war.

“Luke…….,there's still time,you can also come along.” I said to him.

After all Luke has been my boss since I was 20,I had been a consigliere to this clan for 20 years,and we had grown close over the years.

“A leader who leaves his clan or his followers to die in a battle, is not worthy to be called a leader.” He replied back and smiled as he patted my back. “Now go on.”

“Luke,you and I both know you can't win that war.” I said to him,my eyes filled with worry.

“I know and that is why,I chose to fight in the war,I've done so many bad things and I think karma has caught up to me.” Luke said and smiled at me.

I walked forward and looked back at him,he gave me a reassuring smile.

I walked out of the room and went to find Lyanna. I saw her laying unconscious under the water fountain,after I had confirm she was still breathing and carried her against my shoulders and followed the secret tunnel to the car I had parked for our escape.

I was sweating as I tried to steady my hands on the wheel,I turned my head at intervals to check if she was okay,and she was sleeping soundly.

Lyanna was just 8 years old,all of these things were never supposed to happen to her,her entire family wiped out from existence. I took it upon myself that moment,that after I got the money from the factions,I'd take her to meet my family in New Orleans and I would take good care of her,that she wouldn't be haunted by this trauma.

I heard her murmur in her sleep,I turned,smiled and patted her head.

“Uncle Francis?” Her soft voice sounded as she woke up.

“Yes dear.” I replied turning to her.

“Where are we going?……..w..what about our home?w…what about my daddy?” She asked rushing her questions.

“Calm down dear.” I said,trying to calm her down.

“I heard gunshots and screaming…….what happened to them?” She rushed again.

“Its okay, Anna.” I said again and pulled the car to a halt.

“Noo….w…where's m..my…da…daddy.” She said and burst into cries.

“ Your father…….” My voice trailed off. “Your father went somewhere faraway.” I finished.

“Why would he leave us?……..why w…..would he le…….leave me?” She continuedasking,her voice breaking at intervals.

“He'll come back for us when he is finished.” I replied back her.

“W……w….where are we g…going to?” She asked again.

“Somewhere safe my dear.” I assured her.

“Okay.”

I started the car and continued our ride to Milan.

We got to the huge mansion,the guards opened the gate for us and we walked into the courtyard,it was serene with winter snow flakes scattered on the floor.

We entered the house and placed our cloaks on the stand.

“Anna dear,stay here I'd be right back.” I said,letting her seat slowly on the couch.

“Uncle Francis.” She called out.

“ I just want to speak to the owners of the house,I'll come back.” I replied.

After I had assured Anna that I was coming back,I entered the room.

“Oh……Mr Francis….sit….we've been expecting you.” Someone in a mask said and ushered me in.

I sat down across from the table and the person did the same and sat across from me,from the voice the person sounded like a man.

“Soo……now that you are here,I guess the Dorva Clan has fallen.” The man in the mask asked.

“Yes……Luke mentioned you had a deal with him,so give me the money so we can be on our merry way.” I fired and placed my hands on the table.

“Oh no….not the both of you…..just you.” The man said and I could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

“What do you mean?” I asked, perplexed.

“Luke didn't tell you the whole story,I presume……classic Luke Dorva.” The man said again and clasped his hands together.

“The whole story?” I asked again and creased my brows.

“Yes….the deal is to take the girl and carry on with the experiment and give you the cash to live on with your life. The man said again and pulled out a file from his cabinet.

He placed the file on the table and I saw the signed agreement between Luke and this man.

I creased my brows,because even as Luke's consigliere I didn't know about this deal. I only knew that he had money stashed somewhere and he said after his death,I should go to some place called The Faction and take the money.

I didn't know he had some crazy deal with these people.

“No…I'm not giving you the girl,I'm taking her with me.” I spat and turned to leave.

“You see why Luke never told you about this,you are so strong headed…..you can't leave with the girl,so I'd advise you to just take the money and leave the girl behind…..we would take good care of her.” The man said and also stood up.

“Let me see you try and stop me.” I said and continued leaving.

“Ohh ... .I didn't hope it would come to this but I'd have to see whom you're more loyal too, your pregnant wife and your son or your dead boss.” The man said and showed me a security footage of my wife and son tied against a chair.

I was lost and dumbfounded,I didn't know what to do,cold sweats broke out on my forehead and my hands were creasy.

I later agreed to the deal to leave Lyanna behind and take the money and save my family.

My wife would be so disappointed in me,that I know,but I can't let my own bloodline end all because I'm protecting someone else's.

I walked out the door,and saw her crouched up in her seat. The moment she spotted me,she stood up and ran to me.

“Uncle Francis,what took you so long? I was getting tired already.” Lyanna said.

I smiled at her and patted her head

“I'm here aren't I?”

“Yes…are we leaving now?” Lyanna asked me with her eyes filled with fear.

“Yes ... .but first I need you to get something first, wait for me here,I will be back.” I said and began to walk out the door.

I turned halfway and flashed her a halfhearted smile and sniffled. I knew I was never coming back for her and she was stuck in this place for long.

♧♧♧♧♧

Lyanna's POV

Uncle Francis went down the same hallway we came in,something in me knew he wasn't going to come back and another part of me wanted to believe in his words that he was coming back.

I waited for so many hours but he never came back.

A very busty woman,wearing almost revealing clothes, came out from the room behind me.

“Uncle Francis isn't coming back for you,my dear so just follow me and let me show you to your room.” The woman said and stretched her hands towards me.

I ignored her outstretched hand and looked away.

“I know he will come back…..he will come back for me……he…he…he promised.” I said my voice cracking.

“I see you are one strong headed child.” She said and signalled to a bulky man standing behind her.

The man grabbed me and placed me over his shoulders.

“No…..noo ... .let….me..let me go……. I …..I….don't want to…..to…be …h…here. Daddy!!!!!! Uncle Francis!!!!!. I cried out at the top of my lungs but no one came to my aid.

The man threw me into a dark room and I squatted in fear next to the wall and continued crying silently.