Chapter 12 - THE HUNT
In the penthouse boardroom of Moretti Global, the atmosphere was lethal.
Luca stood over his central security desk, flanked by Marco and six former military tactical operatives now on his private payroll. On the glass table lay an encrypted tracking device signal pulsing softly in red.
When Luca had bought Nia her car three weeks ago, he had quietly instructed Marco to install a military-grade satellite locator in the chassis.
"Signal is moving south toward the old industrial shipping yards along the Calumet River," Marco reported, his voice crisp and professional. "We have three teams moving in."
Luca pulled a heavy black coat over his shoulders. His face was devoid of color, his dark eyes turned into two hollow spheres of absolute death.
"Boss," Marco hesitated, putting a hand on Luca's arm. "Let the team handle the entry. You stay in the car."
Luca turned his head slowly, his glare so suffocating that Marco instinctively stepped back.
"They took my wife once with lies," Luca said, his voice dropping to a whisper that chilled the room. "They took seven years of my children's lives. If they lay a single finger on her tonight, there will not be enough left of the Shaw family to put in a grave."
Ten minutes later, three unmarked black SUVs roared through the torrential Chicago rain, tearing down the highway toward the industrial district.
Inside the rear SUV, Luca held his phone, staring at a picture Nia had taken of Leo and Maya playing at the park earlier that week.
May you like
He closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling in heavy, deliberate breaths.
I threw her away when she needed me most, Luca thought, his fists clenching until his knuckles turned ghostly white. I let them take her once. Never again.
