Chapter 3: The Man Mia Remembered
The pounding came again.
“Gabriel Valenti,” a man called.
“Open the door.
We have a court order.”
Gabriel handed Mia to Claire and checked the security screen.
His uncle Marco stood outside with two sheriff’s deputies and a silver-haired attorney.
Claire pulled Mia closer.
“How does your uncle know we’re here?”
“He shouldn’t.”
Gabriel opened the door but kept his body across the entrance.
Marco lifted a folder.
“Step aside.
The child must be placed in temporary protective custody.”
“On whose complaint?”
“Mine.”
“You learned she existed less than an hour ago.”
Marco’s mouth tightened.
“I learned tonight that a woman has been using my late nephew’s name to make a false inheritance claim.”
Claire stepped forward.
“I have never asked your family for a penny.”
“You brought the child into Gabriel’s home.”
“I came to deliver a birthday cake.”
“With a photograph of Luca conveniently in your purse?”
Gabriel took the folder from Marco.
The petition named Mia as a possible Valenti heir and accused Claire of fraud.
“This was filed at nine this morning,” Gabriel said.
Marco said nothing.
Gabriel held the document closer to his uncle’s face.
“Claire did not meet me until tonight.
How did you know Mia’s name this morning?”
The younger deputy glanced at Marco.
The attorney cleared his throat.
“Mr.
Valenti received confidential information.”
“From whom?” Gabriel asked.
“That is protected.”
Mia peeked over Claire’s shoulder.
Her small hand began to tremble.
“That’s him.”
Claire turned.
“Who, sweetheart?”
Mia pointed directly at Marco.
“The man who made Grandma cry.”
Marco’s polished smile vanished.
“I have never met this child.”
“You stood by Grandma’s back door,” Mia said.
“You said the flower lady should’ve stayed in the lake.”
Gabriel stepped onto the porch and shut the door behind him.
“What did you say to Ruth?”
Marco leaned close.
“Be careful, Gabriel.
Grief made your father foolish.
Don’t let it do the same to you.”
“My father spent eighteen years believing Elena was gone.”
“And now a stranger brings you a child with a fairy tale.”
The older deputy raised one hand.
“Nobody is removing the child tonight.
The order requests an interview, not immediate custody.”
Marco spun toward him.
“Read the final page.”
“I did.
It isn’t signed by a judge.”
Gabriel handed the folder back.
“You brought deputies to frighten a mother with an unsigned petition.”
“I came to protect this family.”
“Then start by telling me where Ruth is.”
Marco straightened his cuffs.
“Ask Claire.
Deception appears to run in her family.”
Claire opened the door.
“My mother protected Mia from you, didn’t she?”
“You should worry about what she protected Mia from.”
Marco turned to leave, but Gabriel caught his arm.
“If you go near Claire or Mia again, you answer to me.”
Marco looked down at Gabriel’s hand.
“Take it off.”
“Tell me where my brother is.”
“Your brother is de@d.”
A phone chimed inside the house.
Mia slipped from Claire’s arms and ran toward the sound.
The blue phone had connected itself to Gabriel’s television, and a paused image filled the screen.
Luca was seated beneath a bare light.
Ruth stood behind him.
A newspaper lay across Luca’s knees, showing that morning’s date.
Gabriel pressed play.
Luca stared into the camera.
“Gabe, if you’re seeing this, Marco found us.”
May you like
Behind Gabriel, the front door opened.
Marco had come back—and he was reaching for the blue phone.
