Chapter 5 - The Search at the Cottage
A convoy of four black SUVs tore down the winding private road leading to the edge of the Duca estate, where the small staff cottages sat tucked beneath the towering pine trees.
Lorenzo stepped out of the lead vehicle before it even came to a complete stop, his heavy leather shoes crunching against the gravel driveway. Beside him walked Maria, her hands bound with zip-ties, her teary eyes focused on the small wooden porch of her home. Marco followed closely behind, flanked by four armed bodyguards whose weapons were drawn and pointed toward the ground.
Lorenzo pushed open the wooden front door, his heart pounding violently against his ribs. The air inside the small cottage smelled of warm vanilla and baby powder.
He walked past the modest living room and pushed open the door to the rear bedroom.
There, resting inside a white wicker bassinet covered in a soft pink blanket, was a six-month-old infant girl. She was wide awake, her dark brown eyes bright and curious, a tiny tuft of dark hair curling across her forehead.
Lorenzo’s knees buckled. He dropped to the hardwood floor beside the bassinet, reaching out a trembling, large hand to touch the baby's tiny cheek.
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"Sophia..." Lorenzo choked out, a raw sob tearing from his throat as the little girl gurgled happily, wrapping her tiny fingers around his thumb.
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