Inside, a lamp lay broken on the floor.
A chair had been overturned.
There was blood on the kitchen counter.
And Isabella stood near the bedroom doorway.
She was holding a kitchen knife.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Six years disappeared between them.
Alessandro saw the woman he remembered.
But he also saw the years he had missed.
The tiredness around her eyes.
The scar near her eyebrow.
The way she stood as though she expected someone to take something from her.
"Isabella."
She tightened her grip on the knife.
"Stay where you are."
He stopped.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
She gave a bitter laugh.
"You've brought armed men into my home."
"They work for me."
"That doesn't make it better."
He glanced at her wrist.
"What happened?"
"Your uncle happened."
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
"Where is he?"
"Probably somewhere comfortable, waiting for someone else to clean up his mistakes."
"Isabella, I need you to come with me."
"No."
He looked at her.
"Your daughter is safe."
The knife lowered slightly.
"Emma?"
"She's with Sofia."
"Where?"
"At my residence."
Isabella closed her eyes.
For the first time, the fear on her face became something else.
Relief.
Then she looked at him again.
"You took her?"
"No. She came to me."
"How?"
"She found me in the parking garage."
Isabella covered her mouth.
"Oh, God."
"She was frightened. She saw the blue Mercedes."
Isabella looked toward the broken window.
"They followed her."
"Yes."
"Then you understand."
"I understand enough."
"No, Alessandro. You don't."
He stepped closer, but stopped when she raised the knife again.
"Tell me."
She stared at him.
"Your uncle knows about Emma."
"I know."
"He has known for months."
Alessandro said nothing.
"He sent people to watch us. He tried to make me leave the country. When I refused, he threatened to take her."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Her expression hardened.
"Because the last time I trusted your family, I lost everything."
"I would have protected you."
"Would you?"
The question was quiet.
It was also devastating.
Alessandro looked at her.
She continued.
"You couldn't even protect the woman you claimed to love. How was I supposed to believe you could protect a child?"
He absorbed the words without moving.
"You're right."
Isabella seemed surprised.
He continued.
"I don't know what happened six years ago. I don't know what my uncle told you. But I know that I failed you."
Her eyes filled.
"Alessandro..."
"I should have looked harder."
"You did."
"I should have known."
"You didn't."
"I should have found you."
She shook her head.
"Stop."
He fell silent.
For a long moment, they stood facing one another.
Then Isabella lowered the knife.
"I didn't leave because I stopped loving you."
Alessandro looked at her.
"I know that now."
"No. You don't know anything yet."
She placed the knife on the counter.
Then she walked toward the small bedroom.
From inside a drawer, she removed a folded envelope.
The paper was yellowed at the edges.
She held it out.
"Read this."
Alessandro opened it.
The handwriting was his uncle's.
The message was short.
Isabella was instructed to disappear permanently.
If she refused, Alessandro would be told that she had betrayed him and was working with a rival family.
The final paragraph was worse.
It stated that any child born from their relationship would be considered a potential threat to the Moretti succession.
Alessandro read the letter twice.
Then he looked up.
"He threatened you."
"He threatened you too."
"Why didn't you come to me?"
"Because I believed him."
"He was lying."
"Was he?"
Alessandro did not answer immediately.
Isabella stepped closer.
"Your uncle had men everywhere. He knew your movements. He knew when you were alone and when you were surrounded. He showed me photographs of you leaving your office. He knew what time you visited your mother's grave."
She paused.
"He told me that if I stayed, he would arrange an accident."
Alessandro looked down at the letter.
"Did he say he would kill Emma?"
"He didn't know about her yet."
"And afterward?"
"He found out."
"How?"
Isabella looked away.
"Someone at the hospital sold information."
Alessandro felt his stomach tighten.
"Which hospital?"
"St. Mary's."
He knew the place.
It was a private hospital where the Moretti family had donated money for years.
"Who knew you were there?"
"Only my doctor and one nurse."
"Names."
"Alessandro..."
"Names."
She stared at him.
Then she gave him the information.
He passed it to Marco.
"Investigate everything."
Marco nodded.
Isabella looked at the men standing near the doorway.
"I want to see my daughter."
Alessandro turned toward her.
"Of course."
He removed his coat and placed it around her shoulders.
She almost refused.
Then she noticed that he was looking at the blood on her wrist.
"Let me have a doctor examine you."
"I don't need one."
"Please."
The word surprised her.
Alessandro Moretti rarely asked anyone for anything.
Isabella studied his face.
Then she nodded.
"All right."
***
At the residence, Emma was asleep on the sofa.
Sofia had covered her with a soft blanket.