Chapter 11 - TEN MINUTES TO ERASE THIRTY YEARS
-11-
Nine minutes and forty-two seconds.
That was all Matteo Varric had to decide whether to save the evidence that could expose thirty years of stolen children or protect the people standing beside him.
He chose both.
“Dominic.”
“I’m on it.”
“Find the detonation system.”
Dominic ran.
Matteo turned toward Isabella.
“Is there another exit?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“South tunnel.”
“Take Liana.”
“No.”
Liana’s answer came immediately.
Matteo glared.
“This is not negotiable.”
“It is when my records are here.”
“Liana.”
“My son was stolen because everyone kept deciding what was best for me.”
Her voice shook.
“You don’t get to do that too.”
Matteo stared at her.
Nine minutes.
He looked at Nico.
Then back at Liana.
“Fine.”
She almost looked surprised.
“But you stay beside me.”
“Agreed.”
Isabella led them deeper into the archive.
The DNA database occupied an isolated room protected by steel panels.
Matteo connected several drives.
“Can we copy it?”
“Not all.”
Isabella looked at the timer.
Eight minutes.
Liana noticed rows of physical sample cards.
“Take the index.”
Matteo looked at her.
“What?”
“The database needs a map.”
She pointed at the terminal.
“If we can’t copy everything, copy the list telling us which evidence belongs to which child.”
Dominic shouted from the next room.
“Detonators are wired through the ventilation shafts.”
“Can you stop them?”
“Not before the timer.”
Matteo looked at Isabella.
“Where is the backup power?”
“Outside.”
“Of course.”
Seven minutes.
They downloaded the master index.
Thirty percent.
Forty.
Fifty.
Liana bounced Nico gently.
The baby was strangely calm.
Matteo looked at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Liana heard.
“For what?”
“That his life started inside this.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Matteo looked at her.
“His life started with me.”
She swallowed.
“And then you kept him alive.”
Matteo’s face changed.
Liana continued.
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have.”
“You should have asked more questions.”
“Yes.”
“You should have tested his DNA.”
“Yes.”
“You should have investigated your mother’s story.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes softened.
“But you loved him.”
Matteo looked toward Nico.
“That was the only thing I didn’t lie about.”
Liana felt something shift inside her.
Not forgiveness.
Something quieter.
Six minutes.
The download completed.
Matteo removed the drive.
Dominic returned.
“We have to leave now.”
They moved toward the south tunnel.
Then Isabella stopped.
“What?”
Matteo asked.
She looked back.
“The original Shepherd ledger.”
“Leave it.”
“No.”
“Mother.”
“It has signatures.”
“We have the index.”
“The ledger proves intent.”
Matteo grabbed her arm.
“We are leaving.”
Isabella stared at him.
For decades she had hidden behind control.
Power.
Secrecy.
Now she looked like a woman who understood exactly what cowardice had cost.
“I can get it.”
“No.”
“Matteo—”
“No.”
He pulled her toward the tunnel.
She resisted.
Then Liana spoke.
“Isabella.”
The older woman turned.
Liana shifted Nico into one arm and held out her free hand.
“Come with us.”
Isabella stared.
Liana continued.
“You don’t get to die before you answer for what you did.”
Something like gratitude passed across Isabella’s face.
She took Liana’s hand.
They ran.
Four minutes.
The tunnel smelled of dust and damp stone.
Behind them, alarms screamed.
Dominic led.
Matteo stayed at the rear.
Three minutes.
They reached a steel door.
Locked.
Dominic swore.
Isabella searched for the mechanical release.
“There.”
Rust had jammed the wheel.
Matteo and Dominic pulled.
Nothing.
Two minutes.
Liana held Nico against her chest.
She whispered into his hair.
“You’re going to be okay.”
Matteo looked back.
She saw fear in his eyes.
Not for himself.
For them.
Dominic shouted.
“Again.”
They pulled.
The wheel shifted.
One minute.
The steel door opened six inches.
Then twelve.
Enough.
Dominic pushed Isabella through.
Liana handed Nico to her for one terrifying second and squeezed sideways.
Matteo followed.
Thirty seconds.
They ran down the hillside.
The explosion came like the earth breaking open.
Liana hit the ground.
Matteo covered her body with his.
Glass and stone exploded behind them.
For several seconds there was no sound except ringing.
Then Nico cried.
Liana lifted her head.
“Baby.”
Isabella lay nearby, protecting him.
Alive.
Liana crawled toward them.
She took Nico and held him so tightly he protested.
May you like
Matteo sat in the grass.
Blood ran from a cut above his eyebrow.
