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In the realm of shadows and secrets, this was where Francisco thought he was safe.
A small, triumphant smile played on my lips as I made this discovery. His hideout was no longer a safe place for him anymore.
With excitement and anticipation, I closed my laptop and hurried to my feet. I rushed from the bedroom to the living room, my steps fueled by adrenaline and concern for Matteo.
Leo and Antonio were already there, their expressions a blend of anticipation and worry.
Breathing heavily, I showed them my laptop screen, pointing to the triangulated location of Francisco's hideout.
"I've found him. I know where Matteo is," I announced urgently.
Leo, focused and resolute, spoke up. "Good work, Sophia. I'll call the police and have them raid that place immediately."
Antonio, his determination matching Leo's, added, "I'm going with Leo. We'll bring Matteo back."
I couldn't help but worry. "Please, be careful, both of you."
Leo reassured me, "We will. But you, Sophia, you just gave birth. Be careful."
They rushed off to execute the plan, leaving me with a racing heart and a sense of helplessness. I could only wait, hope, and pray for Matteo's safe return.
As I paced the nursery floor, my anxious eyes never strayed from our precious bundle of joy, sleeping soundly in her crib.
My daughter, a beacon of innocence in this world of chaos and uncertainty, had a calming effect on me, but it did little to quell the relentless worry gnawing at my heart.
I couldn't stay still and stop my mind from racing with thoughts of Matteo. Had they found him? Was he safe? The minutes stretched into agonizing hours as I grappled with the uncertainty.
Then, the shrill ring of my phone shattered the tense silence, and I rushed to pick it up, my heart pounding in my chest. The caller ID flashed Antonio's name, and I answered tremblingly.
"Antonio, please tell me you have news," I implored, my voice laced with desperation.
His words were a lifeline in the darkness. "We've rescued Matteo, Sophia. We're taking him to the hospital."
Relief washed over me like a tidal wave, but it was quickly followed by a new wave of worry. "Is he okay?" I asked, my voice quivering with fear.
Antonio hesitated for a moment, his reply measured. "He's not in the best shape, but he'll be okay. I promise."
I couldn't help but clutch the phone tighter as if doing so would bring Matteo back to me faster. "When can I see him? When can I be with him?"
Antonio reassured me, "I'm coming to pick you up, Sophia. We'll be at the hospital soon. Just hold on a little longer."
With renewed hope and a grateful heart, I hung up the phone and turned my gaze back to my slumbering daughter. We were one step closer to being a family again; that thought was enough to keep me going.
Tears rose as I stood there, watching my little angel sleep so peacefully. I leaned over her crib, my voice barely above a whisper, and spoke to her as if she could understand.
"Daddy's been rescued," I whispered, my voice trembling with tears of happiness. "He's going to be okay, and he'll be home with us soon."
Chapter 44
Matteo
As I slowly stirred from unconsciousness, my world materialized in a hazy, fragmented fashion. The muted sounds of hospital machinery and distant voices seeped into my awareness, slowly pulling me back from the abyss of darkness.
My eyelids felt heavy, like lead, as I struggled to open them. The harsh, sterile light of the hospital room pierced through the slits in my vision, forcing me to squint. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, and then I saw her.
Sophia.
She was there, right beside me, her eyes filled with an intensity that seemed to pierce through my soul. Her presence was a balm to my disoriented mind, grounding me in the reality of the moment.
