Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Twelve

"No," Elara whispered. "I swear I don't."

"You're lying," the man barked. "You're part of the Calviero family. Don't pretend you're some sweet little princess with no idea how this world works."

"I'm not -" Her voice cracked. "They don't tell me anything."

The woman narrowed her eyes, leaning forward. "You think you're clean? That because you weren't born a Calviero, you're above it all?"

The man walked behind her chair, circling her like a wolf circling it's prey. "They've kept you close for a reason. You're leverage. You're a pawn."

"I didn't do anything," Elara whispered, her voice cracking at the end.

"No," the woman agreed. "But you will."

A small click echoed. The man dropped a black object onto the table. A camera. Compact. Smooth. Too subtle to notice unless you look closely.

"What-what is that?"

"We want you to put this somewhere in the Calviero estate," the man said. "A study. A hallway. Somewhere useful."

"You want me to spy on my family?" Elara's voice was full of disbelief.

"We want justice," the woman said. "Your family has blood on their hands. Smuggling. Weapons. Trafficking. We've been chasing them for years. You're our way in."

"I can't," Elara whispered. "I don't know anything. I'm not part of any of it-"

"But you live with them," the man growled. "You hear things. You see things. You're not stupid. And we know they trust you."

The woman leaned in closer. "And let's be honest... you're so loyal to your family now. But soon, they'll get tired of you and your freakish eyes. Then they'll throw you out. We won't do that. We just want one thing - for you to help us take them down."

Elara flinched like she'd been slapped.

The cuffs pulsed again, cutting into her wrists. She glanced down, her skin was red and clearly bruised.

"Please," she whispered. "Can you loosen the cuffs? They hurt."

The man snorted. "You'll live."

"No one in this building cares if a Calviero's wrists bruise a bit," the woman added.

Elara's throat tightened. She wanted to scream, to cry, to run as far away from the station as possible.Instead, her voice broke as she said, "Don't I get a phone call?"

There was a beat of silence.

Then the woman shoved a worn-down phone across the table. "Fine. Make it fast. You've got five minutes."

Elara's fingers shook as she dialed. She was thankful she had memorized Alessandro's number. One ring. Two.

"What." Alessandro's voice came through, sharp and alert.

"Papà-" her voice cracked, that one word slipping out without her realising. "They-they arrested me. Said something about steroids but now they want me to spy on you. They cuffed me and it hurts-they won't loosen them and they're saying horrible things-"

"Where are you Elara?"

"The police station. I don't know which one-"

"Stay put. Don't say anything else."
His voice turned to steel. "We're coming."

In the background, Elara heard her mother gasp.And then came Salvatore's voice, low and deadly, "They put their hands on her?"

Just then, line went dead.

But Elara felt the shift. She wasn't alone anymore. Someone was coming to help her.

---

Twenty-two minutes later, the glass doors of the station slammed open.

Three people walked through like they owned the place, Alessandro Calviero, Salvatore Calviero, and Isabella Calviero.

Behind them, in crimson heels and a power suit sharper than any weapon, came the Calviero family's personal attorney.

The front desk sergeant stood up. "Sir, you can't-"

"Where the fuck is my daughter?" Alessandro said, voice cold enough to freeze air.

The woman officer stepped out of a hallway, arms folded. "She's being questioned-"

"She is a minor," the lawyer snapped. "Questioned without consent, representation, or medical attention. And handcuffed without cause? I'll see you in court for that."

Salvatore's eyes locked on the woman officer like she was already dead. "You're the one who laid hands on her?"

She flinched.

The lawyer kept going. "You want to keep talking or start settling lawsuits?"

The man officer appeared beside the woman. "She was detained because she's a Calviero. We had suspicion."

Isabella stepped forward, murder in every breath she took. "And what suspicion justified you hurting her?"

The room fell silent.

"She's in the back," someone mumbled.

---

Elara was still sitting, arms locked in the cuffs, eyes red-rimmed from crying and head bowed, when the door burst open.

She looked up and saw her mom,papà and Salvatore, her oldest older brother.

"Elara," Alessandro said, crossing the room fast.

And Elara broke.

The cuffs came off just before she threw herself into his arms.

"Please don't let them take me again, Papà," she sobbed, clinging to him like he was her lifeline, shaking all over.

Alessandro held her like she was something fragile and infinitely precious. His jaw was tight. His eyes burned with rage for her.

"I won't," he said softly, fiercely, placing a soft kiss on her head. "I promise you - no one will ever touch you again."

Behind them, Isabella had her hand pressed to her mouth, her eyes filled with unshed tears for her daughter, that had gone through so much. Salvatore looked like he wanted to kill someone.

The lawyer took photos of Elara's wrists and turned to the stunned officers. "You're going to regret every second of this."

And they would.

But for now - Elara didn't care.

Because she was safe.