Chapter 4

 Luca sat in the cramped, his mind racing. The cold metal cuffs that had been clamped tightly around his wrists earlier were now gone, but he couldn't shake off the weight of the situation. 

 He'd been arrested for carrying drugs, a job that was supposed to help his sister, but now it seemed like his whole world was collapsing around him.

 He rested his head against the cold, stone wall, with his breath shaky. "This is it," he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse. 

 "It's all over." He thought about his sister lying in that hospital bed, and a deep, aching guilt gnawed at him.

 "I failed you," he whispered, feeling the burn of tears welling up.

 Just as he was about to sink further into despair, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. 

 Luca lifted his head as a police officer came into view, unlocking the door to his cell.

 "Get up," the officer barked, swinging the door open. Luca hesitated, confusion crossing his face. 

 "What now?" Luca muttered, slowly rising to his feet. He had no idea what was happening.

 As he stepped out of the cell, Luca came face to face with a familiar man, the very same one who had almost hit him with his car just hours earlier. Luca's eyes widened in disbelief.

 "You?" Luca blurted out. "What are you doing here?"

 "Come with me." The man said softly.

 Luca hesitated for a moment, glancing between the man and the police officers, who surprisingly stepped aside, allowing the man to lead him out of the station. 

 Luca's mind raced as they made their way through the station's halls and out into the fresh night air. The cool breeze hit his face, snapping him back into reality.

 As they stepped onto the street outside the station, Luca stopped in his tracks,

 "Wait a minute," he said, turning to face the man. "Who are you? Why did you get me out of there?"

 My name is Detective Van," he said. "I'm a top-secret detective working for the La Russo family."

 Luca blinked, his brow furrowing. "This is about La Russo family again." He took a step back, shaking his head. "What does that have to do with me?"

 "Everything," he replied. "You're their son, Luca. The true heir to the La Russo empire."

 Luca froze, his heart pounding in his chest. "What? That doesn't make any sense. You must have the wrong person. I don't know anything about an empire or being their son!"

 Vans reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a worn, old photograph. He handed it to Luca. "Look at this," he said.

 Luca hesitantly took the photograph, his hands shaking slightly. He looked down at the image, a young boy with the same birthmark on his arm, standing next to a man and a woman he didn't recognize. His breath caught in his throat.

 "That's you, Luca," van said quietly. "You were taken from the La Russo family when you were a child. They've been searching for you ever since."

 Luca's mind spun as he stared at the photo, trying to make sense of it all. His throat felt dry, and his words came out in a whisper. "This… this can't be real."

 "It is real. I've been tasked with finding you, and now that I have, it's time for you to return to your rightful place." Van said, stepping forward.

 Luca shook his head, struggling to process everything. 

 "I don't—" He paused, his voice cracking. "I'm just Luca. I grew up in an orphanage. My life has been nothing but a struggle. How can I be… the heir to some powerful family?"

 Van's expression softened. "I know it's a lot to take in, but this is the truth, and the La Russo family needs you. You've been living in the shadows of your own life, but now it's time to step into the light. Come with me, Luca. Let me take you to them."

 Luca clenched the photograph in his hand, still unsure of what to believe. 

 The life he had known, the struggles, the pain, the loss, none of them aligned with the story he was telling him. But at the same time, the birthmark, the photograph… it all gnawed at him.

 He looked up at the vans. "And what if I don't want to go? What if I just want to live my life as it is?"

 ."You can try, Luca, but now that you've been found, there's no going back. The La Russo family will stop at nothing to take you home. And more than that… they need you."

 Luca swallowed hard, the weight of Valli's words pressing down on him. He thought about his sister, lying in that hospital bed, and the action he had taken to try and save her. Maybe this, this connection to the La Russo family, was the answer he had been searching for all along.

 After a long moment of silence, Luca finally nodded. "Alright. I'll go."

 "Good, "Vans said with a smile. 

 As they walked toward his car, Luca glanced back at the photograph. His eyes remained glued on it until the car pulled up to the grand entrance of the La Russo mansion. 

 The gates opened slowly, revealing a sprawling estate. Mr van stepped out, and Luca followed him behind, observing the beautiful estate.

 A tall, poised woman in a chic black dress approached them with a warm smile.

 "Welcome," she said softly. "I'm Erica, Mrs. La Russo's personal assistant. Please, follow me."

 Luca followed Eric through the hallways of the mansion, his footsteps echoing on the marble floors.

 Finally, they arrived at a large set of double doors, and Erica knocked softly before opening them.

 Inside the room, Mrs. May La Russo sat elegantly in an ornate chair.

 "Mrs. La Russo," Erica announced, "Detective van has arrived with someone important."

 May La Russo's eyes fixed on Luca. She stood up, with her eyes lightening up. 

 "Detective Vans," she said. "I trust you have good news."

 Detective Vans stepped forward.

 "Mrs. La Russo, I present to you Luca, your son."

 May La Russo's gaze flickered between Luca and Vans. "I hope you're right, Detective. I hope this isn't some mistake like before."

 "This isn't a mistake, I can prove it," he said. He carefully lifted Luca's sleeve, revealing the birthmark on his arm. "This is the mark we've been searching for, Mrs. La Russo."

 Mrs. La Russo's eyes widened as she saw the birthmark. Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took a hesitant step forward. 

 "It's him… it's really him." Her voice broke out in joy.

 Without another word, May La Russo moved to Luca, wrapping him in a tight, emotional embrace. 

 Luca, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of affection and relief, stood still for a moment before returning the hug.

 After a few moments, Mrs. La Russo pulled back slightly, her eyes searching Luca's face. "My son, I've missed you so much. How is your sister, Rosa? Is she well?"

 Luca's expression turned somber. "Rosa... She's sick, and she's fighting for her life. That's why I was trying so hard to get money, to help her. I didn't know about any of this… about our family, until tonight."

 Mrs. La Russo's face fell with concern. "Oh, my poor Rosa. We must do something immediately."

 Detective Vans interjected gently. "Mrs. La Russo, we should take Luca to a room where he can rest. While we arrange for immediate assistance for his sister."

 Mrs. La Russo nodded. "Of course. Luca, we will get your sister the best care possible. But for now, you must be tired. Let's get you settled in."

 "No!" Luca objected. "I can't rest until my sister is fine."

 "We need to go to hospital today now."

 "Luca, you should at least freshen up first." May La Russo chipped in.

 "I will do that once, Rosa, until I'm sure Rosa is much better."

 May La Russo let out a soft sigh. "If that's what you want, then. We should head to the hospital."

 May La Russo turned to her personal assistant. "Erica, please arrange for the driver to take us to the hospital immediately,"

 Erica nodded and quickly left the room. 

 May La Russo then turned to Detective Van. "Detective Vans, I cannot thank you enough for bringing my son back to me. My late husband would have been overjoyed to see this day. He always hoped, against all odds, that Luca would be found."

 Vans smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of his words. "It was my honor, Mrs. La Russo. I'm just glad I could reunite you with your son."

 Luca looked at Vans. "Thank you, Detective. I... I don't know what to say. This is all so overwhelming."

 With a final nod, Vans turned and left the mansion, leaving Luca and Mrs. La Russo.

 Together, May La Russo and Luca stepped outside, after being informed that the driver was waiting outside.

 The driver opened the door for them. May La Russo settled into the car with Luca following closely behind. The car glided smoothly away from the mansion, heading toward the hospital.

 During the ride, Luca glanced out the window. He didn't stare out too long as he turned to look at Mrs. La Russo.

 He had so many questions swirling in his mind that he just had to ask.

 "How did me and Rosa end up in the orphanage?" 

 Mrs. La Russo took a deep breath before speaking. "When you and Rosa were very young, you were abducted by a maid. This maid was hired by my husband's brother, your uncle. He was greedy and wanted the entire La Russo empire for himself. He saw you both as obstacles to his plans."

 Luca's eyes widened in shock. "So, we were taken and sold off?"

 "Yes," Mrs. La Russo confirmed, her voice trembling with emotion. "The maid was instructed to sell you to the highest bidder, and you both ended up in an orphanage. We searched for you tirelessly, but your uncle managed to cover his tracks so well."

 Luca shook his head, struggling to absorb the revelation. "That's why we never knew anything about this life… or who we really were."

 Mrs. La Russo reached out and took Luca's hand. "There's more. Your father passed away two years ago. Before he died, he left the empire to you, in the hope that one day you would be found. His last wish was for you to take your rightful place and continue his legacy."

 Luca's heart ached. "I wouldn't let him down."

 The car turned smoothly into the hospital's driveway, pulling up to the entrance.

 As they walked through the hospital corridors, Luca led May La Russo to a private room where Rosa lay in a hospital bed, her condition visibly frail but her eyes brightened when she saw her brother.

 "Rosa!" Luca cried out, rushing to her side. He took her hand gently, his eyes misting with tears. "I'm here, Rosa. I'm so sorry it took so long."

 Rosa's eyes filled with tears of relief as she gazed up at her brother. Then her eyes landed on May La Russo.

 "Who's this?" She asked.

 "This is May La Russo, our birth mother."

 Rosa's eyes grew. "How did you?…how is it?"

 "I will explain it all later," Luca said, stepping aside for May La Russo who stood by, with her own eyes damp with tears.

 "I'm so sorry for everything you've been through," she said softly to Rosa. "But I am here now, and I will make sure you get the best care possible."

 The medical staff, alerted by Mrs. La Russo's swift actions, began to attend to Rosa.

 As the doctors worked to stabilize Rosa, Luca and May La Russo sat together in the waiting area. Luca felt a glimmer of hope that he hadn't felt in years.

 "Thank you, Mrs. La Russo," Luca said quietly, "For everything. For saving my sister."

 May La Russo smiled warmly. "It's my pleasure, Luca. You and Rosa are finally home, and I will make sure you both have the life you deserve."