Chapter 2 - THE WHISPER IN THE DARK
The dining room fell into a terrifying silence.
A pin drop would have sounded like thunder.
Vanessa’s hands trembled against her red silk dress.
She forced a tight, artificial smile onto her face.
“The boy is dreaming, Luca,” she said smoothly.
“Children invent things when they are grieving.”
Luca didn’t blink.
His dark eyes remained fixed on Vanessa.
“He hasn't mentioned the accident in two years, Vanessa.”
“He was only seven when it happened.”
“Exactly,” Luca whispered.
“Trauma locks things away until a trigger brings them back.”
I held my breath beside Oliver.
Oliver’s small hand gripped my fingers tighter.
“A man came to my window,” Oliver repeated.
“He wore a dark coat.”
“He had a scar on his cheek.”
Vanessa’s breath hitched.
Just for a second.
But I caught it.
Luca caught it too.
“What did the man say to you, buddy?” Luca asked softly.
“He said I should keep my mouth shut about who was really in the front seat,” Oliver whispered.
“He said bad things would happen to Emily if I talked.”
My heart leaped into my throat.
Threatening a child was bad enough.
Threatening me meant someone wanted to silence the house.
Luca stood up to his full height.
The guests backed away from the table in sheer terror.
Nobody crossed Luca Moretti in Chicago and lived to tell the tale.
“Guards,” Luca’s voice cut through the room like a razor.
Two massive men in black suits appeared instantly from the shadows.
“Lock down the estate,” Luca commanded.
“Nobody leaves. Check every security camera from last night.”
“Yes, Boss,” they echoed in unison.
Vanessa stepped backward, her red gown rustling against the marble.
“Luca, you're letting a hysterical maid and a traumatized child ruin our night.”
“Our night?” Luca turned his head slowly.
“You called the security company this morning, didn't you?”
Vanessa froze.
“What are you talking about?”
“The logs show someone deleted footage from the east wing between 2 AM and 4 AM.”
Luca stepped closer to her.
May you like
“And the administrator password was yours.”
Cliffhanger: The security guard's phone rang loudly in the silent hall, reporting that they had just found a stranger hiding in the basement holding a knife—and he was wearing Vanessa's private family signet ring.
