Chapter 4 - SHADOWS OUTSIDE THE GATES
The storm broke over Chicago at midnight.
Lightning slashed across the darkened sky, illuminating the iron gates of the Moretti estate.
Inside the master suite upstairs, Lily was finally fast asleep in a grand bed with silk sheets.
I sat on the edge of the velvet armchair, staring out the tall arched window.
My entire life had changed in less than six hours.
From a terrified housemaid hiding in a slum to an honored guest in the most heavily guarded fortress in the city.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” I whispered.
Gabriel entered quietly, carrying a cup of steaming chamomile tea.
He had changed out of his blood-stained suit into a dark turtleneck and trousers.
“Is she sleeping?” he asked, handing me the cup.
“Like a rock,” I replied, taking a small sip. “Thank you, Gabriel.”
He pulled up a chair opposite me, resting his elbows on his knees.
“You don't need to thank me, Rachel. I failed you both for three years. That's a debt I can never fully repay.”
“It wasn't your fault. Mark and Vanessa were clever.”
“Mark was a coward,” Gabriel muttered, his jaw tightening. “He didn't have the brains to execute a four-million-dollar theft and a double execution on his own.”
I set the teacup down.
“What do you mean?”
“I interrogated him in the basement for an hour before locking him up,” Gabriel said darkly. “He gave up a name before he passed out.”
My breath hitched.
“Whose name?”
Gabriel looked straight into my eyes.
“Donato Moretti.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Donato was Gabriel’s uncle. The patriarch emeritus of the syndicate.
“Your own uncle?” I breathed.
“He wanted control of the family board,” Gabriel explained, standing up and pacing across the Persian rug. “Daniel stood in his way. Mark was just his accountant. Donato ordered the hit on the warehouse, and he ordered Mark to silence you.”
“Then Donato knows we're here,” I whispered in sudden panic.
“He knows,” Gabriel confirmed calmly, walking to the window and peering through the shutters. “Which is why you and Lily are not safe in this house for much longer.”
Before I could answer, a loud explosion rocked the estate.
The lights flickered and died, plunging the bedroom into absolute darkness.
Red emergency backup lights flared to life along the hallways.
Alarms began to wail across the property.
Gabriel whirled around, drawing his weapon in a single fluid motion.
“Stay in this room, Rachel! Do not open this door for anyone!”
“Gabriel!” I cried out, grabbing his arm.
“Trust me,” he said fiercely, kissing my forehead before vanishing into the dark corridor.
Gunfire erupted downstairs.
Heavy boots pounded against the marble staircases.
May you like
Someone was breaching the mansion.
And they were coming straight for the second floor.
