Chapter 2 - The Man Who Wouldn’t Look Away
Dominic ordered every door in the mansion locked.
Every guard was called in.
Every camera was checked.
And somehow, through all of it, I couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
Someone had put that card under Leo's pillow.
Someone had entered his bedroom.
Someone had been close enough to touch him.
I stood outside Leo's room while Dominic questioned the guards.
Leo was wrapped in a blanket on his bed.
He wouldn't let go of my hand.
“Bea?”
“I'm here.”
“Is the bad man coming?”
I forced a smile.
“No.”
He looked at me suspiciously.
“You promised.”
“I did.”
He squeezed my fingers.
“Then he won't.”
That broke something inside me.
Children shouldn't have to learn how to recognize fear.
I tucked the blanket around him.
Dominic appeared in the doorway.
His jacket was gone.
His sleeves were rolled up.
His expression was unreadable.
“Leo needs sleep.”
“I know.”
“He won't sleep without you.”
“I know.”
Dominic looked at my hand resting over Leo's.
Then at me.
“Stay with him.”
I nodded.
He started to leave.
“Dominic.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Who was on the phone?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, “Someone who shouldn't know about this house.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you need to stop asking questions.”
I stared at him.
“That's difficult when people are putting things under a child's pillow.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
“You're right.”
The admission surprised me.
Dominic Russo didn't apologize.
He didn't explain himself.
He certainly didn't admit when someone else was right.
He stepped closer.
“I'm sorry.”
I didn't know what to say.
He looked tired.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
I remembered what people said about him.
Ruthless.
Untouchable.
Dangerous.
A man who had buried everyone he loved.
But standing there beside Leo's bed, he looked less like a feared crime boss and more like a father terrified of losing another person.
“You should sleep,” he told me.
“So should you.”
His mouth almost curved.
Almost.
Then he walked away.
I stayed with Leo until he fell asleep.
Around three in the morning, I carried my blanket into the chair beside his bed.
I was exhausted.
I must have slept for an hour.
Then I heard a sound.
Click.
My eyes opened.
Leo was still asleep.
The bedroom door was slightly open.
I stood.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
I stepped into the hallway.
The mansion was dark.
At the end of the corridor, a figure moved.
I froze.
“Who's there?”
The figure disappeared around the corner.
I ran after it.
By the time I reached the corner, the hallway was empty.
But something lay on the floor.
A photograph.
I picked it up.
It showed Dominic standing beside a woman.
She was beautiful.
Blonde.
Elegant.
And holding a baby.
Leo.
I turned the photograph over.
There were three words written on the back.
SHE NEVER DIED.
My fingers went numb.
“Beatrice.”
I spun around.
Dominic stood behind me.
He looked at the photograph.
The color disappeared from his face.
“Where did you get that?”
“It was on the floor.”
He took it from my hand.
For several seconds, he stared at the woman.
“Who is she?”
He didn't answer.
“Dominic?”
His jaw tightened.
“That was Leo's mother.”
“I know.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“You don't.”
He folded the photograph.
“She died.”
I stared at him.
“Then why does this say she never died?”
His eyes hardened.
“Because someone wants me to believe she didn't.”
I felt another chill.
“Why?”
Dominic looked toward the dark hallway.
“Because whoever is doing this knows exactly which wounds to open.”
He turned away.
I followed.
“Dominic.”
He stopped.
“Why did you tell me not to trust anyone in this house?”
His silence was answer enough.
Then he said, “Because there's one person here I haven't been able to eliminate from suspicion.”
“Who?”
Before he could answer, his phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
A security photograph had arrived.
The image showed the hallway outside Leo's bedroom.
Timestamp: 2:47 A.M.
A hooded figure stood outside the door.
Dominic zoomed in.
I stepped closer.
The figure's face remained hidden.
But the hand was visible.
On one finger was a distinctive silver ring.
I recognized it.
I had seen that ring every morning at breakfast.
May you like
On the hand of the man Dominic trusted most.
Dominic's chief of security.
