Chapter 4 - The Secret Hidden Inside The Penthouse
The first rule Natasha Reynolds learned about Simon Gambino’s world was simple.
Nothing happened by accident.
Not the silence.
Not the fear.
Not the way every person in the room carefully chose their words around him.
And definitely not the tiny music device hidden inside his children’s room.
The toy sat on the table surrounded by security officers, investigators, and people Natasha had only seen in movies.
Everyone looked at it like it was a weapon.
Maybe it was.
Because Natasha understood something now.
The danger surrounding Simon Gambino was not only outside his home.
It had already entered.
Simon stood near the window, looking down at the city below.
From a distance, Manhattan looked peaceful.
Beautiful.
Thousands of lights.
Millions of people.
Everyone living their normal lives.
But Natasha knew better now.
Behind every beautiful view, there were hidden stories.
Hidden enemies.
Hidden pain.
“Any idea who touched it?”
Simon’s voice broke the silence.
One of the security men shook his head.
“No fingerprints we can identify. Whoever planted it knew what they were doing.”
Simon’s expression remained calm.
Too calm.
Natasha noticed.
The calmer he became, the more dangerous the situation was.
“Could it have been there before?” Natasha asked.
Everyone turned toward her.
Simon looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“The twins reacted differently tonight.”
She stepped closer to the table.
“The first night at the restaurant, they were overwhelmed by noise and lights.”
She pointed toward the toy.
“But this is different.”
Simon watched her carefully.
“What are you saying?”
Natasha looked at the device.
“I’m saying this wasn’t meant to scare them.”
The room became silent.
“It was meant to affect them.”
One of the guards frowned.
“You think someone used this on the children?”
Natasha nodded slowly.
“I don’t know exactly how yet.”
She looked at Simon.
“But whoever placed it knew enough about them to know they were sensitive to certain patterns.”
Simon’s eyes hardened.
Because that was the part that bothered him most.
Someone had studied his children.
Not him.
Not his business.
His children.
A father’s worst nightmare.
“Find everyone who had access to this floor,” Simon ordered.
The guards immediately moved.
Then he looked at Natasha.
“You should stay away from this.”
She almost laughed.
“Stay away?”
“Yes.”
“Simon, I’m literally living in your home now.”
A brief silence.
He looked at her.
She realized she had just challenged Simon Gambino.
Most people probably apologized immediately.
Natasha did not.
“You hired me because I understand your sons.”
Her voice stayed calm.
“But I can’t protect them if you hide things from me.”
Simon stared at her.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then something unexpected happened.
He nodded.
“You’re right.”
Natasha blinked.
She had expected an argument.
Not agreement.
Simon walked toward the table.
“My wife used to say the same thing.”
Natasha looked at him.
“What?”
“That I thought protecting people meant keeping them away from the truth.”
His fingers touched the edge of the table.
“She told me secrets don’t disappear because you hide them.”
A quiet sadness entered his voice.
“They only grow.”
For a moment, Natasha saw the man behind the reputation.
Not the mafia boss.
Not the powerful figure.
Just Simon.
A husband who lost the person who challenged him.
A father trying to keep his children safe.
Later that evening, Natasha began working with the twins.
She created a simple routine.
Lower lights.
Quiet environment.
Predictable sounds.
No sudden movements.
Simon watched from the doorway.
At first, he looked uncomfortable.
He was used to solving problems with action.
Money.
Power.
Influence.
This was different.
This required patience.
Something he had forgotten.
Natasha noticed him standing there.
“You can come closer.”
Simon looked surprised.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“They’re your focus.”
“They’re your sons.”
He hesitated.
Then slowly walked into the room.
Natasha handed him a small wooden instrument.
“A rhythm.”
Simon looked at it.
“What do I do?”
“Follow me.”
She tapped gently.
One.
Two.
Three.
Simon copied.
At first, he was stiff.
Almost mechanical.
Natasha smiled slightly.
“You’re negotiating with your children.”
Simon looked confused.
“What?”
“You’re treating it like a business meeting.”
For the first time, something almost like amusement appeared on his face.
“I don’t know another way.”
Natasha looked at him.
“Then learn.”
Those two words stayed with him.
Learn.
Not command.
Not control.
Learn.
The twins slowly focused on the sound.
Their eyes moved between Natasha and Simon.
And then something happened.
One of them reached toward Simon.
Simon froze.
It was such a small movement.
Anyone else might have missed it.
But Simon didn’t.
Because his son was reaching for him.
Not because he needed something.
Because he wanted him.
Simon carefully placed his finger into the baby’s hand.
The child grabbed it.
Simon’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But Natasha saw.
A crack in the armor.
A moment of pure emotion.
“Good,” Natasha whispered.
Simon looked at her.
“What?”
“You’re learning.”
For a second, neither spoke.
Then the moment was interrupted.
A phone rang.
Simon’s expression immediately changed.
He stepped away and answered.
“Yes?”
The voice on the other end was urgent.
Natasha watched his face.
The warmth disappeared.
The businessman returned.
The protector.
“What do you mean she was seen?”
A pause.
His eyes moved toward Natasha.
“What name?”
Another pause.
Then:
“Natasha Reynolds.”
Her heart stopped.
Simon ended the call.
“What happened?”
He did not answer immediately.
That scared her more than anything.
Finally, he said:
“Someone has been following you.”
Natasha felt cold.
“Why?”
Simon looked toward the window.
“Because they think you know something.”
“I don’t.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Simon turned back.
“Because they don’t.”
The words made sense.
And somehow made everything worse.
Someone believed Natasha had discovered a secret.
A secret connected to Elena.
A secret connected to the twins.
A secret connected to Simon Gambino.
“I need to leave,” Natasha said.
Simon immediately shook his head.
“No.”
“Simon—”
“No.”
His voice was firm.
Not angry.
Concerned.
“You leave this house, you become an easier target.”
Natasha looked at him.
“And staying here makes me what?”
Simon answered quietly.
“Protected.”
She almost smiled.
“Protected by the most feared man in New York.”
“Yes.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
A pause.
Then Simon said something she never expected.
“No.”
Natasha looked at him.
“Because I know what people say about me.”
The room became quiet.
“They think I protect people because I’m powerful.”
He looked toward his sons.
“But the truth is…”
His voice lowered.
“I failed to protect my own family once.”
Natasha saw the pain behind the words.
Simon Gambino was afraid.
Not of enemies.
Not of death.
Of losing again.
Before Natasha could respond, a loud sound came from outside.
A crash.
Security immediately moved.
Simon stepped in front of Natasha without thinking.
Protecting her.
Not because she was an employee.
Because she mattered now.
The guards checked the balcony.
Nothing.
But one of them found something.
A small envelope.
Placed outside.
Simon opened it carefully.
Inside was a photograph.
Natasha’s blood ran cold.
It was a picture of her.
Taken from outside her apartment.
On the back were four words.
STOP HELPING HIM.
Simon stared at the message.
Then slowly looked at Natasha.
The person behind everything was no longer hiding.
They wanted her scared.
They wanted her gone.
But they had made one mistake.
They threatened the one person Simon Gambino now had a reason to protect.
And everyone in New York knew one thing about Simon Gambino.
He could forgive many things.
May you like
But nobody threatened his family.
Nobody.
