Chapter 2 - The Dead Man Came Home
The Moretti estate looked less like a house and more like a fortress pretending to be one.
Iron gates.
Stone walls.
Security cameras everywhere.
When we arrived shortly before two in the morning, Dante refused assistance getting out.
He nearly collapsed anyway.
I caught his arm.
“Still allergic to doctors?”
“Still talking too much?”
“Yes.”
“Then apparently we both survived.”
Marco led us through a private entrance.
A physician was already waiting.
Dr. Samuel Reeves examined Dante while I stood near the door.
“You have two cracked ribs,” Reeves said.
“I’ve had worse.”
“Concussion.”
“Had worse.”
“Deep laceration.”
“Had worse.”
Reeves sighed.
“Do you ever say anything useful?”
Dante glanced at me.
“She asks better questions.”
I folded my arms.
“I’m going home.”
“No.”
“Dante—”
“No.”
“You can’t keep me here.”
He looked at Marco.
“Can I?”
Marco shrugged.
“Technically?”
“Don’t answer that,” I snapped.
Dante almost smiled.
Then Marco placed a phone on the table.
“We have a bigger problem.”
A security image appeared.
Vanessa was leaving Bellini’s with a man.
I recognized him immediately.
“That’s him.”
Dante’s expression sharpened.
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
Marco zoomed in.
“Julian Cross.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed.
“Vanessa’s attorney.”
“Apparently he provides additional services.”
“Marco.”
“Sorry.”
Dante looked at me.
“Tell me everything you heard.”
So I did.
Every word.
Every pause.
Every detail.
When I finished, Dante asked, “Did they see you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think?”
“I was behind the partition.”
Marco turned toward Dante.
“We need confirmation before moving.”
Dante nodded.
“Bellini’s cameras.”
My heart dropped.
“The cameras.”
“What?”
“Vanessa might realize I was working that section.”
Marco immediately made a call.
“Get Bellini’s security footage before anyone else does.”
I stared at him.
“You can just do that?”
Dante answered.
“I own the building.”
Of course he did.
My phone buzzed.
My manager.
Then again.
Then three more times.
Dante held out his hand.
“Give me the phone.”
“No.”
“Cara.”
“It’s my phone.”
“Someone may be looking for you.”
“That doesn’t make it yours.”
His eyes narrowed.
Mine didn’t move.
Finally Marco laughed.
“I like her.”
Dante looked at him.
“You can leave.”
“I definitely like her.”
I checked the message.
My blood went cold.
WHERE ARE YOU?
Then another.
A man came asking about you.
Then:
Cara, don’t come back.
Dante saw my face.
“What?”
I showed him.
His expression changed immediately.
“Marco.”
“Already moving.”
“What does that mean?”
“We’re getting your manager somewhere safe.”
“You’re what?”
Dante stood.
Pain crossed his face, but he ignored it.
“Julian knows there was a witness.”
“How?”
“Because people who plan murders prepare for mistakes.”
My breathing quickened.
“My apartment.”
“Forget it.”
“My things are there.”
“Replace them.”
“My mother’s photographs are there.”
That stopped him.
Dante studied me.
Finally he said, “Marco.”
“I’ll send someone.”
“No.”
Dante reached for his coat.
“I’ll go.”
“You have cracked ribs.”
“And Cara saved my life.”
He buttoned the coat.
“The least I can do is save her photographs.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
He stopped.
“Why what?”
“Why are you helping me?”
His answer came without hesitation.
“Because loyalty has become very rare in my world.”
He opened the door.
May you like
“And tonight a complete stranger showed me more of it than my own wife.”
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