Chapter 1 - THE SECRET BEHIND HIS SILENCE
“What did my son say?”
Dominic Vale's voice cut through the restaurant like a knife.
I looked at the sixty-year-old mafia boss, then at Caleb, whose dark eyes were fixed on my face.
“He would like the ribeye, medium rare, with potatoes and coffee,” I answered calmly.
Dominic frowned.
“That’s it?”
“Yes, sir.”
His bodyguard laughed.
“Well, look at that. The broken prince finally ordered dinner.”
Caleb's expression didn't change, but I noticed his fingers tightening around his napkin.
Something inside me burned.
I'd spent my childhood defending my deaf younger brother from people who confused silence with stupidity.
I wasn't about to watch it happen again.
I turned toward Caleb and signed discreetly.
Would you like anything else?
He glanced at his father before answering.
Yes. I want to know your last name.
Mercer.
His entire body went still.
Then his hands moved quickly.
Hannah Mercer? Evan's sister?
My breath caught.
You knew Evan?
Caleb nodded.
Before I could ask another question, Dominic slammed his glass against the table.
“Are you two finished playing games?”
I straightened.
“Your son's order will be ready shortly.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“What were you doing with your hands?”
“Communicating with your son.”
“Don't do it again without telling me what he says.”
Caleb suddenly reached for his water glass.
As he moved, a folded piece of paper slid beneath my order pad.
I picked it up without looking.
“Anything else, gentlemen?”
Dominic waved me away.
I hurried toward the kitchen.
Only when I was safely behind the swinging doors did I unfold the paper.
Three sentences were written in neat, careful handwriting.
I knew your brother.
The man wearing the silver ring is watching you.
Check the left sleeve of Evan's red winter coat.
My heart began pounding.
Evan had owned a red winter coat.
It was still hanging inside my apartment closet, exactly where I'd placed it after his funeral six years earlier.
I looked through the kitchen window.
One of Dominic's bodyguards was speaking quietly into his phone.
On his right hand was a large silver ring.
Suddenly, Caleb stood up at the table.
His father grabbed his wrist, demanding that he sit down.
Caleb looked directly at me.
Then he signed one final sentence behind his father's back.
May you like
Your brother wasn't alone when he died.
And the man with the silver ring turned his head toward me.
