Chapter 2 - THE THREAT AGAINST A LITTLE GIRL
The moment Sophie said her mother was going to die, Marcus Valente looked toward the ballroom doors.
I knew that look.
He was calculating the distance.
The guards.
The exits.
Whether he could still escape.
"Don't," I said quietly.
Marcus stopped.
"Dante, listen to me."
"No. You listen."
I pointed toward Clara and Sophie.
"Whatever you've done, whatever you've agreed to, those two are not part of our business."
Marcus's face twisted.
"You think I don't know that?"
"Then why did you threaten them?"
"I didn't."
Clara stepped forward.
"You came to my apartment."
Marcus looked at her.
"Yes."
"You told me Sophie would be safer if she stayed home."
"Because she would have been!"
His sudden shout made Sophie flinch.
I moved between them.
"Lower your voice."
Marcus dragged both hands down his face.
For a moment, he looked twenty years older.
"Someone is forcing me, Dante."
I studied him.
"Who?"
He shook his head.
"I can't say."
"Why?"
"Because they're watching."
A chill moved through me.
"Watching whom?"
Marcus looked toward Clara.
Then toward the little girl in her arms.
"Everyone."
Before I could question him further, Vincent returned.
"The police have secured the perimeter. Their specialists are examining the package."
I nodded.
"Good."
Vincent lowered his voice.
"There's another problem."
"What?"
"Our exterior cameras stopped recording at seven forty-two."
I looked toward the ceiling.
"All of them?"
"The east wing and service entrance."
Marcus went pale.
I turned toward him.
"Did you arrange that?"
He shook his head.
"No."
Vincent continued.
"We also found a maintenance authorization submitted under your credentials."
I stared at Marcus.
He whispered, "I never approved it."
For once, I believed him.
Because he looked genuinely terrified.
Clara shifted Sophie in her arms.
"Mr. Moretti, please. I just want to take my daughter home."
I turned toward her.
"You can leave as soon as the police confirm the exits are safe. I'll arrange protection if you want it."
Her expression hardened.
"I don't want my daughter growing up surrounded by armed men."
The words struck me.
I couldn't blame her.
"Neither do I," I answered.
She looked surprised.
Then Sophie reached toward me.
"Uncle Dante?"
I crouched.
"What is it?"
She opened her tiny hand.
Resting in her palm was a narrow strip of blue satin ribbon.
"My ribbon."
I smiled gently.
"You found it."
She shook her head.
"It was in the room with the paintings."
My expression sharpened.
"Where?"
"Under the table."
She swallowed.
"Beside the black box."
I looked at the ribbon.
A tiny dark stain marked one end.
Then Sophie whispered, "There was something else."
"What?"
She glanced toward Marcus.
"A man was talking behind the wall."
I frowned.
"Behind the wall?"
She nodded.
"He said Uncle Marcus wasn't doing it fast enough."
The room went silent.
I turned toward Vincent.
"The east gallery has a hidden service passage."
Vincent nodded.
"Yes, sir."
I looked at Marcus.
He closed his eyes.
May you like
And then he said something that changed everything.
"The man behind that wall was your brother."
