Chapter 2 - THE SISTER IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
There was one name Dominic Castile never allowed anyone to mention inside his home.
Elena.
Norah discovered that five minutes after they reached the private medical suite beneath the Castile residence.
Dr. Mercer cut away the blood-soaked fabric around her ankle while Dominic stood near the window with the photograph in his hand.
“Elena was your sister?” Norah asked.
Dominic didn’t turn.
“Yes.”
Mateo stood at the door.
Dr. Mercer paused.
Even he seemed to know better than to ask questions.
Norah studied Dominic’s reflection in the glass.
“She died?”
“Eighteen years ago.”
“How?”
Dominic finally looked at her.
“Car accident.”
Norah’s stomach tightened.
“That note implies otherwise.”
“It’s meant to.”
“Do you believe it?”
“No.”
But his answer came too fast.
Norah noticed.
Dr. Mercer cleaned the cut in her foot.
“You’ll need stitches.”
“Fine.”
“It won’t be comfortable.”
“I’ve had worse tonight.”
Dominic’s eyes flicked toward her.
She saw guilt there.
Not because he had hurt her.
Because someone else had hurt her to get to him.
Dr. Mercer administered local anesthetic.
Dominic moved closer.
Norah gave him a look.
“You don’t have to watch.”
“I’m not watching.”
“You’ve been staring at my ankle for ten minutes.”
“I’m making sure he doesn’t make it worse.”
Dr. Mercer raised an eyebrow.
“I attended medical school, Dominic.”
“So did men who kill people badly.”
Norah almost laughed.
Then the needle touched skin and she flinched.
Dominic’s hand was suddenly in hers.
She looked at him.
He looked away.
Neither mentioned it.
When Dr. Mercer finished, he wrapped her foot and ordered rest.
Dominic ignored the rest part.
“Mateo, double security.”
“Already done.”
“No one enters or leaves without approval.”
Mateo nodded.
“And Pierce?”
“Find him.”
Norah pulled her hand from Dominic’s.
“Alive.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Norah.”
“If Gavin Pierce knows something about Elena, you need him alive.”
“He kidnapped you.”
“Yes.”
“He hurt you.”
“Yes.”
“He put blood on your dress.”
Norah blinked.
“That’s the part you’re focused on?”
“I bought that dress.”
Despite herself, she laughed.
Dominic didn’t.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. Don’t kill him before we know what he knows.”
Dominic leaned down until his face was inches from hers.
“You are asking a great deal from a man who spent the last hour imagining every possible way to end Gavin Pierce.”
Norah’s pulse jumped.
“Then imagine one more.”
“What?”
“Imagine finding the truth first.”
For a long moment, they stared at each other.
Then Dominic straightened.
“Alive,” he told Mateo.
Mateo left.
Norah looked at the photograph again.
“Tell me about Elena.”
Dominic’s shoulders stiffened.
“She was eight years older than me. Smarter than everyone. Annoyingly fearless.”
“Did you love her?”
His eyes darkened.
“More than anyone.”
“What happened the night she died?”
Dominic hesitated.
“We argued.”
“About what?”
“My father.”
Norah waited.
Dominic glanced toward the photograph.
“Elena believed he was moving Castile money through charities.”
“Was he?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She threatened to expose him.”
Norah’s breath caught.
“Then she died?”
“Twelve hours later.”
The room went silent.
“Dominic…”
“My father said she lost control of the car.”
“Did you believe him?”
“I was twenty-two. I wanted to.”
Norah stared at him.
“And now?”
Before Dominic could answer, Mateo returned.
His expression was wrong.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Pierce.”
“Where?”
“South Side warehouse.”
“Alive?”
Mateo paused.
“Technically.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed.
“What happened?”
“He’s been shot twice.”
Norah pushed herself upright.
“By whom?”
Mateo looked at Dominic.
“That’s the problem.”
He held up a phone.
Security footage filled the screen.
The shooter wore a hood.
But when he turned toward the camera, Norah felt every hair on her arms rise.
May you like
Because she recognized him.
It was the same man who had freed her.
