Chapter 2 - THE GIRL SOMEONE WANTED DEAD
“Get behind me, Aurora. Now.”
Dante's voice was quiet, but something about it made Aurora obey immediately.
Above them, metal groaned.
Someone was trying to open the maintenance hatch.
“Who is that?” she whispered.
“Someone who shouldn't be here.”
Dante pressed a concealed emergency transmitter beneath his cuff.
A tiny blue light blinked.
Within seconds, a man's voice answered.
“Boss?”
“Marco. Elevator twenty-three. Security breach.”
A pause followed.
Then Marco said something that made Dante's expression harden.
“Sir, maintenance says nobody authorized a shutdown.”
Dante glanced toward the ceiling.
“That wasn't maintenance.”
Suddenly, a thin metal tool slipped through the hatch opening.
Aurora gasped.
Dante raised his weapon.
“Back away from the hatch!”
The tool disappeared.
Footsteps thundered overhead.
Then silence.
Aurora's knees threatened to collapse.
“Is this because of Braden?”
Dante turned toward her.
“Tell me exactly who he is.”
“My ex-boyfriend. His family owns an investment company. His father is Richard Whitlock.”
Dante went completely still.
“Whitlock?”
“Yes.”
“Does Braden know where you live?”
“He knows where I used to live.”
“And your bakery?”
Aurora hesitated.
“He knows I work there.”
Dante's jaw tightened.
Before he could speak, the elevator suddenly lurched upward.
The lights returned.
A familiar voice crackled through the emergency speaker.
“Mr. Moretti, this is hotel security. We're bringing you to the penthouse.”
Dante didn't lower his gun.
He knew every member of his security team.
He didn't recognize that voice.
Then the speaker crackled again.
“Please remain calm, Mr. Moretti. Your father sends his regards.”
May you like
Aurora saw the blood drain from Dante's face.
Because Dante Moretti's father had been dead for eleven years.
