Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ME

I left Matteo Moretti's table without asking permission.

Not because I was brave.

Because I was terrified.

My mother.

A poisoning.

Someone searching my apartment.

It sounded like the beginning of a nightmare, and I'd already lived through enough nightmares to recognize one.

I pushed through the swinging kitchen doors.

Steam rolled over me.

Pans clattered.

Someone shouted for another plate of veal.

The world continued as though nothing had happened.

I leaned against a stainless-steel counter.

Then my manager, Martin Kessler, appeared.

"What did you do?"

I looked up.

"Excuse me?"

"Mr. Moretti asked for you by name."

I said nothing.

Martin stepped closer.

"If you upset him, you're finished."

My exhaustion turned into anger.

"Then fire me."

He blinked.

"What?"

"I said, fire me."

For two years, I'd tolerated his insults.

His unpredictable schedules.

His habit of blaming waitresses whenever wealthy customers behaved badly.

But tonight, my dead mother's name had appeared inside a mafia boss's envelope.

I no longer cared about Martin Kessler's opinion.

Before he could answer, the kitchen doors opened.

Matteo stepped inside.

Conversation stopped.

Martin immediately straightened.

"Mr. Moretti."

Matteo ignored him.

His eyes found me.

"Your apartment isn't safe."

I folded my arms.

"How do you know where I live?"

"Someone has been watching you."

"Someone from your family?"

He paused.

That was answer enough.

I felt sick.

Matteo noticed.

"I'm trying to prevent something worse."

"Then start telling me the truth."

He studied me.

Then nodded.

"Fair."

We moved into the empty manager's office.

Carlo remained outside.

Matteo placed a small file on the desk.

Inside were photographs.

My apartment building.

My broken front-door lock.

A dark sedan parked near my street.

And a man entering the building while carrying a maintenance bag.

I stared.

"Who is he?"

"His name is Victor Salerno."

The name meant nothing.

Matteo continued.

"He worked for my grandfather."

"Doing what?"

"Security."

I looked toward him.

"And now?"

"Now he works for my uncle, Domenico."

A cold sensation moved through me.

Matteo leaned forward.

"My grandfather died fourteen months ago."

"I'm sorry."

"His doctors said it was a heart condition."

I frowned.

"But you don't believe that."

"No."

He took a breath.

"Professor Bellini gave me a letter last week."

My heart quickened.

"From my mother?"

Matteo nodded.

"She wrote it shortly before her death."

"Why didn't he give it to me?"

"Because she instructed him not to."

I stared.

"Why?"

Matteo opened the file.

The first page contained one sentence.

If Tessa is ever approached by the Moretti family, she must know that Domenico cannot be trusted.

My pulse hammered.

"Your uncle?"

Matteo nodded.

I looked toward the office door.

"Then why would he want me?"

Matteo hesitated.

"Because he believes your mother hid financial records somewhere only you could find."

I swallowed.

"What records?"

"Evidence of stolen money and suspicious medical payments."

A terrible thought struck me.

"My mother's treatment."

Matteo looked up.

"What about it?"

I remembered her final year.

The sudden change in medication.

The private specialist who insisted on managing everything.

The appointments I wasn't allowed to attend.

Then her rapid decline.

I whispered:

"There was a doctor."

Matteo leaned forward.

"What doctor?"

"Dr. Adrian Vescari."

Matteo went completely still.

I noticed immediately.

"You know him."

His voice became cold.

"Very well."

"How?"

Matteo looked toward the photograph of my mother.

Then answered:

"He signed my grandfather's death certificate."

I felt the room tilt.

Before I could speak, Matteo's phone vibrated.

Carlo.

Matteo answered.

Listened.

His expression changed.

"What happened?"

Carlo's voice was faint but urgent.

"Boss, Victor Salerno just entered Tessa Carter's apartment again."

Matteo stood.

"And?"

A pause.

Then Carlo answered:

"He isn't searching for documents anymore."

My heart stopped.

Matteo looked directly at me.

Carlo continued.

"He's carrying a small medical case."

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Then came the words I would remember for the rest of my life.

"He was sent there to make sure Miss Carter never asks another question."