Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Piper didn't sleep.
She sat on the edge of her bed until sunrise, replaying the encounter outside the grocery store.
The woman had worn sunglasses despite the cloudy weather.
Her dark hair had been tucked beneath a baseball cap.
And she'd seemed terrified.
If you ever meet Dominic Rizzo, tell him his sister didn't die.
At the time, Piper thought she was dealing with a stranger having some kind of breakdown.
Now she wasn't so sure.
At seven the next morning, Piper entered Dominic's bedroom carrying a breakfast tray.
He was awake.
Naturally.
Men like Dominic Rizzo probably considered sleep a personal weakness.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
He stared at her.
“Don't call me that.”
“Would you prefer Your Majesty?”
“No.”
“Captain Grumpy?”
“Piper.”
“Fine. Dominic.”
She placed the tray beside his bed.
Scrambled eggs.
Toast.
Coffee.
And a small bowl of strawberries.
Dominic examined the food.
“What's this?”
“Breakfast.”
“I can see that.”
“Excellent. Your eyesight works.”
He looked at her.
“You're exhausting.”
“It's a gift.”
She pulled back the curtains.
Sunlight flooded the room.
Dominic winced.
“Close those.”
“No.”
“Piper.”
“Your plants are dying. Your curtains are depressed. And I refuse to spend another day living inside Dracula's vacation home.”
He stared at her.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
It was brief.
Almost silent.
But real.
Piper turned.
“Was that a laugh?”
“No.”
“It sounded suspiciously like one.”
“Eat your breakfast.”
“That's your breakfast.”
“Then stop talking.”
She smiled.
But her smile faded when she noticed a framed photograph beside his bed.
Isabella.
The same woman.
Piper took a breath.
“Dominic, can I ask you something?”
“You're going to anyway.”
“How did your sister die?”
His expression changed instantly.
“Why?”
“I saw her photograph.”
“And?”
Piper hesitated.
Because the truth sounded insane.
Because she had no proof.
Because if she was wrong, she'd be reopening the worst wound of his life.
But if she was right…
“I think I saw her.”
Dominic went completely still.
“What?”
“Three weeks ago. Outside a grocery store.”
His face drained of color.
“Don't.”
“Dominic—”
“Don't say another word.”
Piper stepped closer.
“She had dark hair. Brown eyes. A silver bracelet with a blue butterfly.”
His breathing changed.
“How do you know about that bracelet?”
“She was wearing it.”
Dominic gripped the edge of the bed.
“That's impossible.”
“Maybe. But she told me something.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
Piper swallowed.
“She said your sister didn't die.”
The room went silent.
Dominic stared at her for so long that she began to regret speaking.
Then he reached for his phone.
“Garrett. My room. Now.”
Piper's stomach tightened.
“Are you firing me?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Garrett arrived less than a minute later.
Dominic looked directly at him.
“Pull every security recording from the grocery store on West Madison from three weeks ago.”
Garrett frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Piper claims she saw Isabella.”
Garrett's face went white.
For one second, he looked genuinely terrified.
Then he forced a laugh.
“That's impossible.”
Piper watched him.
Dominic noticed too.
“Garrett.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you sweating?”
Garrett took a step backward.
“It's warm in here.”
Dominic's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Tell me what you know.”
Garrett looked toward Piper.
Then toward the door.
Finally, he whispered, “Dominic, there's something I should've told you four years ago.”
Dominic's hands tightened.
“What?”
May you like
Garrett swallowed.
“Your sister's coffin was empty.”
