Chapter 2 - The Security Chief Who Came to Kill His Own Boss
I had never been more afraid of a locked door.
The cabin was small enough that every sound felt enormous.
Rain struck the roof.
Wind pushed against the walls.
Outside, men searched the woods.
Samuel Reed stood somewhere beyond the front door.
I had worked around him for eleven months.
He had taught me the estate's rules.
Never enter the west wing.
Never touch the private files.
Never walk through the garden after midnight.
Never speak to Mr. Moretti unless spoken to first.
He had always been polite.
Never warm.
But polite.
Now he was outside with armed men while Leo Moretti bled on the floor.
I whispered:
“How do you know it's him?”
Leo stared at me.
“Because Samuel is the only man alive who knows this cabin exists.”
“Maybe he came to rescue you.”
Leo almost laughed.
“Then why didn't he bring a doctor?”
I swallowed.
Good question.
The knock came again.
“Leo?”
Samuel's voice was patient.
Almost fatherly.
“You've been injured. We need to get you home.”
Leo's fingers tightened around mine.
“Don't answer.”
Samuel continued.
“The family is worried.”
Leo looked at me.
“That's a lie.”
“You're certain?”
“My father isn't worried.”
A pause.
“He's angry.”
“Why?”
“Because someone tried to kill me.”
That answer changed something.
I looked at him.
“You think your father wants you dead?”
Leo shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“My uncle.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Matteo Moretti.”
“The man who runs the New York side?”
Leo nodded.
“And Samuel works for him?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Leo breathed through the pain.
“In my world, certainty gets people buried.”
The men outside moved closer.
A flashlight appeared through a crack.
I stepped backward.
Leo caught my wrist.
“Listen to me.”
“What?”
“If the door opens, you run.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
“You can't walk.”
“I know.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
He stared at me.
“Why?”
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know.
Maybe because of Sophie.
Maybe because of the way he had said my name.
Maybe because nobody deserved to bleed to death on a cabin floor while armed men waited outside.
Or maybe because I had already crossed the line.
I had dragged him into the woods.
I had treated his wounds.
I had hidden him.
Whatever happened next, I was already involved.
The front door shook.
“Open it.”
I stood.
Leo whispered:
“Back wall.”
I looked.
A narrow wooden panel.
“What?”
“Behind the shelves.”
I moved them.
A hidden passage appeared.
I stared.
“You people really don't believe in normal houses.”
Leo smiled weakly.
“Not really.”
We crawled through the passage.
I pulled the panel shut.
Seconds later, the cabin door burst open.
Men entered.
Their boots crossed the floor.
One voice spoke.
“Search everything.”
Samuel.
I heard drawers opening.
Cabinet doors.
Then silence.
“Blood.”
My stomach dropped.
Another voice said:
“He was here.”
Samuel replied:
“He still is.”
I looked at Leo.
He had gone pale.
I helped him through the passage.
The tunnel opened near an old root cellar.
We emerged into darkness.
The rain was worse here.
Leo nearly collapsed.
“Come on.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
His weight fell against me.
We moved through the woods.
Behind us, men shouted.
“Check the cabin!”
“They found the trail!”
“North side!”
I looked ahead.
A narrow road.
My car.
If I could reach it…
But Leo stopped.
“What?”
He pointed.
The road was blocked by two SUVs.
I swore.
“Of course.”
“We need another route.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I know.”
“Then stop acting like you're indestructible.”
He laughed softly.
“You'd be surprised.”
We moved toward the river.
An old bridge crossed it.
Half the boards had collapsed.
I stared.
“No.”
Leo looked at it.
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Would you prefer the men behind us?”
I looked back.
Flashlights.
Closer.
“Fine.”
We crossed.
Halfway across, Leo stumbled.
The bridge shifted beneath us.
I grabbed him.
“Don't move.”
His eyes opened.
“Leora.”
“What?”
“I think I'm going to fall.”
“Not tonight.”
I tightened my arms.
“Not tonight.”
We reached the other side.
The woods opened into an abandoned ranger station.
I pushed the door.
Unlocked.
Inside, there was a radio.
I grabbed it.
Static.
Then a voice.
“Ronan, this is Marcus.”
Leo moved closer.
“Marcus?”
His expression changed.
“Where are you?”
“North woods.”
“Samuel has the entire estate locked down.”
“Is my father alive?”
Silence.
Leo went still.
“Marcus?”
“He's gone.”
“What?”
“His helicopter left thirty minutes ago.”
Leo closed his eyes.
“Then it's worse than we thought.”
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
He sat down.
“My father trusted Samuel more than anyone.”
“And Samuel betrayed him.”
Leo nodded.
Marcus's voice came through again.
“Leo, listen to me. Whoever controls the security network controls the estate.”
“Can you get into it?”
“I’m trying.”
“Don't.”
“What?”
“They know you're there.”
“Leo—”
“Walk away.”
“I'm not leaving you.”
Leo looked at the radio.
“Do you know what happens to loyal men?”
Marcus went silent.
Leo turned it off.
I stared.
“You just told him to leave.”
“I told him to survive.”
“You're very noble for someone in a criminal empire.”
He looked at me.
“You think I chose this?”
“I don't know.”
“That’s fair.”
He leaned against the wall.
“My father built the organization.”
“Then why stay?”
“Because my mother died when I was sixteen.”
I said nothing.
“He fell apart.”
His voice softened.
“My uncle stepped in.”
“And Samuel?”
“Samuel raised me.”
I stared.
“Then why would he betray you?”
Leo looked at me.
“Because loyalty is easy when you're winning.”
He looked toward the rain.
“Harder when someone offers you something better.”
The radio crackled.
A voice.
“Leo.”
He froze.
It was Samuel.
“You have ten minutes.”
Leo stared at the radio.
“Ten minutes for what?”
“Come home.”
“Or?”
A pause.
“Your woman dies.”
My blood froze.
Leo turned toward me.
Samuel continued:
“We know who she is.”
The radio went silent.
I swallowed.
“What woman?”
Leo looked at me.
May you like
Then said quietly:
“You.”
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