Chapter 4 - The Maestro's Secret
Serena refused to believe Julian was involved.
For twelve years, he had been a constant presence in her life.
He had taught her after she lost her sight.
He had encouraged her to audition.
He had fought against conductors who believed a blind cellist could not lead a major ensemble section.
He had once told her:
"Music doesn't require eyes, Serena. It requires courage."
She had believed him.
Now Dorian was telling her that Julian's name appeared in surveillance files.
She demanded evidence.
Dorian gave her everything.
Bank transfers.
Encrypted messages.
Copies of security footage.
Julian had been meeting a woman at night.
The woman wore a silver ring.
Serena recognized the voice from the recording.
Her mother's voice.
She went cold.
"My mother."
Dorian nodded.
"She may be working with him."
"Or he may have found her."
"Either is possible."
Serena stood.
"I need to see Julian."
"No."
"You don't understand."
"I understand exactly."
"He'll tell me the truth."
"And if he's compromised?"
"He loves my music."
Dorian stared.
"That doesn't make him trustworthy."
Serena stepped closer.
"Neither does being a mafia boss."
The room became silent.
Mercer looked uncomfortable.
Dorian merely nodded.
"Fair."
The next day, Serena returned to Carnegie Hall under heavy security.
The orchestra had been told there was a security concern.
Nobody knew the truth.
Julian greeted her backstage.
His voice sounded normal.
Warm.
Concerned.
"Serena, are you all right?"
She listened.
His heartbeat.
His breathing.
Every tiny change.
"I'm fine."
"You disappeared last night."
"I had somewhere to be."
"With whom?"
She hesitated.
Then smiled faintly.
"A friend."
Julian laughed.
"Since when do you have friends mysterious enough to make you disappear overnight?"
She heard something metallic.
A ring tapping against the music stand.
Her mother's warning returned.
Don't trust the man with the silver ring.
She listened.
Julian was wearing one.
"Julian."
"Yes?"
"Have you seen my mother recently?"
Silence.
Not long.
Half a second.
But she heard it.
His heartbeat changed.
"Your mother is dead."
Serena's hands went cold.
"You know that."
"I was told."
"By whom?"
Julian didn't answer.
Then someone screamed in the lobby.
Gunfire erupted.
Dorian's security team moved instantly.
Serena was pulled toward a side corridor.
"Dorian!"
"I'm here."
He caught her hand.
"Stay with me."
The attackers came from the orchestra loading dock.
Three men.
Then six.
Then more.
The concert hall had become a battlefield.
Serena crouched behind a wall.
Dorian fired.
Mercer shouted commands.
Then Serena heard something strange.
Music.
A single cello note.
Someone had entered the stage.
Julian.
He was playing.
Not randomly.
A sequence.
Five notes.
Pause.
Three notes.
Pause.
Two.
Serena's head lifted.
She recognized it.
The pattern was from a lullaby her mother used to play when Serena was little.
Her mother had modified the melody to create a code.
Serena listened.
Julian played it again.
She whispered:
"He's warning me."
Dorian looked at her.
"About what?"
"The exits."
She closed her eyes.
"He's telling me where not to go."
Dorian understood instantly.
"Mercer! East doors!"
His men moved.
Seconds later, gunfire erupted there.
The attackers had been waiting.
Julian was helping them—or warning them.
Serena couldn't tell.
Then Julian stopped playing.
A gunshot cracked.
He fell.
Serena screamed.
Dorian moved toward the stage.
"Stay here."
"No."
She followed.
Julian was bleeding.
He grabbed Serena's wrist.
His voice was weak.
"Your mother..."
"What?"
"Your mother is alive."
"Where?"
He tried to speak.
A second gunshot rang out.
This time, it struck the ceiling.
Julian whispered:
"Vascari."
Serena looked at Dorian.
Julian continued:
"Not the man..."
His breathing stopped.
Serena's heart stopped with it.
"Julian?"
Nothing.
Dorian checked his pulse.
"He’s dead."
Serena sat beside him.
Her hands trembled.
Dorian knelt.
"He was trying to warn you."
"Then who killed him?"
Dorian looked toward the balcony.
A shadow disappeared.
His eyes narrowed.
"The same person who killed your family."
Serena stood slowly.
"Then let's find them."
Dorian reached for her.
She pulled her hand away.
"Don't protect me from the truth."
He stared.
She whispered:
"I've lived ten years in darkness."
Her voice broke.
"I'm not spending another ten years being lied to."
Dorian nodded.
"Then I promise."
"What?"
"No more secrets."
She held out her hand.
"Promise?"
He took it.
"Promise."
Neither of them noticed the tiny red light blinking beneath the stage.
A hidden camera.
May you like
Recording everything.
And someone watching it smiled.
