Chapter 5 - The Night Silas Came For Her
Silas Crane did not come with guns blazing.
He came with flowers.
That was what made Mara afraid.
She arrived at the garment house at seven the next morning and found a bouquet of white roses on her worktable.
There was no card.
Only a folded piece of paper.
You should have stayed invisible.
Mara did not touch it.
She called Dante.
He answered on the first ring.
"Where are you?"
"The third floor."
"Leave."
"I—"
"Now."
His voice was so sharp she obeyed before thinking.
She grabbed her coat.
The lights went out.
Every light on the third floor.
Mara froze.
The door behind her clicked.
Locked.
Her breathing became shallow.
"Mara!"
Dante's voice came through the phone.
She pulled it out.
"I'm locked in."
"I know."
"What do you mean, you know?"
"We're two blocks away."
A sound came from the corner.
A slow clap.
Silas stepped into the darkness.
Mara stopped breathing.
He looked exactly as he had four years ago.
Expensive coat.
Silver ring.
Friendly smile.
"You've gotten prettier."
She backed away.
"Stay away from me."
"I wondered when you'd finally stop hiding."
"Where's Leo?"
"Safe."
"You're lying."
"Maybe."
He walked closer.
"You always were brave when it mattered."
"I was never brave."
"You took the punishment for your brother."
Her eyes filled with fury.
"You made me."
"I gave you a choice."
"You put my hand under a blade."
Silas smiled.
"And you chose wisely."
The phone remained connected.
Dante was listening.
Mara knew it.
Silas knew it too.
"You brought Bell into this."
"No."
"He found me."
"That's what you tell yourself."
Silas reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed Mara's mother.
Alive.
Mara stared.
Her world stopped.
"When was this taken?"
"Four years ago."
"My mother was dead."
"Was she?"
Mara couldn't breathe.
Silas smiled.
"Ask Dante what happened the night she disappeared."
The door exploded inward.
Dante entered with Nico and two others.
Silas moved immediately.
A gun appeared.
Dante's men raised theirs.
"Put it down," Dante said.
Silas looked amused.
"You always were your father's son."
Dante's voice went cold.
"And you always were his dog."
Silas's smile disappeared.
The room became deadly silent.
Then he looked at Mara.
"Ask him."
He dropped the gun.
His men, who had entered behind him, did the same.
Dante stared.
"Where is your mother's body?"
Silas smiled.
"That depends on which mother's body we're talking about."
Then the windows shattered.
Smoke filled the room.
Dante grabbed Mara.
He covered her body with his.
Gunshots thundered outside.
When the smoke cleared, Silas was gone.
Dante looked at Mara.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
Then she realized his hand was bleeding.
"You are."
"It's nothing."
"You've got glass in your shoulder."
He pulled a piece out.
Mara reached toward him.
"Let me."
He hesitated.
Then lowered himself onto the worktable.
She cleaned the wound.
Neither spoke.
Finally Mara whispered.
"My mother."
Dante looked at her.
"We're going to find out what happened."
"You promise?"
"I don't make promises lightly."
"But?"
May you like
He held her gaze.
"But I promise you this."
