Chapter 2 - The Mafia Boss Who Knew My Mother’s Name—and Why He Had Been Searching for Her for Twelve YearsThe first thing Nathaniel did was move me away from the windows.
The second thing he did was call someone named Marcus.
The third thing he did was tell every armed man in the building that nobody was allowed to touch me.
I didn't understand any of it.
I only understood one thing.
My mother was in danger.
"I want to go home."
Nathaniel looked at me.
"No."
"I need my mom."
"I know."
"Then take me to her."
His jaw tightened.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because if the people outside are watching this building, they may already know where she lives."
I stared at him.
"But she doesn't know you're looking for her."
"I know."
"Why are you looking for her?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked toward a conference room.
"Come with me."
Inside, he closed the door.
There was a large table in the middle.
I sat in one of the chairs.
Nathaniel remained standing.
"Ruby, I'm going to tell you something."
"About my mom?"
"Yes."
He rubbed a hand over his face.
"When I was younger, I trusted the wrong person."
"Who?"
"My brother."
I frowned.
"I thought you said his name was Daniel."
Nathaniel's eyes darkened.
"Daniel was my younger brother."
"Is he dead?"
"Everyone believes he is."
"Is he?"
Nathaniel didn't answer.
That scared me more than anything else.
He opened a drawer and pulled out an old photograph.
He placed it on the table.
It showed three people.
A younger Nathaniel.
A younger Daniel.
And a young woman.
My mother.
I stared at the photograph.
"That's Mom."
Nathaniel nodded.
"They knew each other?"
"More than that."
He looked away.
"Your mother was the only person Daniel ever trusted."
My mind struggled to understand.
"Was she his girlfriend?"
Nathaniel's expression became complicated.
"Something like that."
I looked at the photograph again.
"Then why did Mom never tell me?"
"Because she was protecting you."
"From what?"
Nathaniel looked directly at me.
"From my family."
The conference room door suddenly opened.
A man in a black suit entered.
"Mr. Graves."
Nathaniel turned.
"What?"
"We found the eviction records."
"And?"
"The property was sold three times in the last six months."
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed.
"To whom?"
The man hesitated.
"Shell companies."
"Names."
"Blackridge Development."
Nathaniel went completely still.
I didn't know what that meant.
He did.
"Blackridge."
The word came out almost like a curse.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
Nathaniel looked at me.
"Because Blackridge disappeared twelve years ago."
My skin prickled.
Twelve years.
Again.
Everything seemed to come back to that number.
Nathaniel ordered the man to leave.
Then he sat across from me.
"Ruby."
"Yes?"
"Does your mother still have a blue music box?"
I stared at him.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"At home."
"Does she ever let you open it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"She says it's private."
Nathaniel's face changed.
"Of course."
"What?"
He stood.
"I need to see it."
"Why?"
"Because your mother may have hidden something inside it."
"What?"
"The reason people are looking for her."
Before I could answer, a gunshot exploded somewhere downstairs.
I screamed.
Nathaniel moved instantly.
He pulled me away from the door and placed himself between me and the hallway.
Security rushed in.
"Sir!"
"Status?"
"Lobby breach."
Nathaniel's expression became ice.
"How many?"
"Three confirmed."
"Alive?"
"Yes."
"Take them alive."
One guard hesitated.
Nathaniel looked at him.
"I said alive."
The man nodded.
Nathaniel turned to me.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Ruby."
"I want my mom."
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said something I never expected.
"I'll bring her to you."
He left.
For the next ten minutes, I heard shouting.
Footsteps.
Doors slamming.
Then silence.
Nathaniel returned.
His suit was untouched.
But his expression had changed.
He was holding a phone.
"Your mother isn't at home."
My heart dropped.
"What?"
"We sent someone."
"Where is she?"
"We don't know."
I began crying.
Nathaniel crouched in front of me.
"Ruby."
"I want Mom."
"I know."
"She always comes home."
"I know."
"She wouldn't leave me."
"I know."
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Graves."
A distorted voice spoke.
Nathaniel's expression changed.
"Who is this?"
The voice replied.
"You're asking the wrong question."
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
"Not what I want."
A pause.
"What do you fear?"
Nathaniel said nothing.
Then the caller spoke again.
"You spent twelve years believing Claire betrayed you."
Nathaniel's jaw tightened.
"Who are you?"
"You'll know soon."
The call ended.
Nathaniel slowly lowered the phone.
I looked at him.
"What did they say?"
He didn't answer.
"Mr. Graves?"
He finally looked at me.
"They know your mother."
May you like
He paused.
"And they know me."
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