Chapter 2 - The Billionaire Crime Boss Who Could Not Understand Why His Cook Was Afraid of HimMaggie knew she had made a mistake the moment she walked out of Briar & Ash.
Not because she had exposed her skills.
Not because Adrian Moretti had seen her face.
Because she had looked directly at him.
For two years, she had avoided eye contact with powerful men.
She had perfected the art of becoming forgettable.
Then one night, a gunman had forced her to choose between being invisible and letting innocent people die.
She chose the people.
She had no regrets.
Only consequences.
At home, Maggie removed her glasses and stared at herself in the mirror.
The heavier face.
The long hair.
The carefully chosen plainness.
She had changed everything.
Weight.
Hair.
Clothes.
Name.
Even the way she walked.
But apparently, she couldn't change her eyes.
She opened a drawer.
Inside was a photograph.
Her mother.
Elena Bell.
Maggie touched it.
“I tried,” she whispered.
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She stared.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
No one spoke.
She ended the call.
A minute later, someone knocked on her apartment door.
Maggie's stomach tightened.
She approached silently.
“Who is it?”
“Mr. Moretti.”
Her blood froze.
Adrian.
She opened the door only a few inches.
He stood alone.
No guards.
No weapon visible.
“What do you want?”
“To talk.”
“I don't think that's a good idea.”
“Probably not.”
She stared.
He looked exhausted.
“You followed me.”
“Yes.”
“At least you're honest.”
“I don't have a reason to lie.”
“You're a mafia boss.”
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
“You say that like it's an unusual problem.”
“It is for most people.”
“Fair.”
Silence.
Then he said:
“I know who you are.”
Her hand tightened around the door.
“How much?”
“Enough.”
She closed her eyes.
“Then I need to leave.”
“You don't have to.”
“You know what happened.”
“Yes.”
“You know what your family did.”
“Yes.”
“You know what they wanted.”
“Yes.”
“And you still came here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because you saved me.”
Maggie laughed bitterly.
“I saved twenty-six innocent people.”
“And me.”
“I'm sure you'll survive the embarrassment.”
He almost smiled.
Then his expression softened.
“I want to help.”
“I don't need help.”
“You're terrified.”
“I'm cautious.”
“You're shaking.”
She looked down.
Her fingers were trembling.
She hated that he had noticed.
Adrian stepped back.
“I won't come closer.”
She looked at him.
He kept his word.
“I won't ask you for anything tonight.”
“Then why are you here?”
He handed her a small envelope.
“Because someone has been watching your apartment.”
Her heart stopped.
“What?”
“Three nights.”
She looked outside.
“Who?”
“We're not sure.”
“Then how do you know?”
“I own the building across the street.”
She stared.
“You what?”
He shrugged.
“Chicago is a small city.”
“You are unbelievable.”
“I've been told.”
She didn't take the envelope.
He placed it on the hallway floor.
“Lock your door.”
Then he turned.
“Wait.”
He looked back.
“Why are you helping me?”
Adrian said quietly:
“Because two years ago, someone wanted you dead.”
“And now?”
“Now I think someone still does.”
He left.
Maggie locked the door.
Then opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
A man standing outside her building.
She recognized him.
Nico Caruso.
The same man who had entered Briar & Ash.
Maggie turned pale.
There was a second photograph.
It showed another man.
Victor Moretti.
Her blood froze.
She knew him.
He had been standing outside the Hawthorne warehouse the night her mother died.
But he was supposed to be dead.
She grabbed her phone.
The message she'd received earlier appeared again.
He knows you survived.
Maggie didn't sleep.
The next morning, Adrian arrived at Briar & Ash before anyone else.
He found Maggie in the kitchen.
She was chopping onions.
“You came back.”
“I work here.”
“You could quit.”
“I need the money.”
“I can pay you more.”
“I don't want charity.”
“It wouldn't be charity.”
“What would it be?”
“Protection.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because protection from a man like you usually comes with a price.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What price?”
“I don't know.”
He moved closer.
“I don't ask for things in return.”
She gave him a look.
“That may be the most suspicious sentence anyone has ever said.”
He almost smiled.
Then the freezer door slammed.
Both turned.
A man rushed from the storage room.
He grabbed Maggie.
Adrian moved instantly.
The attacker swung.
Adrian blocked.
Two guards appeared.
Within seconds, the attacker was restrained.
Maggie stood frozen.
Adrian looked at her.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He turned to the attacker.
“Who sent you?”
The man spat blood.
“I don't talk.”
Adrian crouched.
Maggie watched.
His voice remained calm.
“You don't have to.”
The attacker looked frightened.
Adrian stood.
“Luca.”
“Yes?”
“Take him downstairs.”
Maggie stepped forward.
“Don't hurt him.”
Everyone looked at her.
Adrian looked back.
“You're protecting him?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because if he's afraid enough to attack me, someone else is more frightening.”
Adrian studied her.
She had just revealed something else.
She wasn't merely hiding.
She understood dangerous people.
Too well.
He said quietly:
“Who taught you?”
She didn't answer.
He didn't press.
Later, Adrian replayed another four seconds.
Maggie's reaction to the attacker.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Calculation.
He paused the footage.
“She knows more than she's saying.”
Luca nodded.
“And she may be the only person who knows where Victor is.”
Adrian looked up.
“What?”
“The attacker had a photograph of Victor.”
Adrian's blood chilled.
Victor Moretti had been presumed dead.
But now somebody was trying to find Maggie.
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Which meant Victor was alive.
And if Victor was alive, Adrian's entire empire had been built on a lie.
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