Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Hunter didn't sleep that night.
Neither did Lorenzo.
The mansion had transformed into a fortress.
Every entrance was guarded.
Every employee was questioned.
Every camera was reviewed.
Yet the person who had poisoned Leo remained inside the house.
Hunter knew it.
Lorenzo knew it.
And that knowledge made every shadow feel dangerous.
At four in the morning, Hunter finally placed Leo in his crib.
The baby was breathing normally.
For the first time in weeks, his cheeks had a little color.
Hunter stood beside him.
“You're going to be okay.”
“I hope you're right.”
She turned.
Lorenzo stood behind her.
He had removed his jacket.
His sleeves were rolled to his elbows.
There was a tiredness in his face Hunter had never seen before.
“You should sleep,” he said.
“So should you.”
“I don't sleep much.”
“Neither do mothers.”
His eyes lingered on her.
“You lost your son three weeks ago.”
Hunter's expression tightened.
“Yes.”
“What was his name?”
She looked toward the crib.
“Noah.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“He was eleven hours old.”
Hunter swallowed.
“He was perfect.”
The silence between them became strangely gentle.
Then Lorenzo asked,
“Did you hold him?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Eleven hours.”
His expression changed.
Hunter looked away.
“He was too small.”
She wiped a tear.
“But he squeezed my finger.”
Lorenzo stared at Leo.
“So did my son.”
Hunter looked at him.
“Maybe that's why he stopped crying.”
Lorenzo didn't answer.
Then a noise came from the hallway.
Both turned.
A shadow moved beneath the door.
Lorenzo immediately reached for the gun beneath his jacket.
Hunter froze.
The handle moved.
Then stopped.
“Mr. Rossi?”
Matteo's voice.
Lorenzo opened the door.
Matteo entered.
“We found something.”
He handed Lorenzo a tablet.
“Someone accessed the medical records before Leo was born.”
Lorenzo's face hardened.
“Who?”
“An outside account.”
“Name?”
“Dr. Adrian Vale.”
Hunter frowned.
“Who's that?”
Lorenzo's expression changed.
“My wife's obstetrician.”
Silence.
“But he's dead,” Lorenzo added.
Hunter stared.
“What?”
“He died six weeks ago.”
Matteo shook his head.
“Not exactly.”
He opened another file.
“His death was staged.”
Hunter felt a chill.
“Why?”
Matteo looked at Lorenzo.
“Because someone needed everyone to believe he was dead.”
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
“Find him.”
“He disappeared six weeks ago.”
“Then find where he went.”
Matteo nodded.
Hunter suddenly remembered something.
“The smell.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“What smell?”
“The chemical.”
She thought hard.
“I smelled it before.”
“Where?”
“On the doctor's coat.”
Lorenzo went still.
“Which doctor?”
“Dr. Vale.”
Matteo looked up sharply.
Hunter continued.
“He came into the nursery once before Leo was born.”
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because nobody asked me.”
The words landed heavily.
Lorenzo lowered his gaze.
He knew she was right.
No one had asked the maid.
No one had thought she mattered.
Until now.
Suddenly, the nursery lights went out.
Hunter gasped.
Lorenzo pulled her behind him.
The emergency lights flickered on.
Then the fire alarm sounded.
Matteo drew his weapon.
“Smoke in the west wing.”
Lorenzo looked at Hunter.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
She grabbed his sleeve.
“If someone wants me dead, staying alone is the worst idea.”
For the first time, Lorenzo almost smiled.
“You're stubborn.”
“You're terrifying.”
“Fair.”
They moved together.
Halfway down the hallway, Hunter stopped.
“Wait.”
She pointed at the floor.
A small trail of water led toward the servants' staircase.
Lorenzo followed it.
They reached the laundry room.
The door was open.
Inside, the washing machines were running.
One had been left with its door open.
Hunter noticed something inside.
A piece of fabric.
She pulled it out.
A nurse's uniform.
There was blood on the sleeve.
Lorenzo examined it.
Then he saw the bracelet lying beside it.
The same gold bracelet from the security footage.
Hunter stared.
“Mrs. Rossi.”
Lorenzo shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because my mother-in-law doesn't have that bracelet anymore.”
Hunter looked at him.
“Then who does?”
Lorenzo's phone rang.
He answered.
His face became pale.
“What?”
He listened.
Then slowly looked at Hunter.
“Someone just tried to break into your apartment.”
Her blood ran cold.
“My apartment?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because they weren't looking for money.”
He paused.
“They were looking for photographs.”
Hunter's mind raced.
“What photographs?”
May you like
Lorenzo stared at her.
“The ones of your son.”
