Chapter 2 - The Black Card Led Me to a Mansion Where Every Guard Knew My Name Before I Even ArrivedI almost threw the card away.
I didn't.
That was my first mistake.
Or perhaps my first lucky decision.
I spent the entire night staring at it.
The silver serpent seemed to shine whenever the light hit it.
There was one phone number.
Nothing else.
No address.
No company logo.
No explanation.
At 8:00 the next morning, my phone rang.
I answered.
"Emily Carter?"
"Yes?"
"This is Daniel Blackwood."
My heart jumped.
"I told you to call me."
"I was going to."
"Good."
A pause.
"Are you working today?"
"Yes."
"You aren't."
I frowned.
"Excuse me?"
"I've sent someone to pick you up."
"I don't need a ride."
"That's not what I asked."
I hung up.
Ten seconds later, someone knocked on my apartment door.
I looked through the peephole.
A man in a black suit stood outside.
"Miss Carter?"
"No."
He sighed.
"Mr. Blackwood anticipated that answer."
He held up another black card.
"He said you'd be stubborn."
I opened the door.
"Where are we going?"
"To his residence."
"I don't want to go."
"Then he'll come here."
I immediately grabbed my purse.
"Fine."
The mansion was hidden behind iron gates.
It sat on several acres outside the city.
Security cameras covered every entrance.
Men stood everywhere.
Some looked like security.
Others looked like soldiers.
I was escorted inside.
Daniel was waiting in a study.
He stood beside a fireplace.
His mother sat in a chair nearby.
She smiled when she saw me.
"Emily."
I smiled.
"Mrs. Blackwood."
She laughed.
"Call me Eleanor."
Daniel watched us.
"You fed my mother."
"Yes."
"Why?"
I frowned.
"Because she was hungry."
"Most people would have ignored her."
"I'm not most people."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"No."
He sat down.
"You're not."
Then Eleanor spoke.
"Daniel, don't intimidate her."
"I'm not."
"You are."
He looked irritated.
For the first time, I almost laughed.
He noticed.
"You think this is funny?"
"A little."
His mother smiled.
"Good."
Then Daniel placed a folder on the desk.
Inside was my employment record.
My apartment lease.
My unpaid bills.
My delivery history.
I stared at him.
"How did you get these?"
"I have resources."
"That's creepy."
Eleanor laughed.
Daniel didn't.
"You work too much."
"I need money."
"How much?"
"That's none of your business."
He looked at me.
"It is now."
"No."
Silence.
He leaned back.
"You don't understand what happened yesterday."
"I helped your mother."
"You did more than that."
"What?"
He glanced at Eleanor.
"My mother hasn't allowed anyone to feed her in public since her diagnosis."
I looked at Eleanor.
She smiled softly.
"People stare."
"I know."
"Yesterday was the first time in years I wasn't ashamed."
My chest tightened.
Daniel looked at me.
"That's why I offered protection."
"I don't need protection."
"You do."
"From whom?"
His expression changed.
"Everyone."
I laughed.
"I'm a waitress."
He leaned forward.
"You're now connected to me."
That sentence should have frightened me.
Instead, I asked:
"What exactly are you?"
He stared at me.
Then he answered honestly.
"The man people call when they want someone frightened."
My smile disappeared.
"Are you saying you're a criminal?"
"Yes."
At least he didn't lie.
"I should leave."
"You can."
He stood.
"But before you do, understand something."
He walked closer.
"I don't know why you were kind to my mother."
"I told you."
"Because she needed help."
"Yes."
He nodded.
"That's precisely why I trust you."
Then Eleanor called me over.
She took my hand.
"Come visit me again."
I smiled.
"I will."
Daniel watched us.
And something in his eyes softened.
Neither of us noticed the man standing outside the study.
Marcus Reed.
Daniel's most trusted lieutenant.
May you like
The man who had served beside him for fifteen years.
And the man who had already decided Emily Carter was a problem that needed to disappear.
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