Chapter 3 - The Rival Who Knew Her Mother
Caitlyn slept in the guest bedroom of Deari’s penthouse that night.
She barely slept at all.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the shattered windows.
Every time she heard a distant car engine, her pulse jumped.
At 3:11 a.m., she gave up and walked into the kitchen.
She found Deari there.
He was barefoot.
His white shirt was rolled at the sleeves.
For the first time, he looked human.
He was making coffee.
“You should be asleep,” he said.
“So should you.”
He handed her a mug.
She accepted it.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Caitlyn asked, “Why do you never sleep?”
Deari leaned against the counter.
“Because people who sleep lose control.”
“That sounds unhealthy.”
“It is.”
She almost smiled.
“You admit it?”
“I am not stupid.”
That earned a genuine laugh.
It surprised both of them.
The sound changed something.
Deari studied her.
“You laugh quietly.”
She looked down.
“I don’t like being noticed.”
“I noticed you anyway.”
Her heart stumbled.
Before she could answer, his phone rang.
Luigi.
Deari listened.
His expression hardened.
“Bring him to the penthouse.”
Caitlyn stiffened.
“Who?”
“The man who shot at your office.”
Within forty minutes, security dragged a terrified man into the private dining room.
He was not the sniper.
He was a courier.
He had delivered money to the sniper’s contact.
Deari questioned him.
Caitlyn watched.
The man finally whispered a name.
“Victor Moretti.”
Deari’s eyes went flat.
Victor Moretti was the youngest surviving member of one of New York’s oldest crime families.
And according to Luigi, Victor had recently been seen searching for an old Hamilton ledger.
Caitlyn knew exactly which one.
“My father’s report.”
Deari nodded.
“You’re connected.”
The courier looked at her.
Then he smiled.
“You don’t know who your mother really was.”
Caitlyn went still.
“What did you say?”
The courier laughed.
“Your mother was not Daniel Elmore’s helpless wife. Evelyn trusted her.”
Deari stepped forward.
“What did you say about her?”
“Daniel didn’t work alone.”
“Who else?”
The courier looked directly at Caitlyn.
“Your mother.”
Deari’s hand tightened.
“Take him downstairs.”
“Wait!”
Caitlyn stopped him.
“What did my mother do?”
The courier looked at her.
“She helped hide the ledger.”
Then he was gone.
Caitlyn turned to Deari.
“My mother died when I was fourteen.”
“I know.”
“She never told me anything.”
“Maybe she was protecting you.”
“From what?”
He did not answer.
Two days later, Deari took Caitlyn to an old estate outside the city.
The property belonged to Evelyn Hamilton.
It had been abandoned for years.
Inside, dust covered everything.
Caitlyn walked through rooms filled with old furniture.
She found a piano.
A family portrait.
A nursery.
And then a hidden compartment beneath a desk.
Inside was a small metal box.
Deari opened it.
There was a cassette tape.
A handwritten note.
And a key.
The note was addressed to Caitlyn.
Caitlyn’s hands shook as she unfolded it.
My dear Caitlyn,
If you are reading this, then I was right to be afraid.
Trust no one completely.
Not even Hamilton.
Especially not Hamilton.
She looked at Deari.
He said nothing.
She continued.
Your father discovered that someone inside the Hamilton empire was selling information to the Moretti family. He believed Evelyn knew the truth.
But Evelyn did not know who the traitor was.
I helped your father hide the evidence.
If you ever find the blue ledger, do not destroy it.
It contains the names of everyone who betrayed us.
Caitlyn stared at the signature.
Her mother.
Deari reached for the cassette.
He had an old player brought in.
The recording began.
Evelyn Hamilton’s voice filled the room.
“Deari, if you are hearing this, then I am dead or gone.”
Caitlyn looked at him.
His face had gone pale.
Evelyn continued.
“There is a traitor in the family.”
The tape crackled.
“He is closer to you than you think.”
A second voice came through.
Daniel.
Caitlyn covered her mouth.
Her father was alive on that recording.
“We need to hide the ledger.”
Evelyn answered.
“Where?”
“Somewhere no one would search.”
The tape ended.
Deari stood motionless.
Caitlyn whispered, “We need to find it.”
“Yes.”
“And whoever is behind this is still alive.”
“Yes.”
“Then we find them.”
Deari looked at her.
“No.”
She frowned.
“No?”
“You are leaving.”
“What?”
“You are going somewhere safe.”
“I’m not running.”
“This is not your war.”
“My father died because of it.”
“And I will not let you die because of it.”
Her voice rose.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
His eyes flashed.
“I do when your life is being threatened under my name.”
The argument stopped only when footsteps sounded downstairs.
Luigi appeared.
“Boss.”
Deari turned.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Victor Moretti is not in New York.”
“Where is he?”
“Coming here.”
Deari’s gaze moved to Caitlyn.
And Caitlyn suddenly realized the truth.
May you like
Victor Moretti had never been looking for the ledger.
He had been looking for her.
