Chapter 3 - Lorenzo Discovered the Maid Had Been Hiding a Secret for Two YearsBeing assigned to Lorenzo Rossi’s personal protection was not something I had ever imagined.
Neither was sleeping three doors away from his office.
For the next twelve hours, I was surrounded by armed men.
Every meal was searched.
Every phone call was monitored.
Every door was locked.
I hated it.
Not because I was afraid of the guards.
Because I was beginning to feel watched by the one person I couldn't escape.
Lorenzo.
He noticed everything.
When I looked toward the windows.
When my breathing changed.
When I hesitated before answering.
When I touched my necklace.
That necklace had belonged to my father.
A simple silver key.
Nothing valuable.
Except it wasn't only a necklace.
The key opened a safe deposit box.
And the box contained the notebook.
The notebook I had lied about.
Late that evening, Lorenzo entered the small sitting room where I had been placed.
“You're leaving.”
I stood.
“Where?”
“The hospital.”
“For Lily?”
“Yes.”
I froze.
“She missed her treatment this afternoon.”
My stomach dropped.
“I didn't know.”
“I did.”
“You checked?”
“I always check.”
I stared at him.
“You paid for her treatment.”
“I promised you the company would cover it.”
“That wasn't what I asked.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I made sure she received it.”
Something tightened in my chest.
For two years, I had thought the checks came from some anonymous charity connected to the estate.
I had never considered Lorenzo himself.
“Why?”
“Because you work for me.”
“That doesn't explain it.”
“It doesn't have to.”
His voice softened.
“Your sister matters to you.”
I looked away.
“More than anything.”
“Then let's keep her alive.”
The words should have comforted me.
Instead, they frightened me.
Because Lorenzo Rossi never said things without purpose.
We drove to the hospital in an armored SUV.
Lorenzo sat opposite me.
No music.
No conversation.
The rain blurred the city outside.
Halfway there, I noticed the same black SUV from the mansion.
Three cars behind us.
I leaned forward.
“There's a vehicle behind us.”
Lorenzo looked through the tinted glass.
“Plate?”
I told him.
He tapped the intercom.
“Switch route.”
The driver changed lanes.
The SUV followed.
Lorenzo looked at me.
“You've seen it before.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Three weeks.”
His face changed.
“You didn't tell security?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I wasn't sure.”
“Now?”
“Now I am.”
The hospital arrived.
Lily was waiting in a treatment room.
The moment she saw me, she smiled.
“Norah.”
I rushed to her.
“How are you?”
“Tired.”
She looked past me.
Then at Lorenzo.
Her eyebrows lifted.
“That him?”
“Lily.”
“What?”
She whispered.
“He's ridiculously handsome.”
I wanted to disappear.
Lorenzo actually smiled.
It was the first genuine smile I had ever seen from him.
Lily grinned.
“So he does know how.”
“Lily.”
“What? You're always telling me your terrifying employer doesn't smile.”
Lorenzo folded his arms.
“She exaggerates.”
“I don't.”
Lily looked at him.
“Do you pay my hospital bills?”
Lorenzo's expression became serious.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your sister works hard.”
Lily studied him.
Then looked at me.
“Oh.”
“What?”
“I get it.”
“Get what?”
“Nothing.”
She smiled.
I knew that smile.
She was teasing me.
Later, while Lily slept, I stepped into the hallway.
Lorenzo was waiting.
“What did she tell you?”
“Nothing.”
“She mentioned my name?”
“Yes.”
“She doesn't trust you.”
“She doesn't trust anyone.”
“She trusts you.”
I looked at him.
“She trusts me because I'm her sister.”
Lorenzo was quiet.
Then he said, “You have a key.”
My hand froze over my necklace.
“What?”
“The necklace.”
I immediately lowered my hand.
“Just jewelry.”
“You've touched it nineteen times today.”
I stared at him.
He had counted.
Of course he had.
“What does it open?”
I should have lied again.
Instead, I whispered.
“A safe.”
His expression changed.
“Where?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because if I do, whoever killed my father will know I found it.”
Lorenzo moved closer.
“Norah, your father's murder may be connected to what's happening here.”
“I know.”
“You suspected?”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed?”
“I needed money for Lily.”
“You risked your sister's life.”
“I risked mine.”
“That isn't the same.”
I looked at him.
“It is to me.”
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Lorenzo reached toward the necklace.
His fingers stopped just before touching it.
“Show me the key.”
I hesitated.
Then removed the chain.
The tiny silver key rested in my palm.
On the back was an engraving.
R-17
Lorenzo stared at it.
His face went still.
“What?”
He took a slow breath.
“I know that marking.”
My heart stopped.
“Where?”
“In my father's records.”
“Your father's?”
He looked at me.
“My father wasn't only a businessman.”
I whispered.
“What was he?”
Lorenzo's eyes darkened.
“The man who built the Rossi empire.”
And suddenly I understood.
Our fathers had known each other.
Maybe they had trusted each other.
Maybe they had betrayed each other.
And maybe the reason my father died had never been what I thought.
Lorenzo reached for his phone.
“Cancel the route.”
“Why?”
“Because we're not going back to the mansion.”
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere no one knows about.”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“Because I think your father left you something.”
May you like
My throat tightened.
“And I think whoever is trying to kill me wants it too.”
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