Chapter 2 - The Maid Told Me My Father Had Given Her the Family Pendant Before the Massacre—Then She Revealed the Order That Had Been Issued to Kill Me Fifteen Years AgoMarina's words remained in my mind long after I left the room.
Your father gave it to me.
Protect the last Duca heir.
You.
I had spent fifteen years believing my father saw me as weak.
I had spent fifteen years believing he died believing I was incapable of taking control.
Now I learned he had been preparing someone else to protect me.
I returned to my study before dawn.
The wall safe was hidden behind a painting of the estate.
My father's pendant was still there.
I opened the safe.
The black velvet box remained untouched.
Inside was the second pendant.
Identical.
Same crescent.
Same black enamel.
Same gold border.
Same initials.
I placed Marina's beside it.
Perfect match.
My hands tightened.
My father had created three.
Mine.
His.
And Marina's.
The third pendant had never been jewelry.
It had been an emergency identification mark.
A member of the family trusted enough to act outside the formal organization.
A guardian.
A protector.
Marina had been chosen as mine.
My security chief entered.
“Boss.”
“Come in.”
He closed the door.
“What did you find?”
He placed another folder on my desk.
“Renata's phone records.”
I opened them.
Dozens of calls to an unregistered number.
The same number appeared in records connected to the old massacre.
I looked at him.
“Who owns it?”
“We haven't identified the subscriber.”
“But?”
“But we know where the calls were routed.”
“Where?”
A private club.
The Black Lantern.
The same club that had belonged to my uncle before he disappeared.
I felt cold.
“My uncle is dead.”
“We know.”
“Then who owns his club?”
My security chief hesitated.
“Your cousin.”
I stared.
“What cousin?”
“Matteo Duca.”
I had thought Matteo died during the massacre.
He had been twenty-three.
A body had been recovered.
Or what remained of one.
Apparently, that had been a lie.
I closed the file.
“Find him.”
The door opened again.
Marina stood outside.
She had heard everything.
“Matteo is alive.”
I looked at her.
“You know where he is.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“He won't come for you.”
“Why?”
“Because he's already inside.”
My men reached for their weapons.
“Where?”
Marina pointed upward.
“The east wing.”
We ran.
Bella was asleep.
No one else should have been there.
I opened the corridor door.
Empty.
Then I saw a small red light.
A camera.
It had been installed behind the painting.
Someone had been watching the guest wing.
I ripped it from the wall.
Marina walked toward it.
“That's how they knew where I was.”
I looked at her.
“You've been monitored since you arrived.”
She nodded.
“Since I was twenty.”
“Why?”
“Because your family wasn't the only one hunting me.”
I stared.
“Who else?”
“People who wanted the truth.”
“What truth?”
Marina hesitated.
Then said:
“Your father didn't die in the massacre.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“He survived.”
My heart pounded.
“That's impossible.”
“I saw him.”
“Where?”
“After the fire.”
She looked at me.
“He was alive.”
“What happened?”
“He told me to take you.”
“To where?”
“He told me to get you away.”
“Why?”
“He knew someone inside the family had ordered the attack.”
I stared.
“My father knew.”
“Yes.”
“Then who killed him?”
Marina's eyes filled.
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie to me.”
“I am not.”
She looked toward Bella.
“Your father gave me the pendant.”
“He said if he died, I was to protect you.”
“Then why did you disappear?”
“Because someone found me.”
“Who?”
“Your father's brother.”
I felt the air leave the room.
“My uncle.”
“Yes.”
“He thought I had the evidence.”
“What evidence?”
Marina looked at me.
“The list of people who funded the massacre.”
The mansion suddenly felt too quiet.
A shot cracked somewhere outside.
Everyone froze.
Another shot.
Then the security lights went out.
My men raised their weapons.
I grabbed Marina.
“Stay behind me.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
I looked at her.
“If you die, they win.”
She stared.
“They've been trying to do that for fifteen years.”
Then the estate alarm sounded.
A voice came over the emergency system.
“Mr. Duca.”
I recognized it.
Matteo.
“Your family has waited long enough.”
Then the voice laughed.
“Bring me Marina Rossi.”
I looked at her.
May you like
She closed her eyes.
“They've found us.”
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