Chapter 3 - The Woman Beneath the Plain UniformBy Sunday morning, Mara had become the most talked-about person in the penthouse.
Not because anyone liked her.
Because everyone wanted to know why Dante Marcel had taken her side.
Petra cornered her in the kitchen.
"What exactly happened last night?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
Petra folded her arms.
"You think he likes you?"
Mara looked at her.
"No."
"Good."
Petra smiled.
"Because women like you don't survive in Dante's world."
Mara returned to polishing a glass.
"What makes you think I want to?"
Petra's smile disappeared.
Later that day, Sienna confronted her.
Mara was changing linens.
"You've become ambitious."
"No."
"You think he sees something special in you."
"No."
"You think being useful makes you important."
Mara turned.
"Being useful is all I ever wanted here."
Sienna stepped closer.
"You should be careful."
"About what?"
"You don't belong in his world."
Mara looked at her.
"Neither do you."
Sienna slapped her.
The sound echoed.
Mara's cheek burned.
But before she could react, the bedroom door opened.
Dante stood there.
His expression was terrifyingly calm.
"Sienna."
She turned.
"Dante—"
"Leave."
"But—"
"Now."
Sienna stared at him.
Then left.
Dante walked toward Mara.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"You don't have to pretend."
"I've been pretending my whole life."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Dante went still.
"What does that mean?"
Mara looked away.
"Nothing."
He didn't push.
Instead, he handed her a cold towel.
"Put this on your face."
She took it.
"Thank you."
He lingered.
Then left.
That night, Mara went home to Yonkers.
Her mother was waiting.
"You've been followed."
Mara stopped.
"What?"
Her mother pointed toward the window.
A black sedan.
"It followed me here."
Mara's heart sank.
She locked the door.
"Mom, listen to me carefully."
Her mother looked frightened.
"What happened?"
"I don't know yet."
"You need to quit."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because people are in danger."
Her mother stared.
"You always do this."
"Do what?"
"Protect everyone except yourself."
Mara sat beside her.
Then she finally told her everything.
The ring.
The money.
The planted device.
The threats.
Her mother's face changed.
"Did you tell him?"
"Who?"
"Dante."
"Yes."
"Then maybe it's time."
"Time for what?"
Her mother opened an old box.
Inside was a photograph.
Mara stared.
A younger version of her stood beside a man.
Her father.
She had almost forgotten his face.
"What is this?"
"Your father worked for the Marcels."
Mara's breath stopped.
"What?"
"Security consultant."
"Mom."
"He knew too much."
"What happened?"
"He disappeared when you were ten."
Mara looked at the photograph.
"The official story was that he stole money."
Her mother shook her head.
"He didn't."
"Then why did he disappear?"
"He tried to expose someone."
"Who?"
Her mother whispered:
"Victor Vale."
Mara's stomach tightened.
"Sienna's father?"
"Yes."
The room went silent.
Mara suddenly understood why her mother had always warned her about wealthy families.
Her father hadn't vanished.
He had been erased.
And the man who had erased him was connected to the woman currently wearing the ring meant to control Dante Marcel.
Mara returned to Manhattan that night.
Dante was waiting.
"You left."
"I had to see my mother."
"What did she tell you?"
Mara hesitated.
Then:
"My father worked for your family."
Dante's expression changed.
"What's his name?"
"Samuel Torres."
Dante went pale.
"I know that name."
"You should."
"My father mentioned him."
"Why?"
"He said Samuel saved his life once."
Mara stared.
"My mother says your family destroyed him."
Dante shook his head.
"My family isn't one person."
"Neither is mine."
He looked at her.
Then said:
"Help me find out what happened."
Mara nodded.
Together, they opened his father's old files.
At 3:17 a.m., they found one document.
A termination order.
Samuel Torres.
Reason: confidential breach.
Signed by Victor Vale.
Mara stared.
Dante stared.
Then he found another page.
Payment authorization.
To Samuel Torres.
After his supposed dismissal.
Mara's voice went quiet.
"He didn't quit."
"No."
"He was paid afterward."
"Which means someone kept him."
Mara looked at Dante.
"Your father knew."
Dante nodded.
"And so did Victor."
They searched deeper.
Then they found an encrypted file.
The title was simple.
THE BRIDE.
Dante stared.
"Open it."
The file demanded a password.
Mara looked at the ring.
"Maybe it's the ring."
Dante tried.
Nothing.
She examined the photograph of the diamond.
A tiny engraving inside the band.
She recognized the pattern.
"It isn't decorative."
"What?"
"It's a code."
They entered the numbers.
The file opened.
Inside was one photograph.
Sienna.
Standing beside Victor.
And another man.
Dante's uncle.
His face turned cold.
"My uncle."
Mara whispered:
"They've been planning this for years."
Dante looked at her.
"And you're the first person who saw through it."
Before Mara could answer, the lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Dante pulled her to the floor.
Another shot.
Then another.
He shielded her with his body.
Mara's heart pounded.
When the shooting stopped, he whispered:
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
He looked at her.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
He was still holding her.
Neither moved.
Then Dante said quietly:
"Whoever is doing this knows about you."
Mara nodded.
"I know."
"And now I know something else."
"What?"
May you like
He looked into her eyes.
"I don't think I can let you go."
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