Chapter 3 - THE DEAD WOMAN'S NECKLACE
Lorenzo had watched Sophia's coffin lowered into the ground wearing the necklace around her neck.
He was certain of it.
The pendant was small, gold, and shaped like a crescent moon. Sophia had worn it almost every day since Lorenzo gave it to her on their first anniversary.
After the explosion, there had not been much left untouched by fire.
But the necklace survived.
Lorenzo remembered fastening the restored chain around Sophia's neck himself before the funeral.
Now it rested in his palm outside Leo's nursery.
Hunter stepped closer.
"What is that?"
"My wife's."
Her expression changed.
"You said she died."
"She did."
"Then how—"
"I don't know."
Lorenzo closed his fist around the pendant.
Within ten minutes, the entire east wing went into lockdown.
Security cameras were checked.
Doors were sealed.
Staff were separated.
Nobody was allowed to leave the estate.
Lorenzo's security chief, Mateo Ruiz, arrived upstairs carrying a tablet.
Mateo had been beside Lorenzo for twelve years. Former military intelligence. Forty-one years old. Quiet, disciplined, almost impossible to surprise.
Tonight he looked concerned.
"We have missing footage."
"How much?"
"Seven minutes."
"Which cameras?"
"The hallway outside Leo's nursery."
Lorenzo stared at him.
"Only those cameras?"
"Yes."
"Someone inside the security system."
"Has to be."
Hunter remained beside Leo.
She could feel the walls closing around her.
This house had been frightening before.
Now she understood something worse.
The enemy wasn't outside.
The enemy was already inside.
"Mr. Rossi," she said.
Lorenzo turned.
"Maybe I should leave."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Hunter blinked.
"I don't want to be involved."
"You already are."
"That's not fair."
"No."
Lorenzo stepped closer.
"But whoever poisoned Leo doesn't know why he's suddenly improving. When they learn it's you—"
Hunter's face went pale.
"They'll come after me."
"Yes."
She stared at him.
He didn't soften the truth.
She respected that more than she wanted to.
"I have an apartment in Queens."
"You won't reach Queens."
"You don't know that."
"I know exactly what kind of people we're dealing with."
Hunter's jaw tightened.
"You mean your kind of people."
Mateo glanced away.
Lorenzo absorbed the blow without reacting.
"Yes."
Hunter expected anger.
Instead, Lorenzo looked tired.
For a moment, he wasn't a mafia boss.
He was simply a father who hadn't slept in weeks.
"You stay near Leo," he said. "Mateo gives you protection. Nobody enters without authorization."
Hunter looked down at the baby.
Leo had wrapped one finger around hers.
Her resistance weakened.
"Until he's stable."
"Until he's safe."
Those were not the same thing.
Hunter noticed.
Before she could respond, voices erupted downstairs.
A woman was demanding entrance.
Lorenzo knew the voice.
Isabella.
His sister marched upstairs wearing a cream wool coat over an evening dress.
"What the hell is going on?"
Two guards followed behind her.
Lorenzo stepped into the hall.
"Why are you here?"
"I was told the estate was locked down."
"By whom?"
Isabella stopped.
"What?"
"You don't live here."
"Lorenzo, don't start."
"Who called you?"
Her expression hardened.
"I called to check on my nephew. Nobody answered."
"At four in the morning?"
"I couldn't sleep."
Lorenzo held up the pendant.
The blood left Isabella's face.
It happened quickly.
But Lorenzo saw it.
"Recognize this?"
She stared.
"Of course. Sophia's."
"Why is it here?"
"I don't know."
"It was buried with her."
Isabella's lips parted.
"Was it?"
Lorenzo stepped forward.
"You were at the funeral."
"I wasn't looking at jewelry."
"You dressed her."
That silenced the hallway.
Hunter watched from the nursery doorway.
Isabella looked toward her.
Their eyes met.
Something passed across Isabella's face.
Recognition.
Not of Hunter personally.
Of what she was doing there.
Isabella looked toward Leo.
Then back to Lorenzo.
"Why is the maid holding your child?"
"Answer my question."
"Lorenzo—"
"Why is Sophia's necklace inside my house?"
"I don't know!"
Her composure cracked.
"I don't know where it came from."
Lorenzo watched her closely.
Then Isabella's expression shifted.
She pointed toward Hunter.
"Maybe she brought it."
Hunter stiffened.
"What?"
Isabella looked at Lorenzo.
"You said it yourself. She appears out of nowhere. Your son's condition suddenly changes. Now something stolen from Sophia's grave appears outside the nursery?"
"Careful."
"I'm trying to protect you."
"No. You're trying to redirect me."
Isabella stepped closer.
"I'm your sister."
"And Leo is my son."
For the first time, something resembling fear moved behind her eyes.
Gallagher appeared at the end of the hallway.
He hesitated when he saw Isabella.
Lorenzo noticed.
"Tell her."
Gallagher looked uncomfortable.
"Tell me what?"
The doctor said nothing.
Lorenzo answered.
"Leo was poisoned."
Isabella froze.
Hunter watched her carefully.
Most people would have asked whether the baby was okay.
Isabella asked something else.
"With what?"
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
"Why does that matter?"
Realization crossed her face.
"I mean—obviously it matters. I just—"
"Digoxin."
Isabella stared at him.
Too long.
Then she shook her head.
"That's impossible."
Gallagher spoke quietly.
"We confirmed it three times."
"Where?"
"His food."
Isabella turned toward Hunter.
"And she isn't affected because she's feeding him herself."
Hunter felt the hairs rise on her arms.
Lorenzo noticed the wording too.
Not asking whether Hunter fed him.
Knowing.
"You already knew."
Isabella looked back at him.
"Knew what?"
"That Hunter breastfed Leo."
"I can see her holding him."
"That's not what you said."
"You're exhausted."
Lorenzo took another step.
"How did you know?"
Isabella's gaze flickered toward the security camera.
One second.
That was enough.
Mateo immediately spoke into his radio.
"Lock security control."
Isabella exhaled.
"Lorenzo, you're making a mistake."
"Maybe."
He looked at his guards.
"Search her."
Isabella exploded.
"You will not!"
Two guards hesitated.
No one had ever searched Lorenzo Rossi's sister.
Lorenzo's voice dropped.
"Now."
Isabella slapped one guard when he approached.
Her handbag fell.
Its contents scattered across the marble.
Lipstick.
Keys.
Phone.
Wallet.
A folded envelope.
And one small glass vial.
Gallagher stared at it.
Lorenzo slowly bent down.
Isabella's face changed.
"That isn't mine."
He picked up the vial.
Clear liquid.
No label.
Gallagher put on gloves.
"Give it to me."
Isabella backed away.
"Someone planted it."
"Who?"
"The maid!"
Hunter stared at her.
"I've never touched your bag."
Isabella's breathing accelerated.
Then Mateo's radio crackled.
"Boss, security room is empty."
Mateo frowned.
"What do you mean empty?"
"Operator's gone. Back door open."
Lorenzo turned.
"Find him."
Static answered.
Then another guard shouted through the radio.
"We found something outside."
Minutes later Lorenzo stood behind the estate near the frozen swimming pool.
The missing security operator lay face down beside the hedge.
Dead.
One bullet behind the ear.
Execution style.
Mateo crouched beside the body.
"Recently."
Lorenzo looked toward the dark property line.
Whoever did this might still be nearby.
A guard ran toward them.
"Boss."
"What?"
"We checked the cemetery."
Lorenzo's stomach tightened.
"The family mausoleum?"
The guard swallowed.
"Sophia Rossi's crypt was opened tonight."
Hunter had followed farther than Lorenzo wanted.
She heard him.
Then the guard continued.
"And there's something else."
Lorenzo stared at him.
May you like
"What?"
"The coffin is empty."
