Chapter 2 - THE FIRST LIE
By morning, Nora had learned three things about the Rossi estate.
The first was that nobody laughed.
The second was that every room had a security camera except Dominic's bedroom.
The third was that someone had entered the house during the night.
She discovered the third fact at 6:12 a.m.
Nora was changing the dressing when Dominic suddenly woke.
His hand moved beneath the pillow.
Nora stopped.
“Don't.”
His fingers froze.
“There's someone in the hallway.”
Dominic's eyes sharpened.
“How do you know?”
“I heard footsteps.”
“You heard them?”
“Three steps. Then nothing.”
Dominic reached for his gun.
Nora grabbed his wrist.
“Your shoulder.”
“I'll survive.”
“You're going to reopen the wound.”
“I'll survive that too.”
He pulled free.
The bedroom door opened.
Leo appeared.
“Boss.”
Dominic's gun was already aimed.
Leo stopped.
“It's me.”
Dominic lowered it.
“Who was outside?”
Leo's expression hardened.
“Security found nothing.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“We're checking the cameras.”
Nora looked toward the hallway.
“There's a camera outside this room?”
“No,” Dominic said.
“Why?”
His eyes moved to her.
“Because I don't like being watched while I sleep.”
Nora understood.
Someone had deliberately chosen a blind spot.
Dominic noticed her expression.
“You're thinking something.”
“I always think.”
“About?”
“About why six nurses quit.”
Leo shifted uneasily.
Dominic leaned back.
“Go on.”
Nora folded her arms.
“The previous nurses didn't quit because you were difficult.”
Leo looked away.
“You're wrong.”
“No.”
Nora pointed toward the medical tray.
“Someone tampered with your medication.”
Dominic went still.
“What?”
She picked up the bottle.
“This isn't the antibiotic I prescribed.”
Leo stepped forward.
“Impossible.”
Nora turned the bottle around.
“The label is correct.”
She removed the cap.
“The contents aren't.”
Dominic's face became expressionless.
“Who prepared my medication?”
Leo didn't answer.
Dominic looked at him.
“Leo.”
“I don't know.”
“Find out.”
Leo left.
Nora placed the bottle into a plastic evidence bag.
“You should go home,” Dominic said.
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because now I'm curious.”
“That gets people killed.”
“Then don't kill me.”
A strange silence followed.
Dominic looked at her as though he had never heard anything quite like that.
“You really don't know who I am, do you?”
“I know enough.”
“No.”
He leaned closer.
“You know a name.”
Nora met his eyes.
“I know a wounded man.”
Something shifted in his expression.
Not softness.
Something more dangerous.
Interest.
Before he could answer, a scream erupted downstairs.
Nora rushed toward the door.
Dominic followed.
They reached the grand staircase.
A security guard lay on the marble floor.
Blood spread beneath his head.
Leo was kneeling beside him.
“Someone attacked him.”
Dominic's gaze moved toward the open side entrance.
Rain blew inside.
A black SUV disappeared beyond the gates.
“Lock the estate,” Dominic ordered.
Every door slammed shut.
Nora looked at the wounded guard.
“He needs a hospital.”
“He'll be taken care of.”
“No.”
Dominic looked at her.
“He has a head injury.”
“I said he'll be taken care of.”
“You're not listening.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“I always listen.”
“Then listen now. If he stays here, he could die.”
The two stared at each other.
Finally Dominic nodded.
“Prepare the car.”
Leo hesitated.
“Boss—”
“Now.”
As they carried the guard toward the garage, Nora noticed something strange.
A tiny red thread was caught around the guard's wrist.
She pulled it free.
There was a symbol embroidered into it.
A black raven.
Dominic saw it.
His face changed.
“You know this?” Nora asked.
He closed his fist around the thread.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
He looked toward the gates.
“Someone who was supposed to be dead.”
Nora felt cold despite the warm hallway.
“Who?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at her.
“From now on, you don't leave this house.”
Nora stared.
“That's not happening.”
“It is.”
“You can't imprison me.”
“No.”
His voice became very quiet.
“I can protect you.”
“I don't need protection.”
Dominic's eyes darkened.
“You've already been noticed.”
Nora's stomach tightened.
“By whom?”
Dominic looked at the red thread in his hand.
“The person who attacked my guard.”
May you like
He paused.
“And whoever is behind him already knows your name.”
