Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Nora woke to glass breaking.
She sat upright.
A second crash came from downstairs.
Then a gunshot.
She ran.
Dominic was already in the hallway.
Barefoot.
Shirtless.
His injured shoulder wrapped tightly beneath a black compression bandage.
He held a pistol in his left hand.
“Stay behind me.”
Nora followed him down the staircase.
Two men were fighting near the library.
One of Dominic's guards went down.
The intruder escaped through a shattered window.
Dominic fired once.
The man disappeared into the rain.
“Don't shoot again,” Nora said.
Dominic turned.
“You're giving orders again.”
“You'll hit someone.”
“I know.”
She rushed to the wounded guard.
A bullet had grazed his side.
Nora pressed a towel against the wound.
“Call an ambulance.”
Dominic didn't move.
“Dominic.”
He stared at her.
Then nodded.
While Nora treated the guard, Dominic walked into the library.
A photograph lay broken on the floor.
He bent down.
His expression changed.
Nora noticed.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
She looked at the photograph.
A younger Dominic stood beside a woman.
The woman was beautiful.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
A faint scar beneath her left ear.
Nora recognized her.
She had seen that face before.
Not in person.
In an old newspaper article.
The woman was listed as Elena Rossi.
Dominic's younger sister.
Missing for eleven years.
Presumed dead.
“You thought she was dead,” Nora whispered.
Dominic looked at her.
“She was.”
“Then why does someone keep leaving her symbol?”
He said nothing.
Nora looked at the photograph.
Behind Elena's image was another person.
A little girl.
About six years old.
Nora stared.
“Who is she?”
Dominic's expression became unreadable.
“I don't know.”
But Nora knew he was lying.
She could see it.
“You do.”
Dominic walked toward the fireplace.
“Some questions aren't worth asking.”
“That's what people say when the answer is dangerous.”
His gaze returned to her.
“You're becoming too curious.”
“And you're becoming too mysterious.”
He almost smiled.
Then the library lights went out.
Total darkness.
Nora heard movement.
Dominic grabbed her waist and pulled her behind a pillar.
A bullet struck the wall where she had been standing.
She gasped.
Dominic covered her mouth.
“Quiet.”
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Then silence.
Nora's heart slammed against her ribs.
Dominic's body was pressed against hers.
She could feel his breathing.
His hand slowly lowered from her mouth.
Neither moved.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He released her.
A minute later, the lights returned.
The bullet had embedded itself in the bookshelf.
Beside it was a folded piece of paper.
Dominic opened it.
His face went pale.
Nora read the message over his shoulder.
SHE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO ELENA.
Nora looked at him.
“Who is she?”
Dominic folded the paper.
“You.”
Nora frowned.
“What?”
“You're the reason they're here.”
“I've never met your sister.”
“I know.”
“Then why me?”
Dominic's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression became colder.
“Where?”
A pause.
“Bring him.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?”
“Someone was caught outside.”
“Who?”
Dominic looked at Nora.
“Your former supervisor.”
Nora's blood ran cold.
May you like
“My supervisor?”
“He says he knows why you were hired.”
