Chapter 3 - THE ATTACK
The explosion shook the entire penthouse.
Glass shattered.
Alarms screamed.
I fell to the floor.
Security rushed through the hallway.
"Mrs. Valentino!"
Someone grabbed my arm.
"Down!"
Gunfire erupted outside.
I crawled behind the marble kitchen island.
My heart hammered.
Then I heard a voice through the smoke.
"Emma!"
Marcus.
He had returned.
He stormed through the entrance with Alessandro and six armed men.
His eyes found me.
For the first time since I had known him, Marcus looked completely terrified.
He crossed the room.
"Are you hurt?"
I shook my head.
"I'm fine."
He grabbed my face.
"Look at me."
I did.
His hands trembled.
Barely.
But they trembled.
"You scared me."
The words came out before he could stop them.
I stared at him.
Then a bullet struck the wall behind us.
Marcus immediately pushed me down.
"Move!"
His men returned fire.
The attackers fled.
Marcus remained over me until the shooting stopped.
When he finally moved, I saw blood on his sleeve.
"You're hurt."
"It's nothing."
"Marcus."
He ignored me.
"Get her to the safe room."
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"Emma."
"I am not hiding while you bleed."
"You're not negotiating."
"I am your wife."
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Something in his face softened.
Then he pulled me against his chest.
Just for one second.
"I know."
He released me.
"Go."
This time, I obeyed.
Hours later, the police arrived.
Marcus didn't trust them.
Neither did I.
Detective Ryan Cole was assigned to the case.
He shook my hand.
"Mrs. Valentino."
"Detective."
His eyes lingered on my face.
Then he looked at Marcus.
"Someone wants your wife dead."
Marcus said nothing.
Cole continued.
"The explosive was military grade."
"Meaning?"
"Professional."
Marcus's expression darkened.
Cole lowered his voice.
"This isn't random."
That night, Marcus took me to a private room.
He placed a small metal box on the table.
"Your father left this for you."
I stared at it.
"What is it?"
"I don't know."
"Then why do you have it?"
"Because he gave it to me."
"When?"
"Before your wedding."
Marcus opened the box.
Inside was a key.
A photograph.
And a letter.
My hands shook as I unfolded it.
Emma,
If you're reading this, then I failed.
Trust Marcus.
Not because he is powerful.
Because he is the only man who can keep you alive.
There are things about our family I never told you.
Things your mother never knew.
The debt was never real.
It was payment.
For something I stole.
My blood ran cold.
I read the next line.
I stole the Valentino ledger.
Marcus watched me.
"What ledger?"
"I don't know."
The letter continued.
The ledger contains names of people who control Austin from the shadows.
Judges.
Police.
Businessmen.
People who cannot afford to let it surface.
If they find it, they will kill you.
The final line made my hands shake.
The ledger is inside the woman Marcus trusts most.
I looked up.
"Who does Marcus trust most?"
The door opened.
Alessandro stood there.
He looked pale.
"Boss."
Marcus turned.
"What?"
"We found the attackers' vehicle."
"And?"
Alessandro swallowed.
"It belongs to Detective Cole."
Silence.
Marcus slowly reached for his gun.
But I stopped him.
"No."
He looked at me.
"Emma."
"If Cole is involved, we need proof."
Marcus stared at me.
Then nodded.
For the first time, we were standing on the same side.
But neither of us noticed the small camera hidden inside the room.
May you like
Someone was watching us.
And someone had heard every word.
