Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO WAS LYING
Diamond's world began changing in small ways.
He ate.
He slept.
He attended therapy.
Not because he suddenly wanted recovery.
Because Caprice asked him to.
That distinction mattered.
He never admitted it.
But she knew.
One morning, she walked into the study and found him attempting a transfer exercise.
He was sweating.
His arms shook.
His expression was furious.
"You'll hurt yourself."
"Leave."
"No."
"I said leave."
"And I said you're going to hurt yourself."
Diamond glared.
"Do you enjoy arguing with me?"
"Sometimes."
He stared at her.
Then, unexpectedly, laughed.
It was short.
Rough.
Almost unfamiliar.
Caprice smiled.
"There."
"What?"
"You laughed."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"Prove it."
She pointed at him.
"That."
He shook his head.
But the smile remained.
The next few weeks became strangely peaceful.
Until Gideon Costa entered the picture.
Costa had been waiting for Diamond's empire to weaken.
The paralysis had convinced him that Diamond was vulnerable.
Shipments were delayed.
Dock workers were bribed.
Territory changed hands.
Levi wanted retaliation.
Diamond refused.
"Find the leak first."
A meeting filled the study.
Capos sat around the table.
Caprice moved quietly between them, collecting glasses.
Most ignored her.
Bernardi did not.
He kept looking toward the safe.
Then the door.
Then the windows.
Caprice noticed.
Later, she returned to Diamond's study.
"Bernardi."
Diamond looked up.
"What about him?"
"He's scared."
"Everyone is scared."
"Not like him."
Diamond leaned back.
"Explain."
"He keeps checking the safe."
Diamond's eyes narrowed.
"He's been with my family for twenty years."
"He also looks at the exits."
She shrugged.
"Maybe he likes architecture."
Diamond studied her.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Tell Levi to pull the dock footage."
Two hours later, the evidence appeared.
Bernardi's car had been at the docks.
Levi stared at the screen.
Then at Caprice.
"How did you know?"
She kept cleaning.
"I clean up after people."
She glanced at him.
"You learn a lot by what people try to hide."
Bernardi disappeared soon afterward.
Caprice never asked where he went.
She didn't want to know.
She only knew that Diamond trusted her now.
And trust in Diamond's world was more valuable than money.
But Costa had already realized something.
The maid was important.
That made her dangerous.
And vulnerable.
One night, Caprice found an envelope outside her bedroom.
No name.
No return address.
Inside was a single photograph.
Her mother.
Outside the care facility.
Taken that morning.
Underneath it, three words.
WE SEE EVERYTHING.
Caprice's hands went cold.
For the first time since she entered Diamond's world, she was afraid.
Not for herself.
For her mother.
She carried the photograph downstairs.
Diamond saw her face.
"What happened?"
She handed it to him.
His expression changed instantly.
The warmth disappeared.
The king returned.
"Who gave you this?"
"I don't know."
Diamond looked toward Levi.
"Lock the estate."
Levi nodded.
"Already done."
Diamond looked at Caprice.
"You stay beside me."
She swallowed.
"Is that safe?"
"No."
He paused.
"But it's safer than anywhere else."
She stared at him.
For the first time, Diamond reached for her hand.
His fingers closed around hers.
"I won't let them touch her."
Caprice looked at their hands.
Then at him.
"I believe you."
May you like
That frightened Diamond more than the threat itself.
Because now he had something to lose.
