Chapter 4 - THE SILVER KEY
"Clear the room," Luca ordered his men.
Within seconds, the thirty wealthy guests were ushered out the front doors, their whispered gossip fading into the cold Chicago night. The grand dining room was empty, save for Luca, Mrs. Caruso, little Leo, and myself.
"Emma, take Leo upstairs to his room," Luca commanded, his eyes fixed on the silver key in his palm.
"No!" Vanessa screamed, struggling against the two massive security guards holding her arms. She glared at me, her face twisted in desperate malice. "You think you’re so innocent, playing the loyal maid? You think you’re safe? My family owns Mercy Hospital, Emma! Your father is in the stroke ward on the fourth floor. If Luca takes me to that restaurant, I swear to God, your father’s life support gets unplugged tonight!"
My blood turned to ice. My knees weakened, and I grabbed the edge of the dining table to keep from collapsing. She knew. She had looked into my background.
Luca stepped directly in front of Vanessa.
"If a single nurse even looks at her father the wrong way," Luca whispered, "I will dismantle your entire bloodline. Lock her in the wine cellar. Take her phone."
As the guards dragged a screaming Vanessa away, Luca turned to me. The dangerous mob boss softened into a man who understood family loyalty.
"Your father is safe, Emma. I will have my personal doctors moved to his room immediately," Luca said.
"Thank you, sir," I choked out, tears stinging my eyes.
"Don't thank me yet," Luca said. "I need you to come with us to the restaurant."
"Me?" I asked, startled. "I’m just a housekeeper."
"You’re the only person in this room tonight who couldn't be bought," Luca replied. He looked down at Leo, gently handing the boy to his head of security, Marco. "Keep him safe, Marco. Trust no one."
Marco nodded, taking the boy's hand. But as Marco reached down, his suit jacket shifted.
My eyes locked onto his wrist.
Marco was wearing a heavy, braided leather bracelet. It was distinct, fastened with a silver wolf’s head clasp.
I had seen that bracelet an hour ago.
When I was cleaning Vanessa’s bathroom before the party, I found a discarded Polaroid photo in her trash can. It showed Vanessa kissing a man whose face was out of frame, but his hand was resting on her waist.
The hand in the photo wore that exact same silver wolf bracelet.
Marco wasn't protecting Luca. He was sleeping with Vanessa.
"Mr. Moretti, wait!" I shouted, stepping between Marco and Leo.
May you like
Marco’s eyes widened. Before I could explain, Marco shoved me hard against the wall, pulled a suppressed pistol from his shoulder holster, and aimed it directly at Luca’s chest.
"Drop the key, Boss," Marco ordered.
