Chapter 2 - THE RIDE INTO THE DARK
The rain felt like ice against Evelyn’s skin. She stood frozen on the pavement outside the Grand Aurelia, the heavy glass doors of the restaurant closing behind her. The word Sofia had mouthed—cellar—rang in her mind with the force of a physical blow. Three years ago, her seven-year-old sister, Lily, had waited by the staff entrance for Evelyn to finish her shift. It had been raining that night, too. Lily had been sitting on a milk crate, swinging her legs, holding a blue ribbon she had won at school. Evelyn had gone to fetch her coat. When she returned, the crate was empty. The only clue the police had found was a scuff mark near the heavy iron doors leading down to the restaurant’s wine cellar. And the last man to walk out of that cellar had been a lieutenant in the Belandi syndicate. Now, Adrien Belandi was watching her. He stood beside the open door of a sleek black SUV. The streetlights caught the sharp angles of his face, illuminating the absolute focus in his dark eyes. He had seen Sofia touch Evelyn's wrist. He had seen the blood drain from Evelyn's face. “Get in,” Adrien commanded. It wasn't a request. Evelyn looked at the imposing vehicle, then at the men in dark coats standing like statues in the rain. Her mother’s voice echoed in her head: Never get into a car with a man who makes the rules. But Sofia was sitting in the back seat, her small face pressed against the tinted glass. Her gray eyes were wide, terrified, and undeniably pleading. Evelyn stepped forward and climbed inside. The interior of the SUV smelled of expensive leather and rain. The doors shut with a heavy, soundproof thud, instantly cutting off the noise of the city. Adrien sat in the front passenger seat, turned slightly so he could watch the back. The three children sat in a row behind him. Evelyn was guided to the third row of seats by a silent bodyguard who climbed in beside her. The vehicle surged forward into the slick, wet streets. For ten minutes, nobody spoke. The silence was suffocating. Evelyn stared at the back of Adrien’s head, her heart hammering against her ribs. She needed to ask him about the cellar. She needed to scream, to demand answers about Lily. But the presence of the children held her tongue. Sofia sat wedged between her brothers. Luca was holding her left hand. Nico was holding her right. They were protecting her. “What did she say to you on the sidewalk?” Adrien asked. His voice cut through the quiet like a blade. Evelyn looked up. Adrien was watching her in the rearview mirror. “She didn’t say anything out loud,” Evelyn replied, keeping her voice as steady as possible. “I saw her lips move. I saw you pale. Tell me.” “I can’t.” The SUV swerved slightly as the driver reacted to the tension in the car. Adrien turned fully in his seat, his eyes locking onto Evelyn’s. “Miss Hart,” he said softly. “My daughter has not communicated with another human being in two years. She screamed when my late wife died, and she has not made a sound since. Tonight, she spoke to you. She reached for you. I am not a patient man, but I am a desperate father. Tell me what she said.” Evelyn looked at Sofia. The little girl was trembling. “She told me a location,” Evelyn whispered. Adrien frowned. “Where?” “The cellar of the Grand Aurelia.” Adrien’s expression didn't change, but the air in the vehicle seemed to freeze. “Why would she mention the cellar?” he asked. “I don't know, Mr. Belandi. But three years ago, my little sister disappeared from the service corridor leading to those exact stairs. The police closed the case. They said she ran away. But seven-year-old girls don't run away into the rain without their shoes.” Adrien stared at her. “Are you accusing me of something, Miss Hart?” “I’m accusing the men who work for you.” The bodyguard sitting next to Evelyn shifted, his hand moving subtly toward his jacket. Adrien raised a single finger. The bodyguard froze. “I did not own the Grand Aurelia three years ago,” Adrien stated, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “I bought it eighteen months ago from a rival family. My men have never operated out of that cellar.” Evelyn’s breath caught. He didn't own it? The foundation of her suspicion cracked. If Adrien hadn't owned the restaurant when Lily vanished, why did his daughter know about the cellar? “Then why did Sofia say it?” Evelyn demanded, leaning forward. Adrien looked at his daughter. “Sofia. Did you go into the cellar at the restaurant?” The little girl violently shook her head. She reached into the pocket of her navy blue dress. Her small hand trembled as she pulled something out and held it over the seat toward Evelyn. Evelyn reached out and took it. It was a piece of fabric. Faded, frayed, and stained with age. Evelyn stared at it, her lungs suddenly refusing to draw air. It was a blue ribbon. Lily’s blue ribbon. The one she had won at school the day she disappeared. “Where did you get this?” Evelyn choked out, tears instantly blinding her. Sofia stared at her. Then, slowly, the little girl pointed a shaking finger directly at the front seat. But she wasn't pointing at her father. She was pointing at the driver. The driver’s eyes widened in the rearview mirror. Before Adrien could react, the man slammed his foot on the brakes.
