Chapter 2 - The Woman Behind the Door|
The handle turned again, slowly enough to make my skin crawl.
Massimo Romano moved before I could even scream.
One second, he stood beside the marble bar holding a glass of water, and the next, he was pulling me behind him with one powerful arm.
"Stay quiet," he whispered.
His gun was already in his hand.
I stared at the bedroom door, my heart pounding so hard I could barely hear anything else.
Someone was standing on the other side.
Someone who clearly didn't want to announce themselves.
Massimo approached the door without making a sound.
Then he suddenly yanked it open.
A woman in a gray housekeeping uniform stumbled forward.
I recognized her immediately.
"Elena!"
The housekeeper froze when she saw Massimo's gun.
Her face turned completely white.
"Mr. Romano, I was just checking whether you needed fresh towels."
Massimo didn't move.
"At twelve thirty in the morning?"
Elena swallowed.
"I was told to check the upstairs rooms."
"By whom?"
She glanced at me.
It was such a quick movement that I might have missed it if I hadn't already been terrified.
"Mrs. Romano," she answered.
Massimo's expression darkened.
"My mother hasn't requested fresh towels from the staff in twenty years."
Silence filled the room.
Elena began twisting her fingers together.
"Please, sir, I don't want any trouble."
"Then tell me the truth."
She looked toward the hallway.
For one strange moment, I thought she might run.
Instead, she whispered something that changed the entire atmosphere.
"They said the girl had to be found in your room."
My stomach dropped.
"What girl?"
Elena looked directly at me.
"You."
I felt the floor shift beneath my feet.
"Who told you that?"
Before she could answer, a man's voice sounded from the hallway.
"Is there a problem here?"
A tall, silver-haired man appeared behind Elena.
He wore an expensive charcoal suit and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
Massimo's jaw tightened.
"Uncle Vittorio."
Vittorio Romano smiled.
It wasn't a friendly smile.
"I heard voices."
"Then you heard enough to know this is a private conversation."
Vittorio's eyes traveled over my stained dress.
"Ah, the florist."
Something about the way he said those words made me feel smaller than I had all night.
"She's leaving," Vittorio announced.
Massimo didn't even look at him.
"No."
Vittorio's smile disappeared.
"Your engagement announcement is tomorrow, Massimo."
"I know."
"Adriana's father has already arrived in Chicago."
"Then he can enjoy the city."
The older man's expression hardened.
"You cannot embarrass the Vitali family."
Massimo stepped closer.
"Watch me."
I looked between them, completely bewildered.
"I don't know what family argument I've walked into, but I want to go home."
Vittorio immediately nodded.
"A sensible girl."
He reached into his jacket and produced a thick envelope.
"Miss Miller, I believe this will compensate you for tonight's inconvenience."
I stared at it.
"What is that?"
"Twenty thousand dollars."
My breath caught.
Twenty thousand dollars would cover my overdue business rent, repair my delivery van, and pay my employees.
For one terrible second, I imagined accepting it.
Then Vittorio continued.
"In exchange, you'll sign a statement explaining that you entered Mr. Romano's bedroom without permission and misunderstood his intentions."
I slowly looked up.
"Misunderstood his intentions?"
"Exactly."
"But I didn't misunderstand anything."
Vittorio's eyes narrowed.
"You're a businesswoman, Miss Miller."
"And?"
"Businesswomen should understand the value of cooperation."
Massimo's voice cut through the room.
"Put the envelope away."
Vittorio ignored him.
"Your flower shop on West Madison Street has been struggling, hasn't it?"
Cold fear spread through my chest.
"How do you know about my shop?"
"I make it my business to know things."
Massimo stepped between us.
"That's enough."
Vittorio's expression turned ugly.
"You're risking everything for a woman you met three days ago."
"No," Massimo replied.
"I'm protecting someone who was deliberately sent into my bedroom."
Elena suddenly began crying.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Romano."
Every eye turned toward her.
"I didn't know what they were planning."
Massimo lowered his voice.
"Who gave you the instructions?"
Elena shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
Her lips trembled.
"Because they have my son."
The room went completely silent.
Even Vittorio stopped moving.
Elena pressed both hands over her mouth.
"He's only nineteen."
Massimo's face changed.
The anger remained, but something colder replaced it.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Who took him?"
She started shaking uncontrollably.
Then she looked at Vittorio.
The older man took one step backward.
And suddenly, everything made horrifying sense.
Massimo turned toward his uncle.
"You used her child?"
Vittorio's face hardened.
"Be careful what you accuse me of."
Massimo reached for his phone.
"Marco, get security upstairs."
Vittorio laughed bitterly.
"You think your guards answer only to you?"
That was when the lights went out.
Every chandelier, every bedside lamp, and every hallway fixture disappeared into darkness.
I screamed.
A sharp crash came from somewhere downstairs.
Massimo grabbed my wrist.
"Stay behind me."
Then a deafening gunshot exploded through the hallway.
Elena cried out.
Something heavy struck the bedroom door.
Massimo pulled me toward the marble bathroom and locked us inside.
My hands were trembling so violently that I could barely stand.
"What's happening?"
He pressed a finger to his lips.
Outside, footsteps approached.
Then a familiar voice spoke through the darkness.
"Massimo, open the door."
It was his uncle.
May you like
But the next words made my blood turn to ice.
"Give us the florist, and nobody else has to die."
