Chapter 4 - The Man Who Came for the Letter|
Antonio Moretti was sixty-two years old.
He wore an expensive gray suit and carried a polished black cane.
His silver hair was perfectly combed.
His shoes looked as though they'd never touched an ordinary sidewalk.
But it was his smile that frightened me.
Because his eyes didn't smile with it.
"Good evening, Sophia," he said.
Sophia immediately moved closer to me.
"Uncle Antonio?"
He stepped into the room.
"I heard there was some unpleasantness downstairs."
His gaze moved toward the wooden jewelry box.
"And I thought perhaps you might need some help."
I stood.
"Mr. Moretti, Sophia is getting ready for bed."
He looked at me.
"And you are?"
"Megan Collins, sir."
"Ah. The housemaid."
He smiled.
"I've heard about you."
Something cold settled in my stomach.
"Really?"
"Apparently, you've become rather involved in family affairs."
I said nothing.
Antonio approached the bed.
"Come here, sweetheart."
Sophia didn't move.
His smile tightened.
"Don't be rude."
I stepped between them.
"Miss Sophia has had a difficult evening."
Antonio stared at me.
For a moment, his pleasant expression disappeared.
Then he laughed softly.
"How protective."
He looked toward the jewelry box again.
"What's that?"
Sophia closed the lid.
"Nothing."
Antonio held out his hand.
"Let me see."
She shook her head.
"It's mine."
"Sophia."
His voice sharpened.
I felt her fingers curl around the back of my dress.
"Sir," I said, "Mr. Moretti asked that Sophia stay with Mrs. Carter and me."
Antonio tilted his head.
"My nephew has always been emotional where his daughter is concerned."
He moved closer.
"I am family, Miss Collins."
"Yes, sir."
"And you are an employee."
I swallowed.
"Yes, sir."
"Then I suggest you remember the difference."
He reached for the jewelry box.
Sophia cried out.
"Don't!"
I instinctively caught his wrist.
The room went silent.
Antonio looked down at my hand.
Then slowly raised his eyes.
"Take your hand off me."
I did.
"I'm sorry."
He stared at me for another moment.
Then he smiled again.
"An understandable mistake."
He turned toward Sophia.
"Give me the box, darling."
"No."
Antonio's expression hardened.
Before he could speak again, a voice sounded from the doorway.
"She said no."
Luca stood there.
He had removed his suit jacket.
His black shirt sleeves were rolled to his elbows, revealing the intricate tattoos covering his forearms.
I'd never seen him look so dangerous.
Antonio turned.
"Luca."
"What are you doing in my daughter's bedroom?"
"Making sure she's all right."
"By demanding her jewelry box?"
Antonio laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Luca entered the room.
"Get away from her."
The older man's face changed.
"Careful, nephew."
Luca stopped directly in front of him.
"You're in my house."
Antonio straightened.
"And I helped build everything you own."
Luca didn't blink.
"That doesn't give you permission to frighten my daughter."
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then Antonio looked toward me.
"Your maid is filling the child's head with nonsense."
"Funny," Luca said. "Vanessa said something similar."
Antonio's smile vanished.
Luca noticed.
He moved slightly closer.
"Did Vanessa call you?"
Antonio shrugged.
"She was upset."
"Upset enough to tell you about Caroline?"
The room became deathly silent.
Antonio's hand tightened around his cane.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Luca glanced toward Sophia.
"Sweetheart, would you take the box downstairs with Megan?"
Sophia nodded.
I collected the jewelry box.
As I passed Luca, he quietly said, "Don't let it out of your sight."
I nodded.
We had almost reached the door when Antonio spoke.
"That letter belongs to the family."
Luca turned.
"What letter?"
Antonio froze.
He had made the same mistake Vanessa had made downstairs.
He knew something he shouldn't.
Luca took one step toward him.
"How do you know there's a letter?"
Antonio said nothing.
Sophia began trembling.
I gently guided her into the hallway.
Behind us, Luca's voice became dangerously calm.
"You're going to tell me everything, Uncle."
Antonio laughed once.
"You have no idea what you're getting into."
"Then educate me."
There was a long pause.
Then Antonio said something that made my blood run cold.
"Caroline should have burned that letter when she had the chance."
I hurried Sophia down the stairs.
Mrs. Carter was waiting near the library.
Her face went pale when she saw the box.
"Oh, dear God."
I stopped.
"Mrs. Carter?"
She stared at the envelope in Sophia's hand.
"Where did you find that?"
"In Mommy's room," Sophia whispered.
Mrs. Carter looked toward the staircase.
Then lowered her voice.
"Listen carefully. Both of you."
Her hands were shaking.
"Do not give that letter to Antonio."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
Mrs. Carter looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"Because three years ago, Caroline gave me an identical envelope."
My heart hammered.
"What was inside?"
Mrs. Carter's voice broke.
"Proof that the accident wasn't an accident."
She reached into the pocket of her cardigan.
And pulled out a tiny brass key.
"She told me that if anything happened to her, I was to give this to someone who would protect Sophia."
I stared at the key.
Mrs. Carter pressed it into my palm.
"Caroline didn't trust anyone in that family except Luca."
"Then why didn't she give it to him?"
May you like
Mrs. Carter began crying.
"Because she was afraid he'd kill the wrong man."
