Chapter 1 – THE MUSIC BOX IN THE SHADOWS

Matteo’s hand shot out.

He gently caught his daughter’s trembling fingers before she could form the next sign.

Isla looked up at him, her chest heaving with silent sobs.

“Nico,” Matteo said, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “You have exactly ten seconds to tell me why I shouldn’t let my daughter tell me who terrified her mother.”

Nico stood at the end of the long banquet table, his face pale.

Eighty guests held their breath.

“Because the video explains the why, Matteo,” Nico said, his voice cracking. “If she signs that name right now, in front of this room, the person who did this will know we have proof. They’ll run. Or worse, they’ll retaliate before we can secure the documents.”

Matteo’s eyes darted around the dining room.

His gaze dragged over Richard Vale, who was sweating through his expensive suit.

Over Meredith, who was quietly weeping into her hands.

And finally, over Daniel Mercer, his trusted attorney, who was staring at Nico with an unreadable, icy expression.

Matteo slowly turned back to his daughter.

He released her hands and signed carefully.

Baby, where is the music box?

Isla wiped her eyes.

In my bedroom. Under the loose floorboard beneath the window.

Matteo stood. He didn’t look at Meredith. He didn’t look at Richard.

He looked at me.

“Hannah.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Take Nico. Go upstairs to my daughter’s room. Retrieve the music box.”

I nodded, my heart pounding in my throat. “Right away.”

“Matteo, this is absurd,” Daniel Mercer suddenly interrupted, stepping forward. He adjusted his glasses, his voice smooth and commanding. “You’re halting your own engagement dinner based on a child’s imagination and a brother who has always resented your success. Let’s calm down and handle this privately.”

Matteo didn’t blink.

“Nobody leaves this room,” Matteo commanded.

Four men in dark suits—Matteo’s private security—stepped out of the shadows and blocked the mahogany dining room doors.

Daniel stopped moving. His jaw clenched.

I grabbed Nico’s sleeve, and together, we hurried out the side service door.

We sprinted up the grand spiral staircase. The mansion was eerily quiet away from the dining room. My hands were shaking so hard I could barely grip the banister.

“Nico,” I breathed as we reached the second floor. “Who is it? Who is on the video?”

Nico wouldn’t look at me. “Just get the box, Hannah. Pray it’s still there.”

We burst into Isla’s bedroom.

It smelled like vanilla and lavender. Her stuffed animals were perfectly lined up on the bed.

I dropped to my knees by the window and ran my fingers over the hardwood floor. I found the loose plank Isla had shown me weeks ago when we were playing hide and seek.

I dug my nails into the edge and pulled.

The board popped up.

I reached inside the dark, dusty space.

My hand touched nothing.

“Nico,” I whispered, panic rising in my chest.

I ripped the board entirely off and stared into the hollow space.

“It’s gone.”

Nico cursed, dropping to his knees beside me. He shoved his hand into the space, feeling around frantically.

“Someone took it,” I said, my voice shaking. “Meredith must have found it when she brought that man up here.”

“No,” Nico whispered.

He pulled his hand out of the hidden compartment.

He wasn’t holding the wooden music box.

He was holding a heavy, tarnished silver rosary.

I frowned. “What is that?”

Nico stared at the beads, all the color draining from his face. His breathing turned ragged.

“Nico, whose is that?”

“It belongs to the man who brought the fake papers to Isla’s room,” Nico choked out. “The man Olivia was terrified of.”

“Who?”

Nico looked at me, his eyes wide with absolute horror.

“He’s already in the house, Hannah.”

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