Chapter 9 – THE GHOST AT THE DOOR

I opened the door slowly.

Standing on the porch was a woman in her late thirties. She had striking dark hair, sharp features, and eyes that looked exactly like Daniel’s.

“Can I help you?” I asked, my voice tight.

“I hope so,” the woman said, offering a sad, knowing smile. “My name is Sarah. I’m Daniel’s older sister.”

I froze. “Daniel didn’t have a sister. He grew up in the foster system with Gabriel.”

“He grew up in the system because my parents hid me,” Sarah said quietly. “May I come in?”

Gabriel walked into the hallway, wiping his hands on a towel. He stopped dead when he saw her.

“Sarah?” Gabriel breathed, shock painting his face. “You’re supposed to be in Italy.”

“Italy was getting too dangerous, Gabe,” Sarah said, stepping inside. She looked around the bright, happy home. “You’ve built a nice life here. I’m sorry to bring the dark back to your doorstep.”

We sat in the living room. Lily was in the backyard, playing safely out of earshot.

“Daniel never mentioned you to me,” I said, gripping my coffee mug so hard my knuckles turned white.

“He was protecting you,” Sarah said. She reached into her purse and pulled out a heavy, intricately carved silver bracelet. She set it on the coffee table.

Gabriel stared at the bracelet, his jaw tightening. “Where did you get that?”

“It’s the Rossi family marker,” Sarah said, looking at me. “The biggest mafia syndicate in New York.”

“I know what it is,” Gabriel snapped. “Why do you have it?”

Sarah took a deep breath. “Because ten years ago, I married into the Rossi family. I thought I loved him. But when things turned violent, I tried to run. They hunted me. Daniel found out, and he spent the last three years of his life secretly funneling money and resources to keep me hidden.”

My mind spun. “The money Vanessa thought he was stealing… The secrets he kept from Gabriel…”

“He was hiding me,” Sarah said, tears filling her eyes. “He couldn’t tell Gabriel, because if Gabriel knew, the Moretti family would have gone to war with the Rossi family to protect me. Thousands would have died.”

Gabriel sat heavily in his armchair, running a hand through his hair. “Daniel died carrying that secret. He let us all believe he was a traitor, just to keep you safe.”

“And now,” Sarah whispered, “the Rossi family has found me. They know I’m in Chicago. And they know I came to you.”

Before Gabriel could respond, the sound of breaking glass echoed from the kitchen.

We jumped up and ran to the back of the house.

The glass patio door was shattered.

And Lily was gone.

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