Chapter 3 - THE MESSAGETessa did not remember walking to the east gate.
She remembered Victor telling her to stay inside.
She remembered Paulie trying to stop her.
Then she remembered screaming.
That was all.
The black van stood beneath the old oak trees.
Its rear doors were open.
A body lay beneath a white sheet.
Tessa knew before anyone lifted it.
She knew from the shoes.
Liam had worn those shoes every Sunday for the past year.
She collapsed against the stone wall.
Victor stood several feet away.
He did not touch her.
Perhaps because he knew there was nothing anyone could say.
Paulie approached the body.
“Boss.”
Victor nodded.
The sheet was lifted.
Liam's face appeared.
Bruised.
Bloodied.
Still.
Tessa turned away.
Her knees gave out.
She would have hit the ground if Victor hadn't caught her.
His arm wrapped around her shoulders.
For a moment, she struggled.
Then she stopped.
Victor said nothing.
He simply kept her upright.
That silence was somehow worse than words.
Minutes later, the body was taken away.
Victor remained beside the van.
Paulie approached.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
Paulie held out a small metal box.
Victor frowned.
“Where did you find that?”
“Inside his jacket.”
Victor opened it.
Inside was a key.
An old brass key.
And a photograph.
Victor took the photograph.
His eyes narrowed.
It showed four men standing outside an old warehouse.
One of them was Victor's father.
The second was a younger Paulie.
The third man was unknown.
The fourth made Victor's entire body go rigid.
His uncle.
Massimo Romano.
Victor's uncle had supposedly died thirteen years ago.
Victor turned the photograph over.
Written on the back:
HE NEVER DIED.
Tessa stared at the photograph.
“Who is that?”
Victor did not answer.
Paulie did.
“Your boss's uncle.”
Tessa looked at Victor.
“You said your family was gone.”
“I said enough.”
Victor pocketed the photograph.
He looked at the key.
There was a number engraved on it.
Tessa's eyes widened.
“The clock.”
“What clock?”
“The clock in the kitchen.”
Victor turned toward her.
She swallowed.
“It stopped at 3:14 this morning.”
Victor's expression changed.
He immediately turned to Paulie.
“Check the clock.”
Paulie ran.
Thirty seconds later he returned.
“The clock is broken.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“When?”
“Unknown.”
“Open the back.”
Paulie nodded.
He disappeared.
Tessa looked at Victor.
“Why does this matter?”
“Because 3:14 is the time my father was killed.”
She went still.
Victor continued.
“And last night, at exactly 3:14, you were standing in my study.”
Tessa stared at him.
“I don't understand.”
“Neither do I.”
Paulie returned carrying a small piece of paper.
“There was this behind the clock.”
Victor unfolded it.
Five words.
BRING THE GIRL TO THE RIVER.
Tessa looked at him.
“Which girl?”
Victor did not answer.
Paulie looked at her.
“You.”
A cold silence settled between them.
Victor folded the paper.
“No.”
Paulie blinked.
“No?”
“We're not taking her anywhere.”
“Boss, the message—”
“I know what it says.”
Victor turned toward Tessa.
“You're staying here.”
She shook her head.
“You think they'll come for me?”
“Yes.”
“Then I should leave.”
“No.”
“You can't keep me locked inside this house.”
Victor stepped closer.
“I can.”
Tessa glared at him.
“You own me because of my brother's debt?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Victor's voice lowered.
“Because I think your brother died trying to protect you.”
She stared at him.
“How would you know?”
Victor reached into his pocket.
He pulled out the brass key.
“Because he left this for me.”
He placed it in her palm.
On the back of the key, tiny letters were engraved.
T.M.
Tessa's breath caught.
“My initials.”
Victor stared at her.
“Exactly.”
Before she could respond, every light in the estate went out.
Blackness swallowed the room.
Then gunfire erupted outside.
Three shots.
Then five.
Paulie drew his weapon.
Victor grabbed Tessa and pulled her behind him.
More shots exploded through the night.
Tessa heard men shouting.
Then a voice came through the darkness.
A calm male voice.
Almost amused.
“Victor.”
Victor froze.
The voice continued.
“You've been protecting the wrong woman.”
Tessa looked at Victor.
“Who is that?”
Victor's face had gone completely white.
May you like
He whispered one name.
“Massimo.”
