Chapter 2 - The Black EnvelopeCora woke to someone pounding on her door.
Her eyes snapped open.
For several seconds she couldn't remember where she was.
Then she remembered the alley.
The blood.
The gun.
The man.
Dante Moretti.
She sat up.
Three hard knocks came again.
"Cora?"
It was Mrs. Ellis from across the hall.
Cora exhaled.
She pulled on yesterday's jeans and opened the door.
Mrs. Ellis stood there holding a brown envelope.
"This was under your door."
"I just woke up."
"Thought maybe you'd ordered something."
Cora took it.
It was heavy.
Too heavy for a letter.
There was no name on the front.
No address.
No return label.
Just one black symbol stamped across the paper.
A crown.
Cora's stomach tightened.
"What's that?"
"Something expensive-looking," Mrs. Ellis said.
Cora thanked her and closed the door.
She locked it.
Then checked the window.
Nothing.
The envelope was sealed with black wax.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
Inside was a single white card.
One sentence.
You left your scarf behind.
Cora stared.
Her face went cold.
She had not left her scarf behind.
She had wrapped it around the wound.
Dante had taken it.
Under the card was something else.
A new silk scarf.
Black.
Beautiful.
And far more expensive than anything Cora had ever owned.
She dropped it onto the table.
There was a second note.
Keep this one dry.
Cora nearly laughed.
Then the phone on her counter rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
"You fed him."
Cora gripped the phone.
"Who is this?"
"You need to stop asking questions."
"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
A pause.
"Yet."
The line went dead.
Cora stared at the phone.
Something about the voice felt wrong.
Not Dante.
Older.
Calmer.
Someone who didn't need to threaten people loudly because he was certain they understood.
She dressed for work.
She almost didn't go.
But bills didn't care about mafia assassins.
Her manager cared even less.
By noon, Cora was carrying plates through the crowded restaurant.
She was reaching table twelve when a man stepped into her path.
Black coat.
Gray gloves.
No umbrella.
"Ms. Davis?"
She stopped.
"Yes?"
"We need to talk."
"I have tables."
He smiled.
"You won't need them much longer."
Her stomach tightened.
Two other men stood near the entrance.
Watching.
Cora set the plates down.
"Who are you?"
The man's smile disappeared.
"You were seen last night."
"Seen doing what?"
"Helping someone."
"I help injured people."
"Not him."
Cora felt a chill travel up her spine.
Before she could respond, the restaurant doors opened.
Three men entered.
Dark suits.
Earpieces.
Dante's men.
One of them walked directly toward the stranger.
"Leave."
The stranger laughed.
"I was just having a conversation."
"Conversation's over."
The man looked at Cora.
"We'll continue this later."
Then he left.
Cora watched the three men follow him.
Five minutes later, her manager dragged her into the kitchen.
"You need to leave."
"What?"
"I am not getting my business shot up because some criminal thinks you're important."
"I'm not important."
Her manager looked at her.
"Cora, there was an armed man outside asking for you."
"I didn't call him."
"I don't care."
He pulled an envelope from his pocket.
"Your final pay."
Cora stared.
"You are firing me?"
"Today."
"Why?"
"Because I'm trying to keep everyone alive."
She wanted to scream.
Instead, she took the envelope.
She walked outside.
Rain fell in a thin gray sheet.
A black SUV was waiting at the curb.
The rear window lowered.
Dante Moretti looked out.
He was pale but alive.
His split lip was stitched.
His suit was different.
His eyes found hers.
"Cora."
She stopped.
"You got me fired."
"No."
She walked closer.
"Your people scared my manager."
"I didn't know."
"You always know."
He opened the door.
"Get in."
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"Someone is hunting you."
"I didn't ask for your protection."
"You didn't ask to be shot either."
She folded her arms.
"I don't need your protection."
"Yes, you do."
"Why?"
Dante leaned forward.
"Because whoever followed me into that alley now knows you exist."
Cora's anger faded.
"Why would they care about me?"
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
"Because you touched me."
"What?"
"Anyone who helps me becomes a loose end."
Cora stared.
"Then why did you come here?"
His eyes softened for less than a second.
"Because you saved my life."
He reached into his coat.
Placed a business card in her hand.
No company name.
No address.
Just a number.
"Call it once."
"Why?"
"In case you see the man with the silver ring."
Cora frowned.
"What man?"
Dante looked past her shoulder.
His expression changed.
He wasn't looking at her anymore.
He was looking at the street.
"Cora."
She turned.
Across the road stood a man in a dark coat.
Watching them.
A silver ring gleamed on his right hand.
Then he smiled.
May you like
Dante's voice became very quiet.
"That's the man who shot me."
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