Chapter 6 - THE UNCLE WHO WANTED ME DEAD|
Anthony left the office with the same calm smile he had worn when he arrived.
But Luca was no longer calm.
He locked the door and turned toward me.
"Did he threaten you?"
"He mentioned my father."
"That's not what I asked."
I shook my head.
"I don't know."
Luca called Dominic.
"From this moment forward, Anthony Russo is not allowed near Emma."
Dominic hesitated.
"Boss, that's your uncle."
"I know exactly who he is."
After the call, Luca sat behind his desk.
For the first time, he looked tired.
I noticed a small bottle of pain medication beside his hand.
"Are you hurting?"
"No."
"You've been holding your side for ten minutes."
He looked down.
The wound from the hospital had reopened slightly.
I approached with a first-aid kit.
"Let me check it."
He watched me.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
That seemed to surprise him.
I cleaned the wound carefully.
He remained silent.
Then he asked, "Why do you keep helping me?"
"Because you're injured."
"Even after you learned who I am?"
I secured the dressing.
"Especially after I learned how many people want you dead."
He looked at me for a long time.
Then his phone rang.
Dominic reported that two men had been following Anthony's vehicle.
They had disappeared near the old docks.
Luca immediately ordered a security sweep.
While he was occupied, I returned to my room.
A few minutes later, someone knocked.
I opened the door.
Mrs. Bennett stood outside.
"Miss Shaw, Mr. Russo wants you downstairs."
"Why?"
"He has a visitor."
I followed her.
The visitor was a woman in an elegant cream coat.
She looked around thirty, with perfectly styled blond hair and an expensive diamond bracelet.
When she saw me, her smile disappeared.
"Who is this?"
Luca stood beside the fireplace.
"Emma Shaw."
The woman laughed.
"Your nurse?"
"My nurse?"
"Well, you certainly seem to need one."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Victoria, don't start."
Victoria Sterling.
I recognized the name.
She was the daughter of a powerful business family and had been photographed with Luca at several charity events.
She looked at me again.
"How long have you been staying here?"
"Three days."
"That's interesting."
She approached Luca.
"Your uncle is concerned about your behavior. The family has a reputation to maintain."
"I don't care."
"You should. Especially with the wedding approaching."
I froze.
Luca looked at her.
"There is no wedding."
Victoria smiled coldly.
"Not yet."
Then she turned toward me.
"Enjoy your little holiday, Miss Shaw. Girls like you usually discover that expensive houses have very expensive consequences."
She left.
I looked at Luca.
"Are you engaged?"
"No."
"She seems to think otherwise."
"Victoria and I were supposed to marry years ago. The arrangement ended."
"Does she know that?"
"She does."
He moved toward the window.
"Her father and my uncle have been trying to force the arrangement ever since."
I looked at him.
"And if you refuse?"
His phone rang.
Dominic's voice came through.
"Boss, we've got a problem. Someone accessed the security cameras in Emma's room."
Luca went completely still.
"Who?"
"We're checking."
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A second later, Dominic added:
"There's another thing. The person who accessed the cameras used your personal authorization code."
