Chapter 3 - TWENTY-EIGHT DOLLARS|
Elena asked to use the house telephone.
Alessandro had offered her a secure phone, but she wanted to hear Sophie’s voice before accepting anything else. The old landline in the library felt safer than the device Ryan had taken.
Her sister answered on the fourth ring.
“Ellie? I was about to call you.”
“Are you home?”
“No. I'm at the college library. Why?”
“Stay there for now. Don't leave with anyone you don't know.”
A pause followed.
“Elena, what happened?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“You're doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“Pretending you're fine so I won't ask questions.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Sophie had been seventeen when their mother died. Since then, Elena had become her guardian in every way that mattered, sacrificing college, sleep, and nearly every dream she had once possessed.
She could survive Ryan's insults.
She could survive another unpaid bill.
What she could not survive was the thought of Sophie getting hurt because of her.
“Someone from my past found me,” Elena said carefully. “I need you to stay somewhere public until I can come get you.”
“Is it Ryan?”
Elena said nothing.
“Oh, my God. Elena, did he hurt you again?”
“I'm handling it.”
“You always say that!”
The words struck harder than Elena expected.
“I know,” she whispered. “I'm sorry.”
Sophie lowered her voice.
“I have twenty-eight dollars left in my account. I can pay the laboratory fee next week. Come get me, and we'll go to the police together.”
Elena almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Even now, Sophie was worried about a fee.
“Keep your money for school.”
“I don't care about the stupid fee.”
“I do.”
“Elena—”
“I love you. Stay where you are. I'll call you soon.”
She ended the call before her voice could break.
When she turned, Alessandro stood near the library doorway. He had not listened deliberately; the door had remained open, and he had heard enough to understand the situation.
“Your sister is in danger,” he said.
“I don't know that.”
“Neither do I. That's why we should establish the facts.”
He did not order her to give him Sophie's address. Instead, he asked whether she wanted Marco to arrange a safe pickup with the police informed.
Elena hesitated, then nodded.
“Please.”
Within minutes, Marco had contacted a local officer who had previously handled a complaint against Ryan. The officer agreed to meet Sophie at the college and escort her to a safe location.
Elena watched the arrangements unfold with a strange mixture of relief and shame.
She had always believed that accepting help meant losing control.
Alessandro seemed determined to prove otherwise.
“Dr. Reeves is available now,” he said. “You can speak with him privately. No charge, no obligation.”
“Why do you keep giving me choices?”
“Because nobody should have to earn the right to make them.”
For the first time that morning, Elena looked directly into his eyes.
There was something familiar in his expression—not softness exactly, but restraint. She had heard the rumors about Alessandro Moretti. People called him ruthless, calculating, and dangerous. She had never imagined that he might understand what it meant to live in fear.
Before she could answer, Marco entered the library.
“Sir, the man at the gate has left.”
Elena's shoulders loosened.
Then Marco added, “He left something for Miss Carter.”
He placed a padded envelope on the desk.
Inside lay a photograph of Elena and Sophie leaving their apartment building.
The picture had been taken that morning.
On the back, Ryan had written six words.
YOU CAN'T HIDE HER FROM ME.
Elena's hands began to shake.
Alessandro picked up the photograph, his expression unreadable.
“Marco, find out who took this picture.”
Marco nodded.
Then Alessandro turned to Elena.
“Tell me the whole story.”
She opened her mouth.
But before she could speak, her phone rang.
May you like
The caller ID displayed Sophie's name.
And the first sound Elena heard was a scream.
