Chapter 7 - THE FIRST SECRET|
Roman found the west entrance open and one of his guards unconscious beside the security panel.
Two more men were searching the grounds.
No intruder remained.
Whoever had entered the estate had known the security system well enough to avoid the cameras, bypass the alarms, and leave without being seen.
Roman crouched beside the injured guard.
“Can you speak?”
The man groaned.
“What happened?”
“Someone came through the service passage.”
“How many?”
“Two, maybe three.”
“Did they take anything?”
The guard shook his head.
Roman looked toward the staircase.
Norah's room was on the second floor, directly above the service passage.
The intruders had not come for money.
They had come for her.
He stood.
“Double the security. Nobody enters or leaves without my approval.”
Marcus nodded.
“And find out who accessed the service passage.”
Roman returned upstairs.
Norah opened her door before he knocked.
“What happened?”
“Someone entered the house.”
“Were they looking for me?”
“I don't know.”
She looked at him with an expression he had begun to recognize: the desperate need to believe she was not powerless.
“I found a letter from my father.”
Roman went still.
Norah studied his face.
“I was going to tell you.”
“Then tell me now.”
She handed him the letter.
Roman read it slowly.
When he reached Victor's name, his expression became unreadable.
When he reached the reference to the blue ledger, he stopped.
“Your father worked for my organization?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“Perhaps because someone wanted you to believe he was a criminal.”
Roman read the final lines again.
“Where is your mother's wedding dress?”
“My aunt kept it after my parents died. She lives in Queens.”
“Then we'll go there.”
Norah stepped back.
“We?”
“You're not going alone.”
“I didn't ask you to come.”
“I know.”
The answer surprised her.
Roman continued.
“But I won't let Victor's people reach you before we understand what your father discovered.”
Norah looked at the letter in his hand.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes.”
The word came without hesitation.
For the first time in two years, Norah felt something loosen inside her chest.
They left the estate before dawn in an unmarked sedan, accompanied by Marcus and one trusted driver.
Norah's aunt lived in a modest brick house on a quiet street. She opened the door wearing a faded cardigan, and her expression changed when she saw Roman.
“Mr. Costa.”
Roman inclined his head.
“Mrs. Bennett.”
She looked at Norah.
“What's happened?”
Norah explained the letter.
Her aunt closed her eyes.
“I knew your father was afraid,” she whispered. “I begged him to leave the city.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he asked me to protect you.”
“By letting me believe he died because of gambling debt?”
Her aunt began to cry.
“I thought if you stayed away from the truth, you'd stay alive.”
Norah's anger softened, but it did not disappear.
“Where's the dress?”
Her aunt led them upstairs.
The wedding dress was stored in a garment bag inside an old cedar wardrobe. Norah carefully unzipped the bag and searched the lining.
Nothing.
She checked the pockets.
Still nothing.
Then Roman noticed a small wooden box hidden beneath the wardrobe.
Inside lay a blue ledger, several bank statements, and a flash drive.
Norah reached for the ledger.
Roman stopped her gently.
“Wait.”
He examined the cover.
A symbol had been drawn in the corner: a small circle crossed by two lines.
His face went pale.
Norah looked at him.
“What is it?”
Roman stared at the mark.
“I've seen it before.”
“Where?”
He swallowed.
“In my father's private files.”
Norah's voice dropped.
“What does it mean?”
May you like
Roman closed the box.
“It means your father may have discovered something my own family has been hiding for twenty years.”
