Chapter 2 - The Kiss on Her Hand
Rocco closed the study door.
He had worked for Lorenzo for seventeen years. He knew when to speak, when to disappear, and when a quiet room was more dangerous than a shouting one.
This room was dangerous.
“Every file on Vivien,” Lorenzo said. “Bank statements. Visitor logs. Existing wiretap records. Every camera recording we still have.”
Rocco glanced at Mia.
She was arranging paper clips in a little circle.
“Something happen?”
Lorenzo repeated the threat.
Rocco’s expression hardened.
“I can have her out in five minutes.”
“And whoever has been helping her will know we’re looking.”
“You think somebody’s helping?”
“She mentioned gates and cameras. I want to know whether she was guessing.”
A knock came.
Elena entered carrying Mia’s stuffed rabbit. Her eyes went first to her daughter, then to Lorenzo.
“Did she bother you? I’m sorry. She knows she shouldn’t—”
“Don’t.”
Elena froze.
Lorenzo softened his voice.
“Don’t apologize for her.”
Mia reached for her mother.
Elena gathered her so quickly the rabbit fell.
Lorenzo picked it up.
“I heard Vivien.”
The color left Elena’s face.
For a moment, she looked toward the door.
Not at him.
At the door.
That hurt more than he expected.
“How long?” he asked.
Elena stroked Mia’s hair.
“Please don’t make me discuss this in front of her.”
He nodded immediately.
“Of course.”
Rocco escorted them to Lorenzo’s mother’s sitting room, where a nurse was finishing the evening medication check.
Lorenzo waited until they were gone.
Then he gripped the edge of his desk until the wood creaked.
He had built his reputation on noticing weakness before anyone could use it against him.
Somehow, he had missed a terrified mother down the hall.
At seven, Vivien descended the staircase in pale green silk.
“Darling. You’re home early.”
Lorenzo took her hand and kissed it.
Her engagement ring brushed his cheek.
“I wanted dinner with you.”
“How sweet.”
She glanced toward the dining room.
“Where’s Elena? She was supposed to change the flowers.”
“I gave her the evening off.”
Vivien’s smile paused.
Only for a second.
“That woman takes advantage of your kindness.”
“Does she?”
“You wouldn’t notice. You always assume the best of people you pay.”
His phone vibrated.
A message from Rocco.
Three camera outages. Same corridor. Same manual override.
May you like
Then a second message appeared.
The override was issued under your name.
