Chapter 6 - THE WARNING

Adeline stared at the picture on her phone.

Her little brother.

Wes.

Walking out of school.

Smiling.

Completely unaware that someone had been watching him.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

For the first time since entering the Alfieri house, she felt something stronger than fear.

Anger.

Someone had crossed a line.

They could threaten her.

They could threaten her job.

They could threaten her reputation.

But Wes was different.

He was the only family she had left.

And nobody was going to use him as a weapon.

“What happened?”

Nico’s voice came from behind her.

Adeline quickly locked her phone.

“Nothing.”

Nico looked at her carefully.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

She turned around.

“I’m fine.”

“No.”

His voice was firm.

“You’re not.”

Adeline looked away.

She had spent weeks taking care of him.

Helping him.

Protecting him.

But now he was looking at her like he wanted to protect her.

And that felt dangerous.

“You should focus on yourself.”

Nico gave a humorless laugh.

“That’s what everyone says when they want me to stop asking questions.”

She looked at him.

“You noticed.”

“I notice everything.”

A pause.

“Especially when people are scared.”

Adeline said nothing.

Nico moved his wheelchair closer.

“Who threatened you?”

She froze.

“I didn’t say anyone threatened me.”

“You didn’t have to.”

His eyes dropped to her hand.

She was still holding the phone tightly.

“Show me.”

“No.”

“Adeline.”

“No.”

For the first time, her voice became emotional.

“This is my problem.”

Nico stared at her.

Then quietly said:

“That is exactly what people say before they get destroyed.”

The words hit harder than she expected.

Because he was right.

She had spent her entire life carrying everything alone.

Her mother died when she was young.

Her father disappeared.

She raised Wes while working double shifts.

Being strong had become her only choice.

But Nico understood something.

Strong people could still break.

Finally, she showed him the picture.

The moment he saw it, his expression changed.

Not anger.

Something colder.

Recognition.

“Where did you get this?”

“Unknown number.”

“Who sent it?”

“I don’t know.”

Nico looked toward the window.

Then he whispered:

“I do.”

Adeline frowned.

“You know?”

His jaw tightened.

“Someone who knows this house.”

“Who?”

Nico didn’t answer.

Because saying the name out loud made it real.

Finally, he looked back at her.

“My security chief.”

Adeline’s eyes widened.

“Your security chief?”

“Marcus Vale.”

“Why would he threaten you?”

Nico looked down.

“Because he’s one of the few people who knows exactly how vulnerable I became after the accident.”

Before Adeline could respond, the lights suddenly went out.

The entire mansion fell into darkness.

Then came a sound.

A door opening upstairs.

Nico looked toward the hallway.

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Someone was moving through the house.

And they were not trying to hide.