Chapter 4 - SOMEONE TRIED TO KILL HER AGAIN
The man refused to give his name.
Security found fake identification in his pocket.
No wallet.
No personal phone.
Only the syringe.
Damian ordered everyone out of the library except his security chief, Marcus.
“What’s in it?”
“We don’t know yet,” Marcus said. “But the needle was uncapped.”
“He came for her.”
“Looks that way.”
Damian turned toward the doorway.
Anna stood there holding Oliver.
“You were supposed to stay upstairs.”
“I heard shouting.”
Damian looked at the sleeping child.
His voice sharpened.
“You cannot walk toward danger while holding my son.”
Anna’s eyes flashed.
“You think I know the rules of being hunted?”
The words stopped him.
Marcus stepped between the tension.
“We need a safe room.”
Damian nodded.
“The old west suite.”
Celeste appeared at the end of the hall.
“What happened?”
Damian watched her carefully.
“Someone got inside.”
Her eyes darted toward Anna.
“Is she hurt?”
Interesting question.
Not Are you hurt?
Not Is Oliver safe?
Is she hurt?
“No,” Damian said.
Celeste exhaled.
Relief or disappointment?
He couldn’t tell.
Damian handed Celeste’s phone to Marcus.
“Trace the number that texted her.”
Celeste stiffened.
“You can’t just take my phone.”
“I already did.”
“This is humiliating.”
“My dead wife just walked into my ballroom and somebody tried to stick a needle in her neck. Your embarrassment isn’t high on my list.”
Anna flinched at the words my dead wife.
Damian noticed.
So did Celeste.
Later that night, Anna sat alone in the west suite.
Oliver had finally been carried to his room.
Damian stood outside the door.
He should have left.
Instead he knocked.
Anna opened it halfway.
“What?”
“You remembered the song.”
“I told you, I don’t know why.”
“You remembered my name.”
“I heard it.”
“You knew how Oliver likes his hair rubbed when he’s tired.”
Her face tightened.
“You’re watching everything I do.”
“Yes.”
“That must be exhausting.”
“I buried you.”
Silence.
Her anger disappeared.
Damian swallowed.
“I buried an empty box because there was nothing left to bury.”
Anna looked away.
“I’m sorry.”
“If you’re Eliza, don’t apologize.”
“What if I’m not?”
“Then explain the necklace.”
“I can’t.”
“Explain Oliver.”
“I can’t.”
“Explain why someone just broke into my house to drug you.”
Her eyes filled.
“I can’t!”
The room went quiet.
She pressed both hands to her head.
“I wake up with nightmares. Fire. Rain. Someone pulling me by the hair. A woman’s voice. A smell like gasoline.”
Damian stepped closer.
“What woman?”
“I never see her face.”
“What does she say?”
Anna’s breathing became shallow.
“She says…”
“What?”
Anna stared at him.
“She says, ‘He’ll choose me after you’re gone.’”
Damian felt the blood leave his face.
May you like
Because two years ago, the night Eliza disappeared, she and Celeste had been alone together in the mansion for almost twenty minutes.
And Celeste had always claimed they never spoke.
