Chapter 4 - THE SECRET ROOM
The basement beneath the Romano estate was colder than I expected.
The walls were concrete.
The lights flickered.
And every step echoed like the house itself was warning us to turn back.
Alessio walked first.
Dominic followed behind him.
I stayed close because I needed answers.
Because someone had entered that nursery.
Someone had watched Leo.
Someone had planned this.
The security officer stood beside a hidden door.
Alessio looked at him.
“How long has this been here?”
The officer looked terrified.
“We don’t know.”
That answer made Alessio angry.
“You don’t know?”
The man lowered his head.
“The room was hidden behind the old storage wall.”
Alessio opened the door.
And everyone stopped.
Inside was not money.
Not weapons.
Not anything related to his business.
It was worse.
A wall covered with photographs.
Photos of Leo.
Photos of the nursery.
Photos of me.
My stomach turned.
Someone had been watching us.
Studying us.
Planning.
Alessio stepped closer.
His face became unreadable.
Then he saw something that changed him.
A photograph of Leo sleeping.
And beside it…
a note.
He picked it up.
His hand tightened.
“What does it say?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
Dominic took the paper carefully.
His expression changed.
“Boss…”
“Read it.”
Dominic hesitated.
Then:
“Your bloodline ends where your trust begins.”
Nobody moved.
Alessio stared at the wall.
For the first time, he looked less like a powerful man.
And more like someone who had just realized his biggest enemy was standing inside his own home.
Then I noticed something.
A small object on the desk.
A blue bead.
Another one.
My blood went cold.
“Alessio.”
He looked at me.
“That’s not from the pacifier.”
He walked toward it.
I stopped him.
“Don’t touch it.”
He froze.
“Why?”
“Because whoever left this wanted you to find it.”
The lights suddenly shut off.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Then a sound came from the hallway.
May you like
Footsteps.
Someone was running.
