Chapter 2 - THE MAN INSIDE THE WEST WING
I spent the rest of breakfast trying not to look toward the west wing.
Cedric noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He noticed everything.
The way I held my coffee.
The way my fingers tightened around the cup.
The way I glanced at the doorway every time footsteps sounded in the hall.
Finally, he set down his newspaper.
"Ask."
I looked up.
"What?"
"The question you're trying not to ask."
I swallowed.
"Who lives in the west wing?"
He studied me.
"Several people."
"One of them tried to kill you?"
His expression didn't change.
"Possibly."
I stared.
"Possibly?"
He leaned back.
"There's a difference between suspicion and proof, Analisa."
I folded my arms.
"And you're comfortable sleeping in the same house as someone you suspect tried to murder you?"
His mouth curved faintly.
"Comfortable? No."
"Then why?"
"Because sometimes the safest place for a dangerous man is somewhere you can watch him."
I stared.
"That's insane."
"Perhaps."
He turned his wheelchair toward the doorway.
"Welcome to the Spedaro family."
The west wing was separated from the rest of the mansion by a long corridor lined with oil paintings.
I discovered that while exploring later that morning.
I wasn't trying to break Cedric's rules.
Not exactly.
I was trying to understand the house.
There was a difference.
At least, that was what I told myself.
Halfway down the corridor, I heard voices.
A man's voice.
Low.
Angry.
"You promised this would be finished."
Another voice answered.
"I told you it would take time."
I stopped.
The first man spoke again.
"He's asking questions."
My heart began pounding.
"Then give him answers."
A pause.
"Not those answers."
I stepped backward.
My shoe caught the edge of a rug.
The floorboard creaked.
Silence.
Then:
"Who's there?"
I turned.
And nearly collided with a tall man in a dark suit.
He had Cedric's eyes.
The same cold gray.
But his smile was entirely different.
"Well," he said softly. "You must be the bride."
I swallowed.
"Analisa."
He took my hand.
"Rafael Spedaro."
Cedric's younger brother.
May you like
His smile widened.
"Welcome to the family."
