Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WITH THE BROKEN WRIST
Paige didn't sleep.
She sat at her kitchen table with the photograph in front of her.
The apartment was small.
One bedroom.
A narrow kitchen.
A bathroom with a leaking faucet.
The kind of place where the radiator hissed in winter and the windows refused to close properly in summer.
She had lived there for four years.
It was the first place she'd ever rented without a roommate.
She had been proud of it once.
Now it felt like a box with too many windows.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Arthur.
You working tomorrow?
Paige stared.
Then typed:
Yes.
A second message appeared.
Gallow called. Said you needed time off. I told him that's your decision.
Paige blinked.
Arthur had never defended one of his employees before.
She typed:
I need the hours.
He replied:
Then come in.
She put the phone down.
Her wrist throbbed.
The swelling had worsened.
She could barely bend her fingers.
At eight the next morning, she went to an urgent care clinic.
The doctor examined her wrist and ordered imaging.
The diagnosis was a significant tendon injury with inflammation.
She needed a brace, rest, and follow-up treatment.
"No heavy lifting," the doctor said.
Paige almost laughed.
"I work in a restaurant."
The doctor looked at her.
"Then you'll need modified duties."
Paige stared.
"That's not how restaurants work."
The doctor sighed.
"I know."
He wrote a note anyway.
Paige left with a brace and a prescription.
At the pharmacy, she stared at the price.
Then at the money in her wallet.
She paid.
Rent would have to wait.
When she returned home, the black sedan was gone.
But someone had left another envelope.
This one contained a single sentence.
STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ONYX ROOM.
Paige stared.
She hadn't asked any questions.
Not until Roman Gallow had dragged her into his world.
And now someone wanted her frightened enough to disappear.
She picked up her phone.
For the first time, she called the number Luca had given her before she left the estate.
He answered immediately.
"Paige?"
She swallowed.
"I need to speak to Roman."
A pause.
"Is something wrong?"
May you like
She looked at the envelope.
"Someone's watching me."
