Chapter 9 - THE FIRE IN THE EAST WING
The fire began at 2:40 in the morning.
I was not at the estate.
But Maria was.
She called me from the parking lot while firefighters worked to contain the flames.
“Emily.”
Her voice trembled.
“Someone set fire to the east wing.”
I sat upright.
“Is everyone okay?”
“Two employees were treated for smoke inhalation. Everyone else got out.”
“Where's Nicholas?”
“He's here.”
I heard shouting in the background.
Then Maria lowered her voice.
“They think it was intentional.”
I closed my eyes.
The east wing housed administrative offices.
Payroll records.
Contracts.
Security equipment.
And the files investigators had been reviewing.
Someone had tried to destroy evidence.
By morning, fire investigators confirmed signs of deliberate ignition.
The estate's security system had captured a vehicle entering through a service road shortly before the fire.
The driver wore a hood.
But the license plate had been recorded.
Luca provided the information to investigators.
The vehicle was registered to a company associated with Richard's brother.
That connection did not prove who had set the fire.
But it gave investigators a lead.
Nicholas called me that afternoon.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Daniel?”
“At school.”
He exhaled.
“Good.”
I hesitated.
“Are you okay?”
Silence.
Then he said:
“I'm angry.”
“I know.”
“Someone could have died.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“Part of me wants to handle this the old way.”
My heart tightened.
“Don't.”
“I won't.”
I closed my eyes.
“Promise?”
He was quiet.
Then he said:
“I promise I'll let the investigators do their work.”
I believed him.
Not completely.
Not yet.
But more than I would have a month earlier.
That evening, Daniel sat beside me on the couch.
“Do you like him?”
I stared.
“What?”
“Mr. Grimaldi.”
“Daniel.”
“You do.”
I looked away.
“He's complicated.”
Daniel shrugged.
“So are taxes.”
I laughed.
“That's not the same thing.”
He looked at me seriously.
“Just make sure he treats you right.”
I smiled.
“I will.”
May you like
And for the first time, I realized my brother wasn't asking whether Nicholas was powerful enough to protect me.
He was asking whether Nicholas was kind enough to deserve me.
