Chapter 7 - THE COUSIN WHO SMILED AT CHRISTMAS
Lorenzo Duca was forty-five.
Charming.
Expensive.
And accustomed to being underestimated.
He managed several real estate interests connected to the Duca family's legitimate businesses.
Roman trusted him with contracts.
Serena trusted him with family dinners.
Neither had realized how much Lorenzo resented them.
Roman summoned Lorenzo to his office.
“Sit.”
Lorenzo smiled.
“What's this about?”
Roman placed a document on the desk.
“Northlake Urban Partners.”
Lorenzo's smile faded.
“What about it?”
“Your consulting fees.”
Lorenzo leaned back.
“Standard business.”
Roman looked at him.
“Then explain the payments.”
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.
“You investigating me now?”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Lorenzo laughed.
“Because Serena asked you to?”
Roman didn't answer.
Lorenzo continued.
“She's always been too curious.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“Careful.”
Lorenzo smiled coldly.
“There he is.”
Roman stared.
Lorenzo leaned forward.
“Six months ago, you wouldn't even let your wife touch you in public. Now you're tearing apart family business because she asked a few questions?”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“Answer mine.”
Lorenzo stood.
“You've changed.”
Roman looked at him.
“No.”
He paused.
“I'm beginning to see clearly.”
That evening, Serena received a call from Alexander.
“We found something.”
She sat upright.
“What?”
“Northlake's payments connect to a private security contractor.”
Serena frowned.
“Which one?”
“Blackthorn Risk Services.”
She searched the name.
The company had been dissolved two months earlier.
Alexander continued.
“One former employee claims the firm was asked to monitor you.”
Serena went cold.
“By Lorenzo?”
“We don't know yet.”
She looked toward the window.
Then noticed a dark sedan parked across the street.
It had been there for twenty minutes.
Her pulse quickened.
“Alexander?”
“Yes?”
“I think someone's watching my apartment.”
His voice changed.
“Call your security team and the police. Don't go outside.”
Serena stood.
The sedan's headlights switched on.
Then it slowly pulled away.
She remained at the window.
Her hands were shaking.
May you like
For six months, she'd believed Roman's coldness was the greatest danger to her heart.
Now she understood someone had been watching her long before she met Alexander.
