Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO WATCHED MY WINDOW
I called Dante immediately.
He answered on the first ring.
"Nora?"
"Someone knows."
A pause.
"Knows what?"
"That we're looking for Isabella."
I read him the messages.
His voice changed.
"Where are you?"
"Home."
"Lock the door."
I looked toward the window.
Across the street, a black SUV sat beneath a broken streetlight.
Its engine was running.
"Dante."
"What?"
"There's a car outside."
"Don't go near the window."
I stepped back.
He continued.
"I'm coming."
Ten minutes later, two vehicles pulled up.
Dante emerged from the first.
The black SUV across the street drove away.
He came upstairs.
"Pack a bag."
I stared.
"No."
"Nora—"
"I'm not disappearing because somebody sent a threatening message."
His expression tightened.
"You're in danger."
"I know."
"Then let me help."
I looked at him.
"Help isn't the same as deciding."
He stopped.
For a moment, I saw the struggle in his face.
Then he nodded.
"You're right."
I exhaled.
He continued.
"Would you consider staying somewhere safer while we work with the authorities?"
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Temporarily."
We went to a hotel with security.
I insisted on having my own room.
Dante agreed.
At midnight, I sat on the bed looking at my grandfather's photograph.
I remembered his hands.
Rough.
Scarred.
Always smelling faintly of coffee and machine oil.
He had raised me.
Loved me in his difficult way.
Protected me.
But he'd also kept secrets.
I whispered into the empty room:
"Nonno, what did you do?"
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice spoke in Sicilian.
"Nora Rossi?"
"Yes."
The woman took a shaky breath.
"Your grandfather told me to call you if Salvatore ever found you."
My blood went cold.
"Who is this?"
A pause.
May you like
Then:
"My name is Isabella Gallo."
