Chapter 3 - THE MAN ON THE OTHER SIDE
Nora didn't scream.
Her grandfather had taught her that screaming wasted the breath needed to run.
She gathered the bracelet, envelope, and cassette tape into her purse.
The footsteps outside shifted.
A second voice answered.
“Get the girl. Leave the rest.”
Nora backed toward the kitchen window.
Her hands shook as she lifted the sash.
Two stories.
A narrow fire escape.
A rusted ladder.
Behind her, the front door handle turned.
She climbed out.
Cold Chicago air struck her face.
The first kick hit the apartment door as she reached the landing.
The second shattered the frame.
Nora descended the ladder, dropped the final six feet, and landed badly on her right ankle.
Pain shot up her leg.
She stumbled into the alley.
A car engine started behind the building.
She ran.
At the corner, she nearly collided with a black sedan.
The rear window lowered.
Dante Gallo looked out.
“Get in.”
Nora stopped.
He saw her face.
Then the broken fire escape behind her.
His expression changed.
“Nora. Now.”
A man appeared at the mouth of the alley.
Dante opened the door.
Nora climbed inside.
The car accelerated before she'd fastened her seat belt.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Dante sat beside her, one hand resting on his knee.
His driver took a sharp turn.
Nora looked through the rear window.
A gray SUV followed.
“Who are they?” she asked.
Dante looked back.
“That's what I'd like to know.”
“Why were you outside my apartment?”
He hesitated.
“Because my father told me to make sure you got home safely.”
“You followed me?”
“Yes.”
“Without asking?”
“Yes.”
Nora stared at him.
“That's not protection. That's surveillance.”
Dante accepted the accusation.
“You're right.”
That surprised her.
He continued.
“I should have told you. But someone followed you out of the restaurant, and I didn't want to frighten you before I knew why.”
Nora looked at the gray SUV.
“You failed.”
Dante's driver changed lanes.
The SUV followed.
Dante made a call.
“Rocco. We're coming in through the west entrance. We have company.”
He listened.
“No confrontation unless necessary. I want whoever's behind them identified.”
Nora turned toward him.
“You can do that?”
Dante looked at her.
“I can try.”
They reached a private parking garage beneath a building on the river.
Security personnel escorted Nora into an elevator.
Dante remained beside her.
She clutched her purse.
He noticed.
“What's in there?”
“Nothing you own.”
His mouth twitched.
“Fair enough.”
Upstairs, they entered a penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Chicago River.
Nora stopped in the foyer.
The apartment was enormous.
Expensive.
And strangely empty.
Dante removed his coat.
“You can stay here tonight.”
“No.”
“Nora—”
“I don't know you.”
He nodded.
“Then I'll arrange a hotel and independent security, if you'd prefer.”
She studied him.
“Why are you helping me?”
Dante's expression changed.
“Because my father believes you may be family.”
“And you?”
He looked at her.
“I think someone tried to break into your apartment twenty minutes after you met us.”
Nora swallowed.
“And?”
“And that means there's something worth protecting.”
She took the hospital bracelet from her purse.
Dante stared at it.
Then slowly reached for the back of a chair.
“What is that?”
Nora held it out.
He read the name.
His face went white.
“Where did you get this?”
“My grandfather's box.”
Dante looked up.
“Nora Agata Gallo.”
She nodded.
Dante sat down.
For the first time since she'd met him, the dangerous man seemed genuinely frightened.
“That's impossible,” he whispered.
“Why?”
Dante looked at her.
“Because my sister Agata had a daughter.”
Nora stopped breathing.
“And?”
May you like
Dante swallowed.
“According to my father, that baby died the same night she was born.”
