Chapter 3 - The Nursery Window
Domenico dropped the phone, scooped up Sofia, and drew the heavy Glock 19 from his shoulder holster in one fluid motion. He took the grand staircase two steps at a time, his heart hammering against his ribs. The nursery was supposed to be empty, but the sound of shattering glass suggested otherwise. He kicked the nursery door open, sweeping the room with his weapon. The soft afternoon light poured through a massive broken window, blowing the sheer white curtains wildly into the room. Glass littered the soft pink rugs. Standing in the center of the room was Camilla, trembling uncontrollably. She held a heavy brass lamp in her hands, her knuckles white. "Who was it?" Domenico barked, keeping the gun raised as he scanned the tree line outside the window. "I... I don't know," Camilla gasped, dropping the lamp. "I came up to check on the baby's things, and a man was on the balcony. He tried to climb in. I threw the lamp at him." Domenico studied her face. Her breathing was erratic, her eyes wide. But there was something else beneath the panic—calculation. He walked slowly to the window, crunching glass beneath his shoes, and looked down. There were no footprints in the soft mud below. No broken branches on the trellis. He turned back to Camilla. "You're lying." Camilla’s jaw tightened. "I was trying to protect her room, Domenico." "You were looking for something else," he said, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "You came here to find the rest of the documents. The ones my mother hid before she died." Camilla’s mask slipped for a fraction of a second. It was enough. She didn't know about the document in the vase—she knew there were more. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice regaining its icy edge. "Keep playing games, Camilla," Domenico said, stepping closer until he towered over her. "But if you ever touch this child again, or step foot in this room, I will make sure they don't find enough of you to bury." He backed out of the room, keeping his eyes on her. As the door clicked shut, he realized the terrifying truth. The betrayal wasn't just in the past. It was happening right now, under his roof. And Sofia was the target.
