Chapter 4 - the shadow in the hall
Adelina stood up so quickly she almost dropped Sophia's stuffed lamb. "What? My husband? That's impossible! Matteo died two years ago! How could he order a chemical six months ago?"
Enzo raised his hand to calm her, his eyes fixed on Dr. Hayes. "Someone is using a dead man's identity to purchase industrial poison."
"Precisely," Dr. Hayes nodded. "Whoever is trying to kill you is deliberately building a paper trail that leads straight back to Adelina’s late husband. If you had died today, the police would have found Delphine's poison, linked the purchase to Matteo Rossi, and arrested Adelina as the mastermind seeking revenge for her canceled pension."
Adelina sank back onto the sofa, covering her face as a sob broke from her throat. "My God... they were setting me up. They were going to take me away from my baby girl!"
Enzo walked over to the sofa, kneeling directly in front of Adelina. He reached out, his broad, warm hand gently taking both of her shaking hands in his. His touch was firm, protective, and deeply grounding.
"Look at me, Adelina," Enzo commanded softly, his dark eyes burning with fierce promise. "No one is taking you away from your daughter. No one is framing your husband's memory. I give you my word as head of the Castellano family: the person who did this will answer to me."
Adelina looked into Enzo's intense eyes, feeling an overwhelming wave of safety wash over her. Despite his terrifying reputation as a Mafia boss, in this moment, he was the only shield standing between her family and destruction.
At 2:00 AM, the estate fell into a quiet, heavy hush. Rain began to patter against the high glass windows of the master wing.
Inside her private bedroom adjoining Enzo's suite, Adelina lay awake, staring at the ceiling while little Sophia slept peacefully beside her.
Suddenly, a faint, metallic scraping sound echoed from the outer balcony door.
May you like
Adelina sat up instantly, her heart hammering against her ribs. She looked toward the sheer curtains fluttering near the terrace.
A tall figure dressed in dark tactical gear stepped through the unlocked glass door, moving quietly toward the small wooden nightstand where Sophia’s pink lace dress and stuffed lamb lay resting!
