Chapter 6 - the sound of a voice
By early evening, the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the estate grounds in deep shades of gold and deep pink. Inside the master suite annex, Mia sat on a wide rug playing with a set of wooden building blocks while Elina poured tea at a side table.
A quiet knock echoed at the double doors before Dante stepped inside. He had removed his black suit jacket, rolling the sleeves of his crisp white shirt up to his elbows, revealing dark, detailed tattoos covering his forearms.
He walked over and sat directly on the rug near Mia. He held out a small silver pocket watch. When he clicked the top, a gentle, ticking melody played from the casing.
Mia looked up, her eyes brightening. "Music watch!"
"It was Matteo's," Dante said quietly. "Mia, can you tell me what the phone man sounded like? Did he speak like me?"
Mia took the watch in her small hands, turning it over carefully. She shook her head, the white bow swaying. "No. He spoke like a dry leaf. Scratchy. And he whispered to his phone."
Dante leaned in slightly. "What did he whisper, sweetheart?"
Mia concentrated, placing a red block on top of a blue one. "He said... 'the medicine is working. He won't wake up before the shipment arrives.'"
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Elina dropped her teacup onto the saucer with a loud clatter. She covered her mouth in shock.
Dante’s jaw tightened so hard a muscle twitched beneath his dark beard. "Medicine," he muttered to himself. He turned his head sharply toward the door. "Nina!"
