Chapter 4

The day Leo was discharged, the worst coastal storm in ten years slammed into New York.

Long Island vanished under driving rain and lightning. Power lines went down all along the coast. Late that night, the estate went dark.

Enemies liked to use bad weather to knock out cameras and communications. Ernesto stationed guards at designated posts around the main house. I held Leo, who was still running a low fever. With every crack of thunder, the gunshots from my childhood forced their way back into my head.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

Sofia's scream rang down the hallway. "It's thundering! The people who kidnapped me locked me in a basement in a thunderstorm too! Dante, save me!"

Sofia threw herself into Dante's arms, saying she couldn't breathe and needed to get to a private psychiatric clinic in Manhattan right away or she might hurt herself.

Dante turned to the head of security. "Take the main convoy and escort us into the city. Leave the guards at their posts and two patrol cars on the estate."

The head of security hesitated. "Don, the storm's bad, and the outside cameras are already cutting in and out. The Donna and Leo are still here. Once the main convoy pulls out, the men left behind won't be able to hold off an attack."

"The guards at their posts can hold the main house," Dante cut in. "Sofia's already talking about hurting herself. We can't wait."

The head of security had no choice but to follow orders.

I came out of the room with Leo in my arms and watched Dante hurry into his raincoat.

The house was pitch-black. Lightning split the sky outside the windows, and thunder shook the glass. Leo had only just come home from the hospital and was still running a fever. He leaned weakly against me.

"Dante," I said, stopping him, my voice frighteningly calm. "If you take the main convoy tonight and leave Leo and me here alone, don't come to me with regrets tomorrow."

Dante stopped and looked at me, irritated. "Helena, don't throw a tantrum at a time like this. Manhattan has the best private psychiatric team there is. I'll get her settled and come right back. Three hours, tops. I'll be home before dawn, I promise."

Sofia's thin voice called from outside the door. "Dante, I'm so cold... I can't breathe..."

Dante didn't give me or his feverish son another glance. He grabbed his car keys and ran out into the pouring rain.

After the main convoy left, the estate's backup communications suddenly went down too. The guards at the fixed posts went to check the wiring, leaving only me, Leo, and old Ernesto in the main house.

Dante knew I was terrified of thunderstorms. He knew Leo still had a fever. He took the estate's most reliable men anyway. Once again, Sofia's cries mattered more to him than our safety.

Leo nuzzled against me and whispered, "Mom, I'm not scared of the dark. I'll protect you."

I held my son tight. My eyes stung, but whatever tenderness I still had left for Dante as a wife was gone for good.

I turned, walked into the study, and opened the hidden compartment my father had left behind.

When the rain stopped at dawn, Dante came back to the estate, soaking wet.

But there was no hot coffee waiting for him, and no hurt, tearful wife either.

Two signed checks and every piece of my good jewelry were laid out neatly on the table in the main hall. The safe was empty.