Chapter 2

Nyla POV 

He turned at the sound of my voice, and his entire face lit up almost immediately like I was his favorite niece and of course I was for the record.

With his hands spread wildly he grin 

 “There’s my girl!”

I did a speed walk and a clumsy jog altogether, almost tripping over the hem of Isla’s “girlie” dress in the process.

“Careful,” Isla muttered behind me. “Grace, remember? Princess mode.” she warned sternly.

But I was already launching myself into a big  hug. Uncle Sal caught me with a chuckle, lifting me slightly above the ground like I weighed nothing at all.

“You grew taller,” he said complimenting me  and I frowned 

“I’m wearing heels.” I pointed sarcastically 

He squinted at them.“Terrible invention. You should definitely sue.”

I laughed hard, pulling away from him. “I missed you.” I said with a smile 

“Of course you did,” he winked and I smiled. “I’m the only one in this house who brings actual cannoli so why not?.”

“Can confirm,” I said, backing him up.

Isla walked towards us, perfectly poised as always. Uncle Sal kissed her cheek like she was royalty, then immediately leaned toward me 

 “Still too perfect, huh?”he whispered enough for Isla to hear

“She wakes up like that I guess,” I whispered back. “I believe it’s a curse.” I answered and we both burst out laughing 

“Rude,” Isla murmured, but she smiled.

Uncle Sal tucked both our arms into his and walked us toward the big dinner table. “Let’s go eat. I hear your father is in his ‘no one touches the wine until the toasts’ mood.” he playfully chips in.

I groaned. “Not again”

As we sat down,with the staff already dishing out our meals, mother  gave me a behave yourself look with the way I was laughing loudly.

Uncle Ethan and Aunt Martha were here too,I had almost forgotten that it was specifically a family gathering.

 Uncle Sal was just about to sneak an olive from the antipasto tray to me when the clink-clink of a spoon against crystal rang through the room causing everyone to stop abruptly.

My father’s way of commanding attention from people.

He was standing at the head of the table, tall, commanding, and intimidating  with an aura that screams  ‘I’ve buried secrets and possibly bodies’. His suit was blacker than my soul on a  Monday morning, and his expression screamed, I love you all, but don’t test my patience.

The room fell into a total silence that if a needle should drop you would definitely hear it. Even the melody from the violin faded like they knew better.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said with a pause, raising his wine glass. “Tonight is not just another gathering. It’s beyond special. It marks  twenty-eight years of marriage to the only woman on this earth who’s ever been brave enough to love me and dumb enough to stay.”

A hush of giggles covered the entire room: not nervous,since they were all family members,they knew better how father was. We were all used to his version of showing affection.

My mother,elegant as always, gave him a knowing smile which he returned immediately.

If there's anything I want,then it's the love between my father and mother.

He continued.“She gave me three beautiful children. One terrifyingly perfect daughter….” he nodded to Isla,and she smiled like she had  just been crowned, “and one daughter who’s well... creative with her choices.”

 All eyes fell on me.

I held up my glass. “Thanks for the shoutout, Dad. Happy anniversary to you too.”

They all burst out laughing again. Uncle Sal nearly choked on his wine

I smirk

“And of course,” my father added, “our late son, whom we miss every day.” His voice fell into a softer tone, the kind that made my chest tighten a little.

 “This family has been through a lot. But we are  still standing strong because of love. Loyalty. And her.” He gestured to my mother who still has that smile on her face.“The backbone of this family, even when I’m always the pain in the neck.”

Everybody burst out laughing again,my cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling too much at this point.

Mom rolled her eyes,she lifted her glass up, and said softly, “Here’s to surviving another year with him.”

“To surviving…” Uncle Sal cheered.

“To love,” Isla added,her brown eyes all dreamy.

I gave a playful grunt 

“To carbs and chaos,” I muttered, and Uncle Sal gave me a discreet fist bump under the table. And I grunted from that pain. 

The toast ended with  a  clink of glasses,and voices laughing,then the violin players resumed playing, and for a moment, it felt like nothing could go wrong. Tonight everything felt perfect.

Of course, that’s usually when everything does.

I suddenly felt an eerie feeling at the bottom of my stomach making me feel sick but I quickly brushed it off by sipping Uncle Sal's wine  and he gave me a warning look but I just fake a smile.

I was about to stab a piece of steak without flinging it across the room when one of the staff leaned down and whispered something in my ears.

Perfect!,

What's a fancy family dinner without a little errand? Mom gave me a pleading look and I immediately understood she sent the staff.

I stood up quietly, smoothing the ridiculous flared dress Isla had picked out.I am pretty sure I looked like I was going to deliver macarons instead of handling whatever this was. 

No one really noticed me slip out, except Isla, who gave me a suspicious look that screams “Don’t you dare ditch this dinner.”

I just gave her an assuring smile and a shrug.

The hallway outside the dining room was quiet,with clatter of cutlery and sound of violins quickly fading behind me as I walked briskly toward the east of the mansion. The lights flickered slightly as I passed under one of the chandeliers creeping me out.

I grabbed the file the housekeeper had left on the cabinet,it looked unimportant, something about supplier orders. Typical Mafia-level urgent.

But then... something changed.

On my way back, I paused. The hallway was quieter than when I had walked passed.The kind of quietness that makes your skin crawl from unknown fear.

I turned the corner, only to stop dead in my tracks.

There was something on the floor, no, someone to be precise…. 

And there was blood!.

My breath caught in my throat, my fingers went numb. The files slipped from my fingers and landed with a dull thud against the marble floor.

I took one shaky footstep back,and dropped to the floor, my legs unable to hold my weight beneath me.

Then a loud piercing scream followed from the dining room.