CHAPTER 9

The Morning After:

Amara woke to the sound of rain.

For a few seconds, she didn't remember where she was.

Then she saw the unfamiliar ceiling.

The heavy curtains.

The dark wood furniture.

And the woman sitting beside the window.

Alessia.

She was already dressed.

Black trousers. White shirt. Her dark hair pulled away from her face.

She looked calm.

Too calm.

Amara pushed herself upright.

"How long have you been sitting there?"

Alessia glanced over.

"Twenty minutes."

"Watching me sleep?"

"Making sure you were still breathing."

Amara stared at her.

Alessia looked away first.

That was new.

"You could have just checked the security cameras."

"I didn't want to."

The honesty caught Amara off guard.

She pulled the blanket around herself.

"Did you sleep?"

"No."

"Why?"

Alessia stood.

"Because someone broke into my estate last night specifically to get to you."

"That's not an answer."

"It is the only one you're getting."

Amara sighed.

"You're impossible."

"I've been called worse."

A tiny smile tugged at Amara's mouth.

Alessia noticed.

Her expression softened for half a second before the walls returned.

"Come downstairs," she said. "You need breakfast."

"I need answers."

"You need both."

---

The dining room was brighter in the morning.

Sunlight struggled through the rain clouds, reflecting off the long table.

Amara sat opposite Alessia.

Matteo was already there, staring at his phone.

Elena stood near the doorway with a tablet.

"Good morning," Matteo said.

Amara looked at him.

"Is it?"

He smiled.

"Fair point."

Alessia sat down.

"Anything?"

Matteo placed his phone on the table.

"The security breach wasn't random."

Amara's stomach tightened.

"Meaning?"

"Someone knew exactly where the cameras were blind."

Alessia's jaw tightened.

"Inside information."

"Most likely."

Elena stepped forward.

"We've also checked the flash drive."

Amara immediately looked at her.

"And?"

Elena hesitated.

"It's encrypted."

Alessia leaned back.

"How encrypted?"

"Beyond anything our current system can break quickly."

Matteo looked at Amara.

"There's one interesting thing."

"What?"

"The drive responds to a name."

Amara frowned.

"What name?"

Matteo's eyes shifted toward Alessia.

"Daniel Quinn."

Silence.

Amara's fingers tightened around her cup.

"What does that mean?"

Alessia didn't answer.

"Alessia."

Still nothing.

"Tell me."

Alessia finally looked at her.

"I don't know."

"You do."

"I suspect."

"Then tell me what you suspect."

Alessia's eyes hardened.

"I suspect your father created something before he died."

Amara stared at her.

"What?"

"We don't know yet."

"And Victoria wants it?"

"Possibly."

"Or she wants me because I can access it."

Alessia didn't respond.

That was answer enough.

Amara pushed her chair back.

"So that's why you hired me."

Alessia stood immediately.

"Amara—"

"No."

Her voice shook.

"You knew there was something connected to my father. You hired me because you thought I could lead you to it."

"That was part of the reason."

"Part?"

Alessia's expression changed.

For the first time, she looked almost guilty.

"Yes."

Amara laughed bitterly.

"At least you're honest."

"I should have told you."

"Yes."

"I was afraid you would leave."

Amara stopped.

The room went quiet.

Matteo slowly lowered his phone.

Alessia took a breath.

"I didn't expect you."

"Didn't expect me?"

"I expected Daniel's daughter."

Her eyes stayed on Amara.

"I didn't expect you."

Something about the way she said it made Amara's anger hesitate.

"What does that mean?"

"It means..."

Alessia paused.

"It means I don't know what I'm doing anymore."

Matteo looked at his sister as if she'd just confessed to a crime.

"Alessia."

She ignored him.

Her eyes remained on Amara.

"I know how to control situations. People. Business. Threats."

She swallowed.

"But you..."

A faint, frustrated smile appeared.

"You make everything difficult."

Amara's heart beat faster.

"Maybe that's because you're not supposed to control everything."

Alessia stared at her.

"Maybe."

---

An hour later, Amara stood inside Alessia's private study.

The flash drive sat on the desk between them.

Alessia had ordered everyone else out.

"I want to see it," Amara said.

"It's dangerous."

"So is everything around you."

Alessia looked at her.

"That's not funny."

"I'm not joking."

Neither spoke.

Finally, Alessia picked up the drive.

"There's one thing you should know."

"What?"

"If this contains what I think it does, your father may have been protecting you."

Amara's chest tightened.

"From Victoria?"

"From everyone."

She connected the drive to an isolated computer.

The screen went black.

Then a single line appeared.

IDENTITY REQUIRED.

Amara frowned.

"What identity?"

Alessia typed her own name.

ACCESS DENIED.

She tried Daniel Quinn.

ACCESS DENIED.

Then Amara stepped closer.

"Try mine."

Alessia looked at her.

"Amara—"

"Try it."

She typed:

AMARA QUINN

The screen flickered.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

ACCESS GRANTED.

Both women froze.

A video file appeared.

Created:

September 14, 2020.

Amara's breath caught.

"That's the date of the photograph."

Alessia clicked the file.

The screen filled with static.

Then a man's face appeared.

Older.

Tired.

But unmistakable.

Daniel.

Amara covered her mouth.

"Dad..."

The recording began.

Daniel looked directly into the camera.

"If you're watching this, then something has gone terribly wrong."

Amara's eyes filled with tears.

Alessia stood completely still.

Daniel continued.

"I don't know who will find this."

He paused.

"But if it's Amara..."

Amara stepped closer.

"...then I need you to listen carefully."

Her breathing became uneven.

"Do not trust Victoria Laurent."

Alessia's expression changed.

Daniel continued.

"And whatever you do..."

The video suddenly distorted.

The screen went black.

Amara stared.

"No."

She hit the keyboard.

"Come back."

Nothing.

"Come on!"

Alessia caught her hand.

"Amara."

"No!"

She pulled away.

"He was talking to me."

"I know."

"He knew this would happen."

"I know."

"Then why did it stop?"

Alessia stared at the dead screen.

"I don't know."

A notification appeared.

Both women froze.

The computer screen lit up again.

Not the video.

A message.

White letters on black.

YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT HER ALONE, ALESSIA.

Another line appeared.

NOW SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH.

Then the final message.

24 HOURS.

Alessia's face went cold.

Amara looked at her.

"What happens in twenty-four hours?"

Alessia didn't answer.

Her phone rang.

Matteo.

She picked up.

"What?"

His voice was tense.

"Alessia, you need to see this."

"What happened?"

"Victoria sent something."

Alessia's eyes narrowed.

"Where?"

"Your office."

"What is it?"

A pause.

"An invitation."

Alessia's expression darkened.

"To what?"

Matteo's voice dropped.

"Her funeral."

Amara's blood ran cold.

"Whose funeral?"

Matteo answered.

"Daniel Quinn's."

Alessia slowly looked at Amara.

And for the first time since they met, Amara saw genuine fear in her eyes.

Not fear for herself.

Fear for her.

To be continued...