CHAPTER FIVE

Under Her Protection:

Amara hated being watched.

She hated it even more when the person watching her was Alessia Romano.

It had been three days since the phone call.

Three days since she discovered the photograph of her father.

And three days since Alessia had apparently decided that Amara was incapable of going anywhere alone.

There was always a driver waiting downstairs.

Someone always seemed to know when she left the building.

And whenever Amara looked toward Alessia's office, she caught those dark eyes following her.

It was becoming irritating.

“Are you going to keep staring?”

Alessia looked up from her laptop.

“I wasn't staring.”

“You were.”

“I was thinking.”

“While looking directly at me?”

“Yes.”

Amara folded her arms.

“That's still staring.”

Alessia's lips twitched.

“Come here.”

“No.”

“Amara.”

“You're not my boss right now.”

“I am always your boss.”

“Unfortunately.”

Alessia closed the laptop.

“Come here.”

Amara sighed and walked toward her desk.

“What?”

Alessia reached for a small black box.

“Take this.”

Amara looked at it.

“What is it?”

“Open it.”

She did.

Inside was a phone.

Small.

Black.

Brand new.

Amara stared at it.

“Why are you giving me a phone?”

“It's encrypted.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“You'll use it when you're away from the office.”

“Why?”

“If something happens, call me.”

“I already have a phone.”

“Use this one.”

“Alessia—”

“Amara.”

Their eyes met.

“I need you to understand something.”

Her voice was quieter now.

“You're not safe.”

Amara's expression changed.

“Because of my father's past?”

“Yes.”

“Who is after me?”

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

Alessia's jaw tightened.

“I don't lie to you.”

“You hide things.”

“Yes.”

“That's basically the same thing.”

“No.”

Alessia stood.

“Lying is telling you something that isn't true.”

She walked around the desk.

“Hiding something is refusing to tell you the truth.”

Amara stared at her.

“And you think that's better?”

“No.”

Alessia stopped in front of her.

“I think it's necessary.”

Their eyes held.

Amara hated how close she suddenly felt.

She took a step backward.

Alessia noticed.

Something flickered across her face.

“Are you afraid of me?”

Amara hesitated.

“No.”

“Good.”

“I'm afraid of what you know.”

That answer seemed to affect Alessia.

She looked away.

“That's fair.”

Amara wasn't expecting that.

“You're admitting it?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.”

“Don't sound so surprised.”

“I am.”

A small smile appeared on Alessia's face.

“I'm not as heartless as everyone thinks.”

Amara studied her.

“I haven't decided yet.”

“About what?”

“Whether you're actually heartless.”

Alessia stepped closer.

“And what do you think?”

Amara looked into her eyes.

“I think you're hiding something.”

“I am.”

“I think you care more than you pretend.”

Alessia went completely still.

Amara's confidence faltered.

She hadn't expected the silence.

Then Alessia whispered,

“Be careful.”

“Why?”

“Because you might be right.”

Amara's heartbeat quickened.

Before she could respond, the office door opened.

Matteo walked in.

He stopped when he saw them.

His eyes moved between the two women.

“Well.”

Alessia's expression immediately hardened.

“What?”

Matteo smiled.

“Nothing.”

“Then leave.”

“Nice to see you too.”

He looked at Amara.

“Are you surviving?”

“Barely.”

“Good.”

Alessia glared at him.

Matteo laughed.

“I like her.”

“She isn't here for your approval.”

“I know.”

He turned serious.

“I need to speak to you.”

Alessia's eyes narrowed.

“Privately.”

Matteo glanced at Amara.

“Can you give us a minute?”

Amara picked up the phone.

“Sure.”

She walked toward the door.

“Amara.”

She turned.

Alessia's voice softened.

“Keep the phone with you.”

“I will.”

“And don't leave the building without telling me.”

Amara rolled her eyes.

“Yes, boss.”

She left.

The moment the door closed, Matteo's smile vanished.

“We have a problem.”

Alessia walked toward the window.

“What?”

“The woman watching Amara.”

Alessia's shoulders stiffened.

“Who?”

“We identified her.”

“And?”

Matteo placed a photograph on the desk.

Alessia picked it up.

Her expression changed.

“That's impossible.”

“Unfortunately, it isn't.”

She stared at the photograph.

The woman was older.

Elegant.

Dark-haired.

Beautiful.

And someone Alessia had not seen in seven years.

“She's alive,” Matteo said.

Alessia's grip tightened around the photograph.

“I watched her die.”

“You watched a car explode.”

Alessia looked up.

Matteo continued.

“You never found a body.”

Silence.

“What does she want?”

“We don't know.”

“Then find out.”

“We're trying.”

Alessia looked toward the door.

“Does Amara know?”

“No.”

“Keep it that way.”

Matteo nodded.

Then he hesitated.

“There's something else.”

“What?”

“The woman asked about Daniel Quinn.”

Alessia's expression went cold.

“What exactly did she ask?”

“Whether Amara knows what happened the night her father died.”

Alessia's blood ran cold.

“She knows.”

“Knows what?”

Alessia looked at the photograph again.

“She knows everything.”

---

Amara stood outside the office.

She wasn't trying to listen.

At least, that's what she told herself.

But she had heard one sentence.

She's alive.

Who?

She stepped away from the door when she heard footsteps.

Alessia came out.

Their eyes met.

Amara looked at her.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes.”

“You're lying.”

Alessia stopped.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you look angry.”

“I often look angry.”

“Not like this.”

Alessia studied her.

“You notice too much.”

“Maybe.”

A long silence.

Then Alessia reached into her pocket.

“Come with me.”

“Where?”

“Home.”

“It's only four.”

“Exactly.”

“Why are you sending me home?”

“Because I said so.”

“That's not an explanation.”

Alessia's eyes softened.

“Please.”

Amara blinked.

That word didn't sound like it belonged to Alessia Romano.

“Please?”

“Yes.”

“Are you worried about me?”

Alessia looked away.

“Yes.”

The honesty caught Amara off guard.

She nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

They walked toward the elevator together.

Neither spoke.

When the doors opened, they stepped inside.

The elevator descended.

Amara glanced at Alessia.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes.”

“Did you love my father?”

Alessia's expression became unreadable.

“Yes.”

Amara's chest tightened.

“What kind of love?”

Alessia looked at her.

“The kind that survives even after someone is gone.”

Amara swallowed.

“You really cared about him.”

“Yes.”

“Then why won't you tell me what happened?”

Alessia's voice was quiet.

“Because the truth doesn't always give people peace.”

“Maybe I don't want peace.”

“Then what do you want?”

Amara looked directly into her eyes.

“The truth.”

The elevator doors opened.

Alessia stepped out.

Then turned back.

“You'll have it.”

“When?”

“When I know I can tell you without losing you.”

Amara stared at her.

“Why would you lose me?”

Alessia said nothing.

She simply walked away.

Amara remained in the elevator.

And for the first time, she realized something terrifying.

Alessia Romano wasn't afraid of Amara discovering the truth.

She was afraid of what Amara would do after she discovered it.

And somewhere in the city, a woman who was supposed to be dead was watching Amara's apartment.

Waiting.

Watching.

Planning.

Because the game had only just begun.