CHAPTER FOUR

Someone Is Watching:

Amara didn't sleep.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the photograph.

Her father.

Alessia.

Together.

Six years ago.

There were too many questions and not a single answer.

By two in the morning, she gave up trying.

She sat on the edge of her bed and opened her laptop.

She typed:

Alessia Romano Daniel Quinn

Search results appeared.

Business articles.

Old interviews.

Financial reports.

Nothing useful.

She tried again.

Daniel Quinn Romano Holdings

Her heart skipped.

One result caught her attention.

An old newspaper article.

She opened it.

The headline made her stomach turn.

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN DIES IN APPARENT SUICIDE AFTER FINANCIAL COLLAPSE.

Daniel Quinn.

Her father.

Amara stopped breathing.

She read the article twice.

Then a third time.

The report claimed her father had lost almost everything after a failed business partnership.

But there was something she didn't remember.

A name.

Romano Holdings.

Her hands began shaking.

“No.”

She kept reading.

According to the article, Romano Holdings had been one of the companies involved in the investigation.

But the article was short.

Too short.

Amara searched for more.

Nothing.

It was as though someone had erased the story.

She closed the laptop.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She stared at it.

It stopped.

Then buzzed again.

She answered.

“Hello?”

Silence.

“Who is this?”

A man's voice finally spoke.

“You shouldn't have taken the job.”

Amara's blood ran cold.

“Who are you?”

“Someone trying to keep you alive.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You need to leave Alessia Romano.”

Amara stood.

“Why?”

“You're asking questions about things that should stay buried.”

The line went dead.

Amara stared at her phone.

Her heartbeat was pounding.

She immediately called the number back.

Unavailable.

She didn't sleep for the rest of the night.

---

At 7:55 the next morning, Amara entered Romano Holdings.

She looked exhausted.

Elena noticed immediately.

“You look terrible.”

“Thank you.”

“I meant it affectionately.”

“I know.”

Elena studied her.

“Did you sleep?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Amara hesitated.

“Someone called me.”

Elena's expression changed.

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

“What did they say?”

“That I shouldn't work here.”

Elena lowered her voice.

“Did they threaten you?”

“Not exactly.”

“That means yes.”

Amara looked around.

“Is Alessia here?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“Her office.”

“I need to speak with her.”

Elena caught her wrist.

“Amara.”

“What?”

“Be careful.”

“With Alessia?”

“With everyone.”

She let go.

Amara walked toward the office.

She knocked once.

“Come in.”

Alessia was standing behind her desk, speaking to someone.

A man Amara had never seen before.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Dark suit.

Cold expression.

He looked at Amara.

Then at Alessia.

“Who is she?”

“My assistant.”

The man's eyes returned to Amara.

“New?”

“Yes.”

He smiled.

It wasn't friendly.

“Interesting.”

Alessia's voice became cold.

“Leave.”

The man looked amused.

“You're dismissing me?”

“I said leave.”

He glanced at Amara one last time.

Then walked past her.

As he disappeared down the hallway, Amara looked at Alessia.

“Who was that?”

“Someone you don't need to know.”

“That's becoming your favorite answer.”

Alessia looked at her.

“You're angry.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because someone called me last night.”

Alessia's expression changed instantly.

“What did they say?”

“That I shouldn't work for you.”

“Anything else?”

“They said I was asking questions that should stay buried.”

Alessia walked around the desk.

“Did they threaten you?”

“I don't know.”

“Did they tell you their name?”

“No.”

“Did you recognize the voice?”

“No.”

Alessia reached for her phone.

“Send me the number.”

Amara hesitated.

“Why?”

“So I can find out who called you.”

“You can do that?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Alessia's expression remained calm.

“I have resources.”

Amara watched her.

“You're not surprised.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I expected this.”

Amara stared at her.

“You expected someone to threaten me?”

“I expected someone to notice you.”

“Why?”

Alessia didn't answer.

“Alessia.”

She looked away.

“Because you're connected to something people are afraid of.”

“What?”

“Your father's past.”

Amara's chest tightened.

“So you admit it.”

“I never denied it.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you're not ready.”

“Stop saying that.”

Alessia looked at her.

“Fine.”

She stepped closer.

“Because if you know the truth, you become a target.”

“I already am.”

“Yes.”

The quiet admission frightened her.

“You're saying I'm in danger?”

“Yes.”

“Because of you?”

Alessia's eyes darkened.

“Because of me.”

Silence.

Amara stared at her.

“Then why am I still here?”

Alessia didn't hesitate.

“Because I can protect you.”

“I don't need you to protect me.”

“You do.”

“You don't get to decide that.”

“I do when your life is at risk.”

Amara stepped closer.

“You're not my mother.”

“No.”

Alessia's gaze dropped briefly to Amara's lips before returning to her eyes.

“I'm much worse.”

Amara's breath caught.

Neither moved.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Alessia broke the silence first.

“Go home.”

“No.”

“Amara.”

“No.”

“I don't like repeating myself.”

“And I don't like being ordered around.”

A faint smile touched Alessia's lips.

“You really are difficult.”

“You hired me knowing that.”

“I did.”

“Then deal with it.”

For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.

Something unspoken passed between them.

Something neither woman acknowledged.

Alessia stepped back.

“Fine.”

She picked up her phone.

“But you're not leaving this building alone tonight.”

Amara frowned.

“Excuse me?”

“I'll have a driver take you home.”

“I can take a taxi.”

“No.”

“I can take a bus.”

“No.”

“I can walk.”

“Absolutely not.”

Amara folded her arms.

“You're controlling.”

“And you're reckless.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know.”

Alessia's voice softened.

“That isn't the problem.”

“Then what is?”

Alessia looked directly into her eyes.

“The problem is that somebody wants you frightened.”

A pause.

“And I don't intend to let them have you.”

Amara's heartbeat stumbled.

She looked away.

“Why do you care?”

Alessia didn't answer immediately.

When she finally did, her voice was quiet.

“I don't know yet.”

---

Across the street, a black car sat beneath the shade of a tree.

The woman inside watched the windows of Romano Holdings through a pair of binoculars.

She lowered them.

Her phone rang.

“She's inside.”

A man's voice answered.

“And Alessia?”

“She hasn't told her anything.”

“Good.”

The woman smiled.

“Should I continue watching?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because now we know Alessia is protecting her.”

The woman frowned.

“And?”

The man's voice became colder.

“Which means Amara Quinn is more important than we thought.”

The call ended.

The woman looked back toward the building.

Then she whispered,

“Poor girl.”

She smiled.

“She has no idea whose war she's walked into.”