CHAPTER SIX

The First Rule:

Amara knew something was wrong the moment she stepped out of the car.

The street was too quiet.

Normally, there were children playing near the compound, neighbors talking across balconies, motorcycles passing every few minutes.

Tonight, nothing.

She looked at the driver.

“Are you sure this is my house?”

The driver nodded.

“Yes, ma'am.”

Amara glanced at the building.

Her apartment was on the third floor.

One light was on.

She frowned.

She always turned it off before leaving.

“Wait.”

The driver looked at her through the rearview mirror.

“Is there a problem?”

“I think I left my light on.”

“You want me to come inside?”

“No.”

She reached for the door.

Then stopped.

Something didn't feel right.

Her phone vibrated.

The new phone Alessia had given her.

ALessia Romano.

She answered.

“Hello?”

“Where are you?”

“Outside my apartment.”

A pause.

“Why?”

“I just got home.”

“Go back into the car.”

Amara frowned.

“What?”

“Get back in the car.”

“Why?”

“Now, Amara.”

Her tone was different.

No teasing.

No calm authority.

Fear.

Amara immediately stepped back into the car.

“What happened?”

“Lock the doors.”

She did.

“Alessia, what's going on?”

“Are you inside the building?”

“No.”

“Good.”

A second later, Alessia's driver started the engine.

Amara looked toward the building.

“What is happening?”

“I'll explain when you're safe.”

“Stop saying that.”

“Amara—”

“No. You can't keep treating me like I'm a child.”

Silence.

Then Alessia said quietly,

“Someone entered your apartment.”

Amara froze.

“What?”

“We found the back door unlocked.”

Her stomach dropped.

“Was someone inside?”

“We don't know.”

“How did you know?”

“I have people watching your building.”

Amara's anger returned.

“You've been watching my home?”

“Yes.”

“That's insane.”

“Maybe.”

“That's stalking.”

“I don't care what you call it.”

Her voice softened.

“I care that you're alive.”

Amara didn't know what to say.

The driver pulled away from the curb.

She stared through the window as her apartment disappeared behind them.

“Where are we going?”

“My house.”

“No.”

“Amara.”

“Absolutely not.”

“You can't go back home tonight.”

“I can stay with a friend.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because whoever entered your apartment knows where you live.”

“Then I'll stay somewhere else.”

“They could find you.”

“So your solution is to take me to the house of the woman I'm supposed to be afraid of?”

Alessia was silent.

“That's exactly what you're doing, isn't it?”

“Yes.”

Amara laughed bitterly.

“You're unbelievable.”

“I've been called worse.”

The line went quiet.

Then Amara asked,

“Did they take anything?”

“No.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

“That makes no sense.”

“I know.”

“So why break in?”

Alessia's voice became colder.

“To send a message.”

“To me?”

“No.”

A pause.

“To me.”

---

Twenty minutes later, the gates opened.

Amara stared at the Romano estate.

She had seen photographs online.

They hadn't done it justice.

The mansion was enormous, surrounded by tall trees, stone pathways and carefully maintained gardens. Security stood at every entrance.

Amara stepped out of the car.

Alessia was waiting.

She wore black trousers and a simple white shirt, the sleeves rolled to her elbows.

She looked less like the untouchable businesswoman from the office.

More human.

Amara walked toward her.

“You look tired.”

Alessia's eyes searched her face.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Did anyone follow you?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Alessia exhaled.

Only then did Amara realize how tense she'd been.

“You were worried.”

Alessia looked away.

“Of course.”

“Why?”

“Because I couldn't protect you.”

Amara's expression softened.

“You didn't even know what was happening.”

“I should have.”

“You can't control everything.”

Alessia looked at her.

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“No.”

The honesty surprised Amara.

Alessia stepped closer.

“That's the problem.”

For a moment, neither woman spoke.

Then Alessia reached out.

Her fingers gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from Amara's face.

Amara went still.

Alessia seemed to realize what she'd done.

Her hand lowered.

“Sorry.”

Amara swallowed.

“It's okay.”

They stood there in silence.

Then Matteo appeared at the entrance.

“Alessia.”

She turned.

“What?”

“We found something.”

Alessia's expression changed.

“Inside?”

Matteo shook his head.

“In the car.”

He held up a small plastic evidence bag.

Inside was a photograph.

Amara saw it immediately.

Her father.

Again.

But this time he wasn't alone.

There was a woman standing beside him.

The same woman Alessia had seen in the photograph earlier.

Amara stared.

“Who is that?”

Alessia didn't answer.

Amara looked at her.

“Alessia.”

Nothing.

“Who is she?”

Alessia took the photograph.

“Someone from my past.”

“She knew my father.”

“Yes.”

“What's her name?”

Alessia's jaw tightened.

“Victoria.”

“Victoria what?”

“Victoria Laurent.”

Amara searched her memory.

Nothing.

“Why would she have a photograph of my father?”

Alessia looked at Matteo.

“Where was this found?”

“In the back seat of Amara's car.”

Amara's heart dropped.

“My car?”

“Yes.”

“Who put it there?”

“We don't know.”

Alessia's expression became terrifyingly calm.

“Find out.”

Matteo nodded.

Alessia looked at Amara.

“Come inside.”

“Wait.”

“What?”

“I want to know everything.”

“You will.”

“When?”

“Soon.”

“You always say soon.”

“Because soon is the truth.”

Amara crossed her arms.

“That's not an answer.”

Alessia stepped closer.

“It's the only one I can give you tonight.”

Amara stared at her.

Then noticed something.

A tiny cut on Alessia's hand.

“Your hand.”

Alessia looked down.

“It's nothing.”

“You're bleeding.”

“I've had worse.”

“Let me see.”

“Amara—”

“Let me see.”

Alessia hesitated.

Then held out her hand.

Amara gently took it.

The cut was small.

Probably from broken glass.

“You should clean this.”

“I will.”

“When?”

“Later.”

“You're impossible.”

“So you've said.”

Amara smiled despite herself.

Alessia watched her.

Something softened in her eyes.

“You shouldn't smile at me.”

“Why?”

“Because it makes it difficult to remember why I should stay away from you.”

Amara's smile disappeared.

The air between them changed.

“Why should you stay away from me?”

Alessia looked into her eyes.

“Because I'm not the woman you think I am.”

Amara's voice was quiet.

“Maybe I don't want you to be.”

Alessia stared at her.

For one dangerous second, neither woman moved.

Then Matteo cleared his throat.

Both turned.

“Sorry,” he said.

Alessia glared at him.

“What?”

“Dinner is ready.”

Amara looked at Alessia.

“Dinner?”

“You're staying here tonight.”

Amara opened her mouth.

Alessia raised one eyebrow.

“Don't.”

“You haven't even heard what I was going to say.”

“I know.”

“You're arrogant.”

“Yes.”

She turned toward the house.

“Come.”

Amara followed.

But neither of them noticed the security camera feed being watched from somewhere outside the estate.

A figure sat in a dark room, staring at the screen.

Alessia.

Amara.

Together.

The woman smiled.

“She's protecting you already.”

She picked up her phone.

“Tell him we're changing the plan.”

A pause.

“No.”

Her smile widened.

“We don't separate them anymore.”

She looked back at the screen.

“We use their feelings against them.”

Outside, thunder rolled across the city.

And for the first time, Alessia Romano understood something she had been refusing to admit.

The danger wasn't simply coming for Amara.

It was coming for both of them.