Chapter 2 - The Shadow at the Curb
The rain turned from a light drizzle into a freezing deluge within minutes, soaking through the thin wool of Amelia’s coat and clinging to her silver dress. Her breath blossomed in white plumes before her, but the rage burning in her chest kept her standing completely still.
She pulled her cell phone from her pocket. The screen cracked as her frozen fingers slipped, but she managed to dial Gabriel’s direct line.
Gabriel Vance was Luca’s head of security, his right-hand man, and the only person in the Moretti empire who spoke to Amelia with genuine warmth rather than terrified deference. He had been with Luca for over a decade, quietly standing behind him at every board meeting, every private dinner, and every crisis.
The phone rang twice.
"Amelia," Gabriel’s voice came through the speaker, low, smooth, and instantly attentive. "Where are you? Luca’s car just pinged moving south toward the high-rise."
"He left me," Amelia said, her voice shaking despite her attempt to keep it steady. "We had an argument outside the Blackstone. He told me to wait for you."
There was a long pause on the line—a silence so sharp Amelia could almost hear the gears turning in Gabriel’s head.
"Stay under the awning," Gabriel said quietly. "I’m two blocks away. Don't move."
Three minutes later, a silver Audi pulled up to the curb. It wasn't one of the company’s heavy suburban SUVs; it was Gabriel’s private vehicle. The passenger door swung open, and Gabriel stepped out into the freezing rain, holding a massive black umbrella over her head before a single extra drop could touch her.
"Get in," he murmured, his dark eyes sweeping her face with an intensity that surprised her. "You’re freezing."
Amelia climbed into the passenger seat, gasping as the blasted heat hit her ice-cold skin. Gabriel closed her door, walked around to the driver's side, and slid in beside her. He didn't immediately start driving. He reached into the back seat, pulled out a thick cashmere throw blanket, and laid it gently over her knees.
"Did he tell you what it was about?" Amelia asked, staring out at the blurred city lights through the water-streaked windshield.
"He didn't have to," Gabriel said softly, putting the car into gear. "You found the Reed file."
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Amelia turned her head so fast her neck popped. "You knew about it?"
Gabriel kept his eyes on the road as he navigated the slick, dark streets of downtown. "I know everything Luca tries to keep buried, Amelia. Including the things he hides from you to protect his own skin."
