Chapter 6 - Unsettling Proximity
By midnight, our meager belongings—two suitcases of clothes, a box of Sophia's books and crayons, and a few framed photographs—had been relocated to the master suite annex.
The "annex" turned out to be a luxurious two-room suite connected directly to Adrian Moretti’s sprawling master bedroom by a heavy, soundproof oak door. It had plush velvet carpeting, oversized windows overlooking the sprawling Massachusetts estate, and a private bathroom lined in Italian marble. It was more luxurious than any apartment I had ever dreamed of affording, but to me, it felt like a gilded cage.
Sophia was fast asleep in the plush queen-sized bed, clutching her stuffed rabbit, completely exhausted by the night's terrifying events. Titan lay curled up like a giant black furry boulder right across the doorway, blocking the exit with stubborn, protective loyalty.
I sat in a velvet armchair by the window, staring out into the moonlit gardens, my fingers nervously twisting a silver pendant hidden beneath the collar of my blouse.
Knock. Knock.
Two soft, deliberate raps sounded on the heavy door connecting our suite to Adrian's bedroom.
I froze. I had hoped that once the adrenaline wore off, the mafia kingpin would retreat to his bed and leave us in peace. Slowly, I stood up, smoothing down my jeans, and pulled the door open just a crack.
Adrian stood in the dimly lit hallway of his bedroom. He had changed into a dark grey lounge shirt and black trousers, the top buttons open to reveal the sharp lines of his collarbone. The harsh fluorescent light of the medical wing was gone, replaced by the warm, amber glow of bedside lamps, making him look dangerously human—and far too close for my comfort.
"She's asleep?" Adrian asked quietly, his deep voice vibrating softly in the quiet room.
"Yes. Finally," I whispered back, keeping my body planted in the doorway to block his view. "Is there a problem? Do you need Dr. Reynolds again?"
"No. Reynolds is gone," Adrian said, leaning his broad shoulder casually against the doorframe. His dark eyes flicked over my face, taking in the dark circles under my eyes and the tense posture of my shoulders. "I just wanted to make sure you and your daughter had everything you needed. The staff usually brings extra blankets up, but..." He gestured vaguely inside the suite. "Let me know if it's not comfortable."
"It's more than comfortable, Mr. Moretti," I said tightly. "Though I'd prefer a simple lock on the inside of this door that you can't override from your side."
A slow, knowing smirk touched Adrian's lips. "Afraid of me, Elena?"
"I'm afraid of poisoned scotch, men with guns, and billionaire mafia bosses who think they can upend my life on a whim," I retorted without missing a beat.
Adrian let out a low, appreciative hum. "Good. Fear keeps you sharp. In this house, complacency gets you killed." He paused, his dark gaze darkening as he studied me with an intensity that made my breath catch. "You didn't answer my question earlier, you know."
"What question?"
"The parish in upstate New York where you got your references. I ran a preliminary check while Dante was busy locking down the estate. The priest who signed your letter passed away three years ago. And the parish records show no record of an Elena Castillo."
My blood ran instantly cold. My heart slammed against my ribs like a battering ram. The silver pendant beneath my shirt suddenly felt like a branding iron.
He checked. Of course he checked. He was Adrian Moretti; he didn't trust anyone, least of all a mysterious single mother who happened to show up on his doorstep eight months ago.
I forced my face to remain perfectly still, pushing down the tidal wave of panic threatening to spill out of my voice.
"People move, Mr. Moretti," I said, my voice dangerously steady. "Paperwork gets lost. If my references aren't to your liking, hand me my bags right now, and Sophia and I will walk out the front gate into the dark. See if your dog stops us."
I held my breath, waiting for the explosion. Waiting for him to call Dante, to drag me down to the basement, to tear away the carefully constructed shield I had built around my daughter's life.
May you like
Instead, Adrian pushed off the doorframe. He stepped closer—so close I could smell the subtle scent of cedarwood and danger clinging to his skin. He lowered his face until his lips were inches from my ear, his voice dropping into a low, velvet rasp that sent shivers straight down my spine.
"Letting you walk out into the dark right now is the last thing I'm going to do, Elena," he whispered softly. "Because whoever tried to poison me tonight is still out there. And for reasons I can't quite explain... I want you right where I can see you."
