Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT THE HOUSE WENT DARK
The power went out at 9:16 p.m.
One moment, the townhouse was bright with lamps and the low sound of the television. The next, every room fell into darkness.
Sophia screamed.
I was beside her before I could think. “I'm here, sweetheart.”
She grabbed my hand.
A backup light flickered on in the hallway. Somewhere downstairs, a door slammed.
Dante's voice came through the dark. “Marco!”
No answer.
He moved toward us. “Take Sophia upstairs. Lock the bedroom door.”
I stood. “What about you?”
“I'll check the house.”
“Don't leave us without telling me what's happening.”
His eyes met mine in the dim light. “Someone has disabled the main security system.”
A cold feeling spread through my stomach.
“Is it Salvatore?”
“I don't know.”
I took Sophia's hand and moved toward the bedroom. Mrs. Alvarez appeared at the landing with a flashlight.
“Come with me,” she whispered.
We entered the bedroom and locked the door. I pulled the curtains closed and sat on the floor with Sophia between my knees.
She was shaking.
“Listen to me,” I whispered. “We're going to stay together. Nobody is going to make you go anywhere.”
She pressed her face against my shoulder.
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Then a soft knock.
“Mrs. Alvarez?”
The housekeeper froze.
The voice was male.
“It's me. Open up.”
Mrs. Alvarez looked at me. “That's not Marco.”
The handle moved.
I pulled Sophia toward the closet.
“Get inside, sweetheart.”
She shook her head.
I knelt in front of her. “Remember the game we played? The quiet bakery? We hide until the oven timer rings.”
She looked at me, confused.
“Just like that.”
She crawled into the closet with her rabbit. I closed the door but left a small gap.
The bedroom handle rattled.
“Open the door,” the man said. “Mr. Russo wants the child.”
Mrs. Alvarez lifted her phone and tried to call Dante. No signal.
The man struck the door.
I searched the room for anything I could use. There was a heavy bedside lamp, a chair, and a small table.
The door shuddered again.
Then a voice sounded from the other side.
“Step away from the door.”
Dante.
A brief struggle followed. A heavy thud. Then silence.
The lock turned.
Dante entered, his jacket torn at the shoulder. Marco was behind him, holding a flashlight.
“Are you hurt?” Dante asked.
I shook my head.
“Where's Sophia?”
I opened the closet.
She crawled out and ran straight to him.
Dante dropped to his knees and caught her. “I'm here.”
Sophia buried her face in his chest.
Marco checked the hallway. “One of the guards let the men through the service entrance. We have him.”
Dante's expression hardened. “Who sent them?”
“We're questioning him.”
Sophia pulled back from her father's chest. She looked at Dante, then at the broken bedroom door.
Her mouth moved.
“Sal.”
Dante's jaw tightened.
“Yes, sweetheart. I know.”
Marco's phone rang. He answered, listened, then looked at Dante.
“Boss. The guard says Salvatore ordered the security shutdown. He told them the girl was being moved for her own protection.”
Dante slowly stood.
“Where is Salvatore?”
“His car was found near the river. He isn't in it.”
Dante looked toward the window.
“Then he knows we found the letter.”
He turned to me.
“Pack a bag for Sophia. We're leaving.”
I looked at the little girl.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere he can't reach.”
Sophia reached for my hand.
Dante noticed.
“Would you come with us, Nora?”
I looked at the broken door, the frightened child, and the man who had finally begun to understand how much he did not know.
“Yes,” I said. “But I'm not leaving her alone.”
Dante nodded.
May you like
“Neither am I.”
========================================================================
