Chapter 2 - SOMEONE WANTED LEO DEAD
At 4:17 in the morning, Lorenzo Rossi locked every gate on the estate.
Nobody left.
Nobody entered.
Thirty-eight employees were ordered into the main ballroom.
Phones were confiscated.
Cars were searched.
Kitchen cabinets were sealed.
Every bottle, powder, medication, and feeding supplement used for Leo was collected.
Hunter watched from the servants' staircase.
She knew something terrible had happened.
She just didn't know what.
Then Lorenzo appeared below.
Everyone went silent.
"I'll ask once."
His voice was calm.
"Who prepared my son's formula tonight?"
Nobody moved.
A young nurse slowly raised her hand.
"I did."
"Who opened the container?"
"I did."
"Who brought it upstairs?"
"Mr. Bellini."
Hunter saw a man near the fireplace.
Marco Bellini.
Lorenzo's closest friend.
Hunter had heard the staff talk about him.
Marco had grown up with Lorenzo.
He had stood beside him at his wedding.
He had carried Sophia Rossi's coffin.
Marco stepped forward.
"The nurse asked me to carry the tray."
Lorenzo nodded.
"Anyone else touch it?"
"No."
The nurse shook her head.
Lorenzo turned.
"Hunter."
Every head turned toward her.
She hated it.
"Come here."
Hunter descended.
Lorenzo held out a small medical cup.
"We need blood."
"No."
Several employees looked horrified.
Lorenzo almost sighed.
"We've been through this."
"I don't like needles."
"Neither do people I shoot."
"That's supposed to help?"
A few guards looked down to hide their reactions.
Halloran stepped between them.
"It's necessary."
Hunter reluctantly held out her arm.
While the nurse drew blood, she looked at Lorenzo.
"What's happening?"
He didn't answer.
"Lorenzo."
The use of his first name caught him.
"Someone put medication in Leo's formula."
Hunter went cold.
"What kind?"
"Digoxin."
Halloran answered.
"In small repeated doses, it could cause vomiting, weakness, irregular heart rhythms, and feeding problems."
Hunter stared at him.
"So Leo isn't sick?"
"We don't know yet."
"But someone might be making him sick."
Halloran nodded.
Hunter looked toward Lorenzo.
His face was expressionless.
That frightened her more than anger.
"Who would poison a baby?"
Lorenzo looked around the ballroom.
"Someone who wants me to bury another person I love."
Hunter understood.
Leo wasn't only a child.
He was Lorenzo Rossi's heir.
And someone wanted him gone.
Two hours later, Hunter returned to her room.
She locked the door.
Sat on the bed.
And cried.
She didn't know why Leo mattered so much after one night.
Maybe because she had felt his heartbeat against her.
Maybe because he had drunk the milk Lily never could.
Maybe because when his fingers wrapped around hers, something dead inside Hunter had moved.
A knock came.
Hunter wiped her face.
"Who is it?"
"Lorenzo."
She opened the door slightly.
"What?"
"Leo won't eat."
Hunter closed her eyes.
Of course.
"How long?"
"Forty minutes."
"Did Halloran try?"
"Everyone tried."
Hunter looked at him.
Then grabbed her robe.
When she entered the nursery, Leo was screaming.
Not weakly anymore.
That should have been good.
Instead, the sound went straight through Hunter's chest.
She picked him up.
"Hey."
Leo immediately turned toward her.
Hunter sat.
Within seconds, he latched.
The room became quiet.
Lorenzo stood near the window.
Watching.
Hunter looked at him.
"Stop staring."
"I'm watching my son eat."
"You look like you're interrogating him."
"I don't know how else to look."
Hunter almost smiled.
Then Lorenzo noticed something.
A silver chain around her neck had slipped outside her robe.
A tiny locket hung from it.
Inside was a photograph.
Hunter as a little girl.
Beside her stood an older woman.
Her mother.
Lorenzo moved closer.
"Who's that?"
"My mom."
He stared.
"What was her name?"
"Rebecca Lane."
The color slowly left Lorenzo's face.
Hunter noticed immediately.
"What?"
Lorenzo didn't answer.
"Lorenzo?"
"Where was she from?"
"Brooklyn."
His jaw tightened.
"What year was that picture taken?"
"I was seven."
"Where?"
Hunter frowned.
"Coney Island."
Lorenzo stepped backward.
Hunter's heart began racing.
"You know her."
"No."
"You're lying."
Lorenzo looked at the photograph again.
"I've seen her before."
"Where?"
He didn't answer.
Hunter stood carefully with Leo in her arms.
"Where?"
Lorenzo finally looked at her.
"In Sophia's things."
May you like
Hunter froze.
"My dead wife had a photograph of your mother."
