Chapter 4 - Shadows in the Mansion
"The washing machine flooded," Sadie stammered, looking away as her cheeks burned. "My clothes were soaked. Your laundry room had a basket of dry shirts, and... I thought everyone was asleep."
"You looked like you were having fun," Julian said, his thumb still resting against her pulse point, feeling her heart hammering wildly beneath his skin. "Singing into my mahogany spoon. Nearly taking out my eighteenth-century side table."
"I didn't break anything!" she protested defensively.
"You almost broke my composure," Julian murmured, his voice dropping an octave. "I watched the footage twice."
Before Sadie could process the sudden, electric tension vibrating between them, heavy footsteps echoed down the grand hallway outside the breakfast room.
The heavy double doors swung open without a knock.
Capo Silvio Corsini walked into the room. He was fifty years older than Julian, with graying hair, sharp rat-like eyes, and a tailored coat slung over his shoulders. Two armed bodyguards stood in the hallway behind him.
"Julian," Silvio said smoothly, his eyes darting immediately to Sadie, then to the five objects lying spread out on the breakfast table. "The guards said you called an emergency meeting. What's going on here?"
In a move so fast it was almost invisible, Julian stepped in front of Sadie, blocking her completely from his uncle's line of sight. At the same time, his broad hand swept across the table, scooping all five objects back into his coat pocket.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Uncle," Julian said, his voice instantly returning to that icy, authoritative tone that made men back down. "Just handling a domestic matter."
Silvio’s eyes narrowed as he tried to peer over Julian's shoulder at Sadie. "That's Arthur Quinn's daughter, isn't it? One of my men spotted her record in the city registry yesterday. Why is she wearing a servant's uniform in your house, Julian? She should be in a cellar being questioned about the missing ledger."
"She is in my house because I put her here," Julian replied calmly, taking a step toward his uncle. "And no one touches anyone in this house without my explicit order. Is that clear?"
Silvio’s jaw clenched, a flash of pure hatred passing through his eyes before he forced a smile. "Of course, Don Corsini. Just making sure you aren't letting sentimentality cloud your judgment. Her father was a snake."
"My judgment is perfectly clear," Julian said. "Leave us."
Silvio hesitated for a second, glaring past Julian at Sadie, before turning on his heel and marching out, his bodyguards trailing behind him.
Julian turned back to Sadie. The playful edge in his eyes was gone, replaced by lethal focus.
"He knows who you are," Julian said softly. "Which means you aren't safe here anymore."
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"I can leave," Sadie said quickly. "I have four of the five clues memorized. I can—"
"You're not going anywhere without me," Julian interrupted, grabbing her arm gently but firmly. "Silvio killed my father, and he tried to ruin yours. Tonight, we finish this together."
