Chapter 2 - The Wrong Face
The ballroom erupted into a state of sheer panic as the staff realized a killer was trapped inside with us.
Dominic fired a single shot into the high ceiling.
The deafening crack of gunfire instantly silenced the hysterical room.
"Everyone will move to the secure bunker beneath the east wing immediately," Dominic roared over the ringing echoes.
He pointed a firm finger directly at me.
"Except for you and your daughter."
My stomach plummeted as two massive guards stepped up to flank me and Lily.
"Please, Mr. Moretti, she is only a child," I begged while squeezing Lily's hand.
Dominic holstered his weapon and walked over to us with surprisingly gentle steps.
"I am not going to hurt the girl who saved my son," he said quietly.
"But she is the only person in this house who saw the face of the man in the cold room."
I knew he was right, but exposing my innocent baby to this dark world terrified me.
Dominic led us down the long, shadowed hallway toward the kitchen.
The metallic scent of fresh blood hit my nose before we even reached the heavy freezer doors.
I covered Lily's eyes with my palm, but Dominic stopped me.
"She only needs to look at his face for one second," he promised softly.
I reluctantly lowered my hand, silently asking God to forgive me for showing my child this nightmare.
The head chef was slumped against the frozen meat racks with a terrible wound across his neck.
Lily peeked from behind my leg and stared at the deceased man.
Dominic knelt beside her, keeping his voice incredibly calm and steady.
"Lily, is this the man you saw touching Ethan's cake?" he asked.
The entire hallway held its collective breath while we waited for a three-year-old's verdict.
Lily shook her head firmly.
"No," she whispered.
Dominic's jaw clenched tightly.
"Are you absolutely sure, sweetheart?" he pressed.
Lily pointed her tiny finger toward the dead chef's hands.
"That man has hair on his hands."
She looked up at Dominic with wide, innocent eyes.
"The bad man had a shiny gold ring with a red stone on his pinky finger."
Dominic's face instantly drained of all color.
He slowly stood up, looking like he had just seen a ghost.
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"Only four men in my entire syndicate wear that exact family ring," Dominic said, his voice trembling with a terrifying realization.
"And all of them are my blood relatives."
