Chapter 2 - The Forbidden Room
I froze in place and looked down at the terrified little boy.
"What do you mean, Leo?" I asked gently.
He pulled the blanket up to his chin and refused to say another word.
The next morning, the mansion was bustling with silent, efficient staff members.
I spent the entire day playing with Leo in the manicured gardens.
For a mafia boss, Ricardo was surprisingly absent from his son's daily life.
He spent his time locked in his downstairs office, taking hushed phone calls.
Dante watched my every move from a distance, his hands always resting near his hidden weapon.
"You are doing well with the boy," Dante said as he handed me a glass of water.
"But do not get too comfortable here, Clara."
"This is not a safe place for a civilian."
I ignored his warning and focused on making Leo smile.
By nightfall, the house grew quiet again, but my curiosity was driving me crazy.
After Leo fell asleep, I crept out into the dark hallway.
I walked slowly toward the heavy iron door with the three deadbolts.
To my absolute shock, one of the locks was partially unlatched.
I pushed the heavy metal door, and it creaked open just enough for me to slip inside.
The room was not a dungeon, but a beautiful, perfectly preserved bedroom.
Dust covered the expensive furniture, suggesting no one had lived here in a long time.
I walked toward the large vanity mirror and saw a framed photograph sitting on the desk.
I picked it up and wiped the dust away with my thumb.
It was a picture of Ricardo standing next to a stunningly beautiful woman.
My heart slammed against my ribs, and I dropped the frame onto the floor.
The glass shattered loudly into a dozen pieces.
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The woman in the photograph was not just beautiful.
She looked exactly like me.
