Chapter 2 - The Hidden Device
Clara covered her ears as the gunshot rang out.
Bruno leaped to his feet and stood protectively in front of Clara.
The groomer fell to his knees in the snow, clutching his bleeding wrist.
Matteo walked forward slowly, his expensive black shoes crushing the fresh snow.
He did not look at the screaming man on the ground.
"What did you find on my dog?" Matteo asked Clara.
Clara pointed a trembling finger at Bruno's thick leather collar.
"There is a flashing red light hidden inside the leather," she answered.
Matteo knelt beside the massive dog and carefully examined the collar.
He pulled a small pocket knife from his overcoat and sliced the thick leather open.
A sophisticated GPS tracking microphone fell into the palm of his hand.
Someone had been listening to every conversation Matteo had in the presence of his dog.
Matteo crushed the tiny device under the heel of his shoe.
He turned his cold, deadly gaze back to the bleeding groomer.
"Who paid you to plant this?" Matteo demanded.
The groomer sobbed and refused to answer.
Matteo nodded to his guards, who dragged the screaming man away toward the basement.
"You have sharp eyes," Matteo said, looking down at Clara.
"I just wanted to dry him," she whispered, still shaking from the violence.
"You saved my life, and you earned my dog's trust," Matteo replied.
He reached down and offered her his large, warm hand.
Clara hesitated before placing her small, wet hand into his.
He pulled her effortlessly to her feet.
"You are no longer a maid," Matteo announced.
"You will move into the master wing today, and your only job is to care for Bruno."
Clara swallowed hard, realizing she was now trapped in the inner circle of a mafia boss.
She was given a luxurious room just down the hall from Matteo's private suite.
That night, she walked into her new bedroom and turned on the crystal lamp.
She gasped and backed away into the hallway.
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A large, bloody knife was violently driven through her pristine white pillow.
Pinned beneath the blade was a handwritten note that read, "Leave tonight or die tomorrow."
