Chapter 4 - The Golden Cage
Vincent crushed the piece of paper in his fist.
His blood ran cold.
Deal with her tonight.
He looked up at Tessa.
She didn't know what the message said.
She was just waiting for her money.
"Tessa," Vincent said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
"You are not going home tonight."
Tessa frowned.
"My shift ends at five, Mr. Corvino."
"Your shift never ends."
"I am putting you on twenty-four-hour live-in care."
Tessa shook her head.
"I can't do that."
"I have a life."
"You will stay in the room adjacent to mine."
"You will not leave this floor."
"I will wire fifty thousand dollars to your account in exactly ten minutes."
Tessa stopped arguing.
Fifty thousand dollars was life-changing money.
But she wasn't stupid.
"What did the message say, Vincent?"
It was the first time she used his first name.
Vincent looked her dead in the eye.
"It said you need to stay exactly where I can see you."
He picked up the house phone and dialed Marco's extension.
"Marco, get up here."
Less than a minute later, the massive security chief entered.
"Yeah, boss?"
"Tessa is moving in full-time."
"Set up the adjoining room for her."
Marco scowled, glaring at Tessa.
"We don't do live-in staff, Vince."
"It's a security risk."
"My legs are a security risk, Marco," Vincent snapped.
"She stays."
Marco clenched his jaw.
"Understood."
"I'll have the guys bring her car into the garage."
Marco turned to leave but stopped in the doorway.
"Nurse," Marco said.
"Come with me to get your things."
Tessa looked at Vincent.
Vincent gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod.
Tessa followed Marco out into the dimly lit hallway.
As soon as they were out of Vincent's sight, Marco stopped walking.
He turned around slowly.
The hallway was empty.
Marco took two steps toward Tessa, backing her into the wall.
He reached inside his tailored suit jacket.
He pulled out a heavy, suppressed pistol.
He didn't point it at her face.
He pressed the cold steel barrel directly into her ribs.
Tessa gasped, her heart stopping.
Marco leaned in, his breath smelling of black coffee and tobacco.
"I know you're not just a nurse," Marco whispered.
May you like
"So tell me right now, before I paint this wall with your brains."
"Who do you really work for?"
