Chapter 18 - THE SURPRISE VISITORTitle: An Unexpected Knock: The Ghost from Daisy’s Past
The peaceful afternoon hum of the Dantis estate was interrupted by a sharp, persistent buzzing from the front security intercom near the outer iron gates.
Aleandro paused, looking up from his laptop on the veranda. Salvatore’s voice crackled through the encrypted comms link on his wrist.
Boss. We have an unannounced visitor at the main gate. Claims to be family.
Aleandro’s eyes narrowed instantly. "Family? My family is dead, Salvatore. Check the ID."
That's the thing, Boss, Salvatore’s voice sounded genuinely baffled. She says she's Daisy’s younger sister. Name is Chloe Harper.
Daisy dropped her tea mug with a sharp clatter, her face draining of color. "Chloe? That's impossible. Chloe moved to Seattle five years ago after our mother passed. We haven't spoken in years."
Aleandro stood up instantly, his protective instincts flaring into high alert. "Salvatore. Bring her inside through the secure checkpoint. Search her twice. If this is a trap set by remnants of the Consortium—"
"It's not a trap, Aleandro," Daisy interrupted, standing up quickly, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Chloe doesn't even know what a syndicate is. She thinks I work at a normal pet store in Queens!"
Ten minutes later, the double doors of the grand foyer opened, and a young woman with wild curly hair, wearing a faded denim backpack and clutching a worn leather duffel bag, stepped hesitantly into the marble-columned mansion.
Chloe Harper looked around at the towering pillars, the armed guards standing in the corners, and the massive black cane corso trotting inquisitively toward her, and immediately stopped breathing.
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"Daisy?!" Chloe gasped, her eyes wide as saucers as she stared at her older sister standing beside a terrifyingly handsome man dressed like a billionaire mob boss. "What is this place? Did you rob a bank?! Why are men in black suits holding assault rifles in your hallway?!"
Daisy closed her eyes, letting out a long, defeated sigh. "Well, Chloe... it's a long story. Grab a seat, and let me tell you about how I met your new brother-in-law."
