CHAPTER 4 — THE BRACELET THAT COULD DESTROY A DYNASTY
Karen didn't open the door.
Every instinct told her not to.
Another knock echoed through the tiny apartment.
"Miss Seymour," Alessandro called calmly. "You're making this much harder than it needs to be."
Karen stepped backward without making a sound.
Her heart pounded so violently she could hear it in her ears.
The silver bracelet lay on her kitchen table, glinting beneath the dim emergency light from the hallway.
It wasn't just jewelry anymore.
It was evidence.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
Do NOT open the door. I'm sending someone. Trust no one. — M
M.
Matteo.
Before Karen could reply, the lights in the hallway suddenly went out.
Everything became silent.
Then—
The sound of breaking glass came from the back of the apartment.
Karen spun around.
A black-clad figure climbed through the fire escape window.
She grabbed the nearest frying pan, ready to swing.
"Karen!"
The man quickly raised both hands.
"My name is Marco. Mr. Moretti sent me."
Behind the front door, Alessandro's patience vanished.
"Break it down."
The first kick shook the entire apartment.
Marco didn't hesitate.
"We have fifteen seconds."
He picked up the bracelet.
Karen followed him through the fire escape as the apartment door exploded inward.
By the time Alessandro's men stormed inside...
The apartment was empty.
Across Manhattan, inside a hidden underground garage, Matteo Moretti waited beside a black armored SUV.
When Karen stepped out, he looked exhausted rather than dangerous.
He wasn't wearing a tailored suit.
Only jeans, a dark sweater, and the face of a father who hadn't slept.
"You trusted my message," he said.
"I didn't trust it," Karen replied.
"I just trusted you more than the men trying to break into my apartment."
For the first time that night...
Matteo smiled.
Then his eyes fell on the bracelet.
The smile disappeared.
His fingers trembled.
"This..."
He turned it over.
"...belonged to my wife."
Karen watched every ounce of color drain from his face.
"I thought it disappeared with her."
"So did someone else," Karen whispered.
Matteo looked up.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them said Alessandro's name.
They didn't have to.
May you like
Because both were thinking exactly the same thing.
Maybe Elena Moretti had never died by accident.
