Chapter 13 - The Hidden Log
Dawn broke over Chicago, painting the frozen skyline in cold shades of violet and gray. Sophia sat on the edge of her narrow cot in the servant quarters, staring out the frosted window. Emma was still fast asleep, clutching her pink hairbrush like a security blanket after the terrifying ordeal of the previous night. A light tap on the door broke her concentration. When Sophia opened it, Marco stood in the hallway, looking pale and exhausted, his left arm bound tightly beneath his tailored suit jacket.
"The Don wants you in the study," Marco said quietly, avoiding her eyes. "Now."
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. "Is something wrong? Is Emma—"
"No, the child is safe. Everyone is safe," Marco interrupted, letting out a heavy sigh. "He just... he needs to talk to you. About what happened yesterday. And about what comes next."
When Sophia stepped into the study, the wreckage of the siege had been completely cleared away. The splintered doors were replaced with a heavy temporary barrier, and the air was clean of smoke. Lorenzo was sitting behind his mahogany desk, staring down at an open digital tablet instead of his usual paper manifests. He looked up the moment she crossed the threshold.
"Sit down, Miss Carter," Lorenzo said, gesturing to the leather chair opposite him.
"I prefer to stand, Mr. Moretti," Sophia replied, keeping her posture rigid. "If you're firing us, just say it. We'll pack our bags."
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"I'm not firing you," Lorenzo said flatly. He turned the tablet around, sliding it across the polished wood toward her. "Last night, during the breach, someone accessed the main security hub from an internal terminal. Not the gate. The terminal right here in the east wing."
Sophia looked down at the screen. The access log displayed a user ID and a timestamp that matched the exact hour she had been cataloging archives on the third floor.
