Leighton cocked the pistol as she approached the door. She checked the window first.
No one.
Then she leaned into the peephole and froze,
a piercing green eye stared right back at her.
She swallowed hard.
Green eyes.
Her pulse hammered. For a moment his face flashed in her mind, and she shook it away.
"Who's there?" She asked, forcing her voice not to tremble.
"It's Dario," came the flat reply.
Her stomach dropped.
What the hell did he want?
Or worse… had he already figured it out?
The door handle rattled suddenly.
She jumped, heart pounding hard against her chest wall. She could almost hear each beat.
Keeping her hands steady, she raised the pistol toward the door.
She turned the lock.
Slowly… very slowly… she lowered the handle and pulled the door open.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A FEW MINUTES EARLIER…
As Dario stepped on the porch, his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket,
Bianca. His mum.
"Hello Bianca"
"Dario, dear, how have you been?" Bianca Moretti cooed, her tone dripping with concern.
He asked bluntly, "What is it?" without emotion.
"I heard you're back from London or was…"
"And?" He cut in.
"You haven't been home to see me. You had me worried," she sighed dramatically.
"I'm hanging up now." He wasn't in the mood for theatrics. Not today.
"Wait!" Bianca snapped just as he was about to cut the call.
"What?"
"It's your father."
"What about him?" His voice lowered. "Is he dying?"
"Dario," she scolded sharply. "He simply wants to have a word with you."
"I'll see the Don when I'm free. Take care. Goodbye."
He was lifting the phone from his ear when he heard a faint voice from the other side of the door
Leighton.
Who's there?
He leaned in, peered through the peephole, and tried the door handle.
Locked.
With a quiet exhale, he stepped back and turned, his back now to the door.
"My God, is that another lady?" Bianca blurted through the phone.
"That's none of your business, Mum." He cut the call.
Immediately, he dialed Luca. "Word gets out on the street fast," he muttered into the phone.
"Be on standby."
He heard the door begin to unlatch.
He hung up instantly.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Leighton peered out through the slightly opened door, the gun still raised.
He had his back to her. No weapon. No threat… or so it seemed.
The moment he turned around, she hid the gun behind her back and exhaled.
"Took you long enough," he said with a smile.
"Wanted to be sure it wasn't a freed criminal… or someone on parole." She was still guarding the door.
"Funny." His voice dipped with sarcasm.
"What do you want?" she blurted.
"May I come in at least?" His gaze dropped to her, closing in on her space.
Her heart skipped. She held her breath.
"No."
She started to shut the door, but he stopped it with his foot.
She froze and looked at him. He smiled.
She stomped on his foot.
"Ow!"
"Not happening." Her voice was firm.
"You have something of mine," he said again, wearing that infuriatingly cocky grin.
Her pulse raced again. She counted from one to three in her head willing herself to remain calm.
She exhaled softly.
"And what's that?" Her voice was low, almost steady.
"My handkerchief."
Her brows shot up at once. A faint sigh of relief escaped her lips as she rushed to the table, grabbed the handkerchief sealed in a plastic bag, and passed it to him through the narrow opening
His fingers brushed lightly against hers as he got the bag.
He slid a sleek black business card into her palm, turned, and walked down the steps.
She rushed to the window.
He was gone.
But another black Mercedes,too similar to his,sat parked across the street.
+++++++++++++++++++++
A convoy of dark-tinted cars drove into the driveway, their shiny surfaces reflected the midday sun.
The mansion stood tall and formidable, wide, gracefully arched windows seemed to follow every movement while a balcony made it seem like it sat quietly, scrutinizing the landscape.
The perimeter of the grounds was guarded by armed security, and every inch of the property was wired with cameras, security lighting, and motion sensors.
Dario stepped out of the lead car. He shrugged off his coat; an attendant quickly took it and disappeared into the mansion.
He stepped on the porch, reached forward for the
door knob but the door opened before he did.
Dario froze for a moment, heart racing. What the hell…?
Nico leaned casually in the doorway, grinning.