Chapter 1 - The Question Grant Should Never Have Asked
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Silvio stood beneath the stone portico with the SUV key clenched in one hand and Grant’s words repeating in his head.
“They’re still alive?”
Not “Are they hurt?”
Not “What happened?”
Not even “How long were they inside?”
Still alive.
As though Ethan and Mia were supposed to be dead.
Behind Silvio, one of his men carried Ethan toward the shade.
Another wrapped a damp towel around Mia’s shoulders.
The little girl was barely six, and her face was red from the heat.
Ethan, only eight, was trying not to cry because he believed that was what being the older brother required.
Silvio looked at him.
“How long were you inside that SUV?”
Ethan swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
“Was the engine running?”
“No.”
“Were the doors locked?”
Ethan nodded.
“Mia said she was thirsty.”
Silvio turned toward Lucinda.
His sister had stopped pretending to be offended.
Her expression was now guarded.
Calculating.
Grant pushed himself away from the shattered valet kiosk.
“You’re making this into something it isn’t.”
Silvio looked at him.
“You asked why they were still alive.”
“I was angry.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Grant wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
“I said the wrong thing.”
“You said the honest thing.”
Lucinda stepped between them.
“That is enough.”
Silvio’s eyes moved to her.
“Why did you have the SUV key?”
Lucinda’s jaw tightened.
“I was moving the car.”
“You were walking away from it.”
“I was going inside.”
“With the key.”
“Yes.”
“While two children were locked inside.”
She did not answer.
Ethan suddenly spoke from behind Silvio.
“Aunt Lucinda said we had to learn.”
Every adult went silent.
Silvio slowly turned.
“Learn what?”
Ethan looked terrified.
Mia reached for his hand.
Ethan held it.
“She said hungry children should learn what happens when they embarrass adults.”
Lucinda’s face lost color.
“That is not what I said.”
Ethan stared at the ground.
“You said if we knocked on the window again, you’d leave us longer.”
Silvio’s breathing changed.
Grant looked toward the driveway.
Silvio noticed.
So did two of his security men.
Silvio raised one hand.
The estate gates began closing.
Grant’s head snapped toward him.
“What are you doing?”
“Nobody leaves.”
“You can’t hold us here.”
Silvio looked at the two children.
“You held them.”
Grant took a step forward.
Silvio did not move.
“Try me.”
Lucinda lowered her voice.
“Silvio, think carefully.”
“I am.”
“You don’t understand what is happening.”
“Then explain it.”
Lucinda glanced at Grant.
That single glance told Silvio more than either of them realized.
They were deciding which lie to use.
Silvio looked toward his head of security.
“Call an ambulance.”
Lucinda immediately objected.
“That isn’t necessary.”
Silvio turned slowly.
“Why don’t you want doctors examining them?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You just did.”
Grant exhaled sharply.
“This is getting ridiculous.”
Then Ethan pulled weakly on Silvio’s sleeve.
“Uncle Silvio?”
Silvio crouched beside him.
“What is it?”
Ethan looked toward Grant.
“He told Aunt Lucinda yesterday that it had to happen before Monday.”
Silvio felt something cold move through his chest.
“What had to happen?”
Ethan shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Where did you hear it?”
“In Grandpa’s old office.”
Grant went completely still.
Silvio saw it.
So did Lucinda.
Silvio rose.
The children had almost died on Saturday.
Monday was less than forty-eight hours away.
And their late grandfather’s private office had been sealed for almost three years.
Silvio looked at his sister.
“What happens Monday?”
Lucinda said nothing.
Silvio stepped closer.
“What happens Monday, Lucinda?”
For the first time since Silvio arrived, fear appeared in her eyes.
Grant answered instead.
“Nothing.”
Silvio stared at him.
Then one of the bodyguards hurried out of the mansion holding a tablet.
“Mr. Moretti.”
Silvio turned.
The man’s face was pale.
“You need to see what we found on the garage camera.”
Grant lunged for the tablet.
Silvio caught him by the collar and slammed him against a column.
The guard pressed play.
The video showed the SUV parked outside twenty-seven minutes earlier.
Ethan and Mia were visible in the back seat.
Lucinda stood outside.
Grant leaned into the open driver’s door.
Then Grant reached beneath the dashboard.
A moment later, the interior lights went dark.
He stepped out.
Lucinda locked the doors.
The two of them walked away.
Silvio watched Grant’s hand reach beneath the dashboard one more time.
He knew cars.
He knew exactly what Grant had done.
Grant had disconnected the emergency unlock system.
May you like
This had never been punishment.
It had been preparation.
