Chapter 2: The Man in the Black Car
Rain soaked Clara’s blouse as she hurried toward the street.
Behind her, the door opened.
“Clara, wait.”
She turned.
“Stay away from me, Nico.”
“My brother already knows who you are.”
Her anger faltered.
“How?”
Nico showed her his phone.
Vincent had sent him the security photograph with one message:
SHE MUST NOT REACH LUCIA’S.
Clara’s face went pale.
“Why would he care where I go?”
“Because your mother hid evidence there.”
“My mother never mentioned evidence.”
“She may have tried to protect you.”
Clara shook her head.
“Your family has lied to me for eighteen years.
Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t,” Nico said.
“But believe Vincent.”
A black car turned onto the street and slowed beside the restaurant.
Nico closed his hand around the brass key.
“Did Margaret leave you anything from Lucia’s?”
“Only her necklace.”
“What necklace?”
Clara pulled a thin chain from beneath her blouse.
A small brass pendant rested in her palm.
Nico froze.
The pendant carried the same engraved number as Salvatore’s key.
“Clara, get in my car.
Now.”
“Tell me what it means.”
Before he could answer, the black car stopped.
The rear window lowered, revealing Vincent Falcone.
He looked at Clara’s pendant and smiled.
“Margaret promised she destroyed that.”
Clara stepped back.
“You spoke to my mother?”
Vincent’s smile disappeared.
“The night of the fjre,” he said, “she begged me not to find you.”
May you like
What Vincent revealed about Margaret—and what the matching key opened—changed Clara’s life forever.
Click the link below to read the full story.
