Chapter 4 A father in the dark

CHAPTER FOUR

Alaric stepped forward and pressed Dante's gun down with a firm hand.

"She's not an imposter. Put the gun down," he said, voice low but commanding.

Dante's eyes narrowed, jaw clenching.

"I'm not your soldier, Alaric. I'm a boss, just like you. Don't give me orders."

Tension pulsed through the room like a live wire.

"Everyone at this summit should try not to offend another mafia group," Alaric said, turning toward me with narrowed eyes. "Or we'll have a war on our hands."

He paused, letting the silence weigh in.

"This is Caroline Fisher. She belongs to the Caruso mafia."

Dante looked me over with suspicion.

"Then why is she trying to seduce me?"

Alaric's jaw twitched. Something in Dante's words hit a nerve. His expression didn't change, but the silence between them thickened.

Without another word, he took my hand. His grip was firm-bordering on painful.

"I'll take you back to the summit," he muttered, dragging me behind him.

We reached the elevator. He shoved me inside and pressed the button, standing stiffly beside me, refusing to meet my gaze. I curled back against the elevator wall, my heart thudding against my ribs.

"You survived," a voice crackled through the earpiece hidden in my ear. Cold, controlled.

"Good. Now get the key from Alaric."

I swallowed hard. My eyes darted toward him. Seduction wasn't an option anymore-not after what had just happened with Dante.

"Tick-tock, Katherine," the voice hissed. "Leave the summit without the key, and your mother dies."

My lungs tightened. I could barely breathe. My palms were clammy against the soft fabric of my dress. I stepped closer to Alaric, clutching at the hem like it was the only thing grounding me.

"W–would you like to dance?" I stuttered, the words trembling on my lips.

He turned, slowly. His eyes locked on me, unreadable-icy, yet surprised.

"Go home, Caroline Fisher," he said coldly and turned away.

Panicked, I lunged after him, slipping on the sleek marble floor. I fell forward, hands catching on his back, wrapping around him without thinking.

He froze. Then, with a slow breath, he unwrapped my arms and turned to face me.

His hand tilted my chin up. His touch was surprisingly gentle.

"What do you want... Caroline Fisher?"

I trembled under his gaze.

"I just... wanted to thank you. For saving me," I murmured.

He studied me in silence, then his jaw tensed.

"Just one dance. And then you'll leave this summit?"

Why was he so eager to get rid of me?

It didn't matter. If dancing with him could save my mother's life... I nodded slowly. "Yes."

He extended his hand. I placed mine into his-his skin was warm, smooth. His grip, steady. He never broke eye contact as he led me into the grand ballroom.

The lights shimmered above us like starlight. Couples moved in rhythm to the soft, haunting melody. My dress swayed around my legs, brushing lightly against his as we stepped into the dance.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Elena glaring at me like daggers. But I didn't dare look away.

"Look at me," Alaric growled softly into my ear. "Just me."

He wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling me closer. So close I could smell the faint trace of cologne and expensive whiskey on him.

Married for three years, and this... this was the closest I had ever been to him.

He moved smoothly. Powerfully. I tried not to shake.

How would I reach into his pocket for the key without him noticing?

His hand slid down to my waist, pressing me against him.

Now. I carefully unhooked one arm from around his neck and slipped it down his side. My fingers brushed against the metal key ring in his coat pocket. Got it.

"I... I should go," I whispered quickly, stepping back.

He slid a hand into his pocket and paused. But he didn't look surprised. He didn't say anything.

I didn't wait. I turned and bolted out of the ballroom.

"Congratulations on a successful mission," the voice said in my ear. "Await my next instructions."

A loud beep followed.

"Hello?" I whispered. Nothing. The line was dead.

I pressed my back against the elevator wall, heart hammering. What had my life become? Stealing from mafia bosses? Risking everything for a chance at saving her?

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out, spotting Winston parked right outside. I climbed into the car, not saying a word. He didn't ask. He just started driving.

But my mind was stuck on Alaric. I had just stolen something important from a man who could ruin me with a word. Would there be consequences? Did I just start a war?

But what choice did I have?

We arrived at the mansion minutes later. As soon as we stepped inside, Sutton rushed down the stairs, her eyes wide, smile bright.

"You made it," she said, pulling me into a tight hug.

Why did she care so much? No one else ever did.

"Get her into her old outfit," Winston said, his voice flat. "I'll take her back home."

Sutton nodded and turned to guide me upstairs.

"I can do it myself," I said quietly.

She paused, turning back. Her face fell, shoulders sagging slightly.

"Yeah... of course," she murmured before stepping back.

I clutched my dress and walked upstairs alone.

I closed the door behind me and turned toward the mirror-and froze.

The woman staring back at me didn't look like me.

The heavy makeup. The elegant gown. The mask in her eyes. This wasn't me.

With trembling fingers, I reached behind and unzipped the dress. As the fabric fell away from my skin, I took in a shaky breath.

What had I become? A pawn in somebody's game? To be disposed of at any moment?

A few minutes later, I slipped back into my hoodie and sweatpants. The hot water had rinsed the makeup off my face, and I'd yanked off the blonde wig, letting my real hair-soft brown strands-fall against my skin. I pushed it behind my ears with shaky fingers, eyes drifting down to the stolen key in my palm.

It was cold. Heavy. Symbols were carved all over it-strange, intricate patterns that felt oddly familiar, like i had seen it before, a forgotten dream.

With a deep sigh,I shoved it into my pocket and moved towards the door.

"Get a hold of yourself, Sutton!" Winston's voice exploded from downstairs, laced with fury.

I stopped. Instinctively holding my breath.

"If you let your feelings for Silas get in the way of our plans, you'll be killed. Do you understand!" Winston barked.

My spine pressed flat against the wall as I leaned closer, careful not to make a sound.

"Silas didn't want his daughter involved in this world," Sutton replied, her voice strained. "He thought it was too dangerous."

I heard a sudden rustle-then Sutton choking.

Peeking around the stairwell, I saw Winston's hand wrapped tightly around her throat.

"Do you want to be the one to tell the boss that?" he growled.

Sutton struggled, her eyes wide with panic. "No," she gasped.

He finally let go, and she collapsed onto a chair, coughing, holding her neck.

Winston glared down at her. "You and Silas had history. The boss can never find out. You know the rules. Loyalty above everything."

"I know," she said quietly, voice raw.

"You looked at Silas like that once. Now you're looking at his daughter the same way." He paused, then added coldly, "You don't get to feel anything, Sutton. Especially not for her."

Silence.

"Katherine can't know who she really is. Not yet," he said. "She might be the key to getting us those documents. Once we have what we need, she's gone. But if she finds out about her father-or where she really comes from-you die first."

My blood ran cold. I was... what?

My breath hitched.

Silas? His daughter?

My head spun.

No. That couldn't be. My dad died when I was five. His name wasn't Silas. It couldn't be. My mother would've told me. Right?

Right?

I quickly stepped away and then walked louder this time, making sure they heard me coming. I didn't want them to know I'd overheard.

As I descended the stairs, Sutton stood up fast, smoothing her shirt, pasting on a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'll take you home," Winston said curtly. He didn't look at me. Just opened the door.

I followed him out silently.

At the doorway, I paused and glanced back at Sutton. She wouldn't meet my eyes.

I stepped outside, the cool night air slapping against my skin like a warning. The world suddenly felt too quiet. Too heavy. My chest tightened.

Who the hell was Silas?

And why did that name feel like it had been hiding in the cracks of my memory all along?

I slid into the back seat of the car. Everything felt unfamiliar-my clothes, my hands, even my reflection in the window. Like I was wearing someone else's life.

The car pulled into traffic.

Then my phone rang.

I jumped.

The screen lit up with a name I hadn't seen in three years.

Alaric.

My stomach dropped.

He was calling me?

Why?

Did he know what I'd done?

Did he know I was really Caroline?Or that I had the key?

My hand hovered over the screen, my pulse thudding in my ears. I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly tapped "Answer."

"Hello?" I said, barely above a whisper, my fingers trembling against the glass.