The photograph appeared three days later.

Dominic summoned me into his study at 8:15 in the morning.

He didn’t ask me to sit.

He slid the photograph across his desk.

It showed Lily leaving the Moretti house while holding my hand.

My stomach turned.

“Where did you get this?”

“That isn’t important.”

“It’s important to me.”

Dominic’s eyes met mine.

“Someone has been watching my house.”

I looked at Lily’s face in the photograph.

“Why?”

“That’s what I’m finding out.”

“Is she in danger?”

“No.”

“You cannot know that.”

“I do.”

“How?”

His expression sharpened.

“Because nobody gets near this house without me knowing.”

“Someone got close enough to photograph my daughter.”

That landed.

Dominic looked away.

“You’re right.”

I hadn’t expected those words.

He pressed a button.

“Anthony.”

A broad-shouldered man entered.

“Take Isabella and Lily home.”

“No,” I said.

Both men looked at me.

“I’m taking Lily away.”

“Where?”

“My sister’s.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t know.”

Dominic stood.

“You’re safer here.”

“I’m not part of your world.”

“No.”

His voice softened.

“But Lily has become part of Leo’s.”

“That doesn’t make her your responsibility.”

A voice came from the doorway.

“Is Lily leaving?”

Leo.

He had heard everything.

I closed my eyes.

Dominic walked toward him.

“Leo—”

“You said she could stay.”

“I never said that.”

“You always make people leave.”

The words struck harder than shouting could have.

Dominic stopped.

Leo’s eyes filled.

“Mom left.”

Dominic went completely still.

“Grandma left.”

“Leo.”

“Now Lily.”

“Your mother didn’t leave because of you.”

“Then why?”

Dominic couldn’t answer.

Leo ran upstairs.

I looked at Dominic.

He stared after his son.

“What happened to his mother?”

His eyes became cold.

“That is not your concern.”

“It is when whatever happened is destroying your son.”

“Enough.”

“No.”

I surprised both of us.

“You asked why Leo is afraid to disappoint you. That’s why. Everyone disappears, and nobody tells him anything.”

Dominic stepped closer.

“You know nothing about my wife.”

“Then tell me.”

His jaw flexed.

For several seconds, I thought he would order me out.

Instead, he said:

“Her name was Sofia.”

I waited.

“She died four years ago.”

My anger disappeared.

Dominic turned toward the window.

“Leo was two.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Everyone is.”

His voice was empty.

“She was driving home. A truck crossed the center line.”

I said nothing.

Dominic continued.

“I was supposed to be with her.”

“But you weren’t.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Business.”

One word.

Enough to explain four years of guilt.

“You blamed yourself.”

He looked at me.

“I still do.”

“And after that?”

“I made sure Leo had everything.”

“Everything except you.”

His eyes flashed.

I didn’t retreat.

“Children don’t understand protection the way adults do,” I said. “He doesn’t need the safest house in Boston if he feels alone inside it.”

Dominic looked toward the ceiling.

Toward Leo’s room.

Then Anthony returned.

“Boss.”

“What?”

“We identified the photographer.”

Dominic’s expression changed instantly.

“Who?”

Anthony placed another photograph on the desk.

A gray-haired woman getting out of the sedan.

Dominic stared at it.

The color drained from his face.

I had never seen him afraid before.

“Who is she?” I asked.

Dominic whispered the answer.

“Sofia’s mother.”

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