THE SAFE ROOM SECRET

Dominic moved so fast I barely registered it.

He stepped in front of me, completely shielding my body with his own. His hand instinctively hovered near the holster concealed beneath his jacket.

“Vincent,” Dominic said. His voice was smooth, but it carried a lethal edge. “You’re unannounced.”

“I’m family, Dom,” Vincent smiled, stepping into the foyer. He closed the heavy door behind him, entirely ignoring the tension in the room. “Since when does family need an appointment?”

My heart was hammering against my ribs.

I stood frozen behind Dominic’s broad back. I was still wearing only the tight black tank top. If Vincent stepped just one foot to the left, he would see the undeniable curve of my stomach.

I slowly reached down with my foot, trying to hook the discarded oversized sweater on the floor and drag it closer.

Vincent’s eyes darted toward the movement.

Dominic shifted perfectly, blocking his line of sight again.

“What do you want, Vincent?”

“I came to see my niece,” Vincent said smoothly.

“Lily is asleep.”

“At four in the afternoon?” Vincent chuckled, but his eyes were cold. “I don’t think so. I brought her a present.”

He held up the beautifully wrapped box.

“A music box. Just like the one Elena had when we were kids. I thought Lily should have a piece of her mother.”

Dominic’s jaw clenched. Hearing his dead wife’s name from her brother’s mouth was clearly a violation.

“Leave it on the table. I’ll make sure she gets it.”

Vincent didn’t move toward the table.

Instead, he tilted his head, trying to look past Dominic’s shoulder.

“Is that the nanny hiding back there?” Vincent asked, his voice dripping with faux innocence. “Norah, isn’t it?”

I held my breath.

“She’s off the clock,” Dominic said flatly. “And we are busy.”

“I can see that,” Vincent smirked. “She looks… different. Glowing, even. Must be the lighting in here.”

My stomach dropped to the floor.

He knew.

The comment was too specific. Too pointed.

Dominic didn’t react physically, but I felt the violent shift in his energy. He was preparing to draw his weapon right here in the foyer.

“Daddy!”

The small, cheerful voice shattered the tension.

Lily came bounding down the stairs in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes. She ran straight toward us, ignoring the dangerous atmosphere.

“Uncle Vince!” she cheered.

Vincent’s face instantly transformed into a mask of pure, loving adoration. He dropped to one knee, opening his arms.

Lily ran past Dominic and threw herself into Vincent’s embrace.

Dominic’s hand twitched, but he couldn’t pull a gun with his four-year-old daughter in the line of fire.

Vincent hugged Lily tight.

As he did, his sleeve pulled back.

My breath caught.

Wrapped tightly around Vincent’s wrist was a delicate, tarnished silver bracelet. A woman’s bracelet.

“Look what I brought you, Lily-bug,” Vincent said, handing her the wrapped box.

Lily tore the paper off instantly. Inside was an ornate, antique wooden music box. She opened the lid, and a hauntingly beautiful lullaby filled the tense hallway.

“I love it!” Lily beamed.

“I’m glad, sweetheart,” Vincent said. He stood up, his eyes locking onto Dominic’s. “You make sure she keeps that in her room, Dom. Let her listen to it every night.”

“Time to go, Vincent,” Dominic said, stepping forward.

“I’m leaving.” Vincent adjusted his coat. He looked past Dominic one last time, his eyes briefly meeting mine.

“Take care of your health, Norah. The world is a dangerous place for fragile things.”

With that, he turned and walked out the door.

The moment the lock clicked, Dominic spun around.

He snatched the music box right out of Lily’s hands.

“Hey!” Lily cried, tears instantly springing to her eyes.

“Maria!” Dominic roared.

The housekeeper came rushing from the kitchen.

“Take Lily upstairs. Now,” Dominic ordered.

Maria saw his face, scooped up a crying Lily, and hurried up the stairs.

I stood trembling as Dominic carried the music box into his study. I followed him, finally pulling my thick sweater back on over my head.

Dominic placed the antique box on his mahogany desk. He grabbed a heavy steel letter opener.

“Dominic, what are you doing? It’s just a toy.”

“Vincent doesn’t give gifts,” Dominic muttered, his eyes dark with paranoia.

He jammed the steel blade into the velvet lining at the bottom of the music box. With a violent twist, he pried the false bottom completely off.

I gasped.

Tucked neatly inside the secret compartment, nestled among the spinning brass gears, was a small black square with a blinking red light.

An audio transmitter.

Vincent hadn’t just come to taunt us. He had come to bug the house.

Dominic stared at the blinking red light.

“He knows,” Dominic whispered. “He already knew.”

My blood ran cold. “How?”

“The clinic,” Dominic said, his voice laced with venom. “My men aren’t the only ones watching the streets. If my cameras caught you going in, his did too.”

Dominic reached for the bug to crush it, but I grabbed his wrist.

“Wait!” I hissed. “If you destroy it, he’ll know we found it. He’ll escalate.”

Dominic looked at me, realizing I was right.

“Answer one question, and you open two more,” Dominic muttered, stepping back from the desk. “If he already knew you were pregnant… why come here today?”

I looked at the destroyed music box.

Then, a sickening realization hit me.

“He didn’t come here to confirm I was pregnant,” I whispered, looking at Dominic. “He came here to confirm you knew.”

Dominic’s face went pale.

“The ticket,” I said, my voice rising in panic. “Dominic, you ordered a private jet to Zurich.”

Dominic pulled his phone out frantically. He dialed his head of security.

“Marcus. Status on the jet at Teterboro.”

Silence filled the room for three agonizing seconds.

Then, Dominic dropped the phone.

“The hangar is on fire,” Dominic said hollowly. “The jet is gone.”

We were trapped.

And my phone, sitting on the side table, suddenly vibrated.