Chapter 2 - The Viper's Nest
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Beneath the heavy oak desk, Nell forced her breathing to slow. The dust on the floor tickled her nose, but the sheer terror of discovery kept her completely paralyzed.
“Midnight,” Bruno mused, the sound of liquid pouring into a crystal glass echoing above her. “If Rafe rushes down to the harbor to protect the shipments, he’ll be out in the open. No reinforced glass. No private security detail.”
“Exactly,” Teddy grunted. “We hit the trucks, light a fire, and wait for the nephew to play the hero.”
“Make sure the police are delayed,” Bruno ordered coldly. “I don't want any sirens interrupting the work. When it’s done, the board will have no choice but to name me the head of the Santoro family.”
Nell squeezed her eyes shut. Bruno was planning to assassinate his own nephew tonight.
“What about the girl?” Teddy asked suddenly.
Nell’s blood turned to ice.
“Which one?”
“The new maid. The one Rafe stepped in to protect at the party. I don't like her. She watches too closely.”
“She’s a nobody,” Bruno scoffed. “A passing distraction for a man who has forgotten how to rule. Once Rafe is gone, you can do whatever you please with the staff.”
Heavy footsteps moved back toward the door.
“Get to the harbor, Teddy. Do not fail me.”
The door clicked shut. The lock engaged.
Nell waited for five agonizing minutes before she finally slid out from under the desk. Her uniform was covered in dust, her hands shaking violently.
She checked the ornate grandfather clock in the corner of the room. It was eleven-fifteen. She had exactly forty-five minutes to warn a man who terrified her about an uncle who wanted him dead.
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She grabbed her cart and slipped out into the hallway, moving faster than she ever had in her life. She didn't care about the rules. She didn't care about remaining invisible.
She had to find Rafe.
