Chapter 6 - The Things He Called Protection
Rico came downstairs with Leo asleep against his shoulder.
“Which lawyer?”
Teresa wiped her face.
“Nora Keene. Elena wrote the name down for me.”
“Why didn’t you tell the police?”
“I told Vincent.”
Rico’s expression turned hard.
“I’m not asking what you told Vincent.”
Teresa flinched.
Clara stepped forward.
“Lower your voice.”
“This is my wife.”
“And your son is right here.”
Rico looked down.
Leo’s eyes were open.
His small body had gone rigid.
Rico closed his mouth.
After a moment, he whispered, “You’re safe. I’m upset, but you didn’t do anything.”
Leo kept staring.
Rico sat until the boy’s breathing slowed.
Only then did he hand him to the nanny.
Nora Keene answered on the second call.
Yes, Elena had arranged a meeting.
No, it had never happened.
But Elena had sent copies of several financial records through the law firm’s secure system.
Nora would preserve them and contact the detective handling the murder.
Rico wanted her at the house immediately.
She refused.
“My office. Tomorrow. Bring your lawyer.”
When he hung up, he started issuing orders.
Nobody left alone.
Nobody entered without approval.
Clara would stay overnight.
“No,” Clara said.
“It’s safer.”
“You don’t get to decide where I sleep.”
“Someone threatened you.”
“And I want protection. I don’t want a locked door between me and my own life.”
Rico looked at Dante.
“Give us a minute.”
Dante stayed.
“Boss,” he said, “she’s right.”
The room fell quiet.
Rico stared at the man who almost never challenged him.
Then he looked back at Clara.
“What do you want?”
“A ride home. Someone outside if I agree. My phone. My keys. My choices.”
He nodded once.
That evening, she found him outside Leo’s bedroom.
The boy had refused to let him tuck in the blanket.
Rico leaned against the wall.
“I used to think protection meant nothing could reach them.”
Clara stood beside him.
“You can’t build a wall high enough to keep grief out.”
He swallowed.
“Elena told me something like that.”
“What did you say?”
“That she worried too much.”
His phone rang.
Dante.
Rico answered, listened, and slowly straightened.
“What?”
Clara watched the color leave his face.
Dante had checked the access records for Elena’s private office.
May you like
Someone had entered it the morning after her murder.
Using his own security code.
