The Vescari Estate
I had studied the Vescari estate for eleven days.
Three entrances.
Two private security checkpoints.
One underground garage.
And one family gathering every Friday night where half the city's most dangerous men came to drink, gamble, and pretend they weren't criminals.
Tonight, I was one of them.
I stepped out of the car and smoothed down my black dress.
Nadia Moretti.
That was the name on my invitation.
The identity I had been given.
The life I was supposed to be living.
I smiled at the guard.
He checked my invitation, then stepped aside.
"Enjoy your evening, Miss Moretti."
I walked through the doors.
And immediately began counting.
One guard near the staircase.
Two by the eastern hallway.
Three around the bar.
Security cameras in every corner.
Exactly as I'd been told.
I picked up a glass of champagne and disappeared into the crowd.
Nobody paid much attention to me.
Good.
That was the point.
The Vescari family had no reason to fear a woman like me.
I looked harmless.
Young.
Polite.
A little too quiet.
Perfect.
Across the ballroom, I spotted the man I'd come here to find.
Luca Vescari.
Adrian's younger cousin.
He handled most of the family's financial records before they reached Adrian.
Which meant he knew things.
Things I needed.
I took one sip of champagne.
Then another.
And waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Luca finally left the ballroom.
Alone.
I followed.
Not immediately.
That would've been stupid.
Instead, I waited until a waiter passed, then deliberately stepped backward.
My shoulder hit him.
The champagne in my hand spilled across the front of his white shirt.
"Oh my God!"
The waiter froze.
"I am so sorry."
Heads turned.
Exactly what I wanted.
Luca stopped at the end of the hallway and looked back.
Good.
I bent down quickly.
"My fault. I'm so sorry."
The waiter started apologizing, but I shook my head.
"It's okay."
Then I looked up at Luca.
"Excuse me, sir?"
He frowned.
"Do you know where the ladies' room is?"
He glanced toward the hallway behind him.
"Second door on the left."
I smiled.
"Thank you."
Then I walked straight past him.
He didn't notice the small silver keycard slipping from the pocket of his jacket.
Because I hadn't taken it.
Not yet.
I waited until he turned the corner.
Then I smiled.
The scene had worked.
People were still watching the embarrassed waiter.
Nobody was watching me.
I slipped the keycard from where I'd caught it between two fingers.
And walked toward the eastern hallway.
The part of the house guests weren't supposed to enter.
My pulse quickened.
Not from fear.
From anticipation.
I'd spent months searching for one thing.
One clue.
One name.
One piece of evidence that could tell me what happened to my sister.
Everyone had told me she was dead.
I never believed them.
And somewhere inside this house...
I believed the Vescari family knew why.
I reached the locked door.
Held up the keycard.
Beep.
The lock clicked.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Empty.
I slipped inside.
And quietly closed the door behind me.
I had no idea that, somewhere upstairs, Adrian Vescari was having absolutely no interest in the mysterious woman who had just walked into his family's house.
He hadn't noticed me.
He didn't know my name.
He didn't care who I was.
Yet.
And honestly?
That was exactly how I wanted it.
