The price of silence

Chapter 2: The Price of Silence

The chill of the night chilled my shoulders as I walked away from the mansion. The deafening sound of my heels on the pavement sounded like a countdown. With the bag clutched to me, I took one last look over my shoulder before disappearing into a dark alley where a black car with tinted windows awaited me.

I slid into the back seat and placed the bag on my lap. The door closed with a sharp slam, and the car drove off immediately. No one spoke during the ride. The driver, one of Jonas' men, was instructed to remain silent. I preferred to replay the evening over and over in my head. Samuel’s voice, his intrigued look…

— “He’s offside, Nina. You did the right thing.”

The car suddenly stopped in an abandoned warehouse. The headlights illuminated the dusty interior, revealing Jonas sitting casually in a chair, a cigarette between his fingers. He watched me approach with a predatory smile, surrounded by his henchmen.

— “The best thief in town,” he said, his voice full of satisfaction. “So, my dear, did you do it?”

I placed the bag in front of him. The zipper squeaked slightly as he opened it to examine the contents. His eyes widened as he saw the bills, watches and jewelry glinting in the yellow neon light.

— “You did it, Nina. As always,” he said, closing the bag. "Moretti won't even understand what happened to him."

I remained impassive despite his compliments. Jonas didn't give anything for free. He reached into the pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out a wad of bills which he tossed to me.

— “Your share. Well deserved.”

I grabbed it in one quick movement, my heart still racing. No thanks. In our world, recognition was measured by payment. Jonas stared at me for a moment, as if trying to read my thoughts.

— “You seem somewhere else, Nina. Is everything okay?”

— “Perfectly,” I lied, stuffing the money into my bag. "I'm going back."

— “Take a good rest. You’re not ready for what happens next.”

I frowned, but said nothing. With Jonas, asking questions was like opening a door you would rather keep closed.

I returned home at dawn. The apartment was small, worn by time, but it was our refuge. I opened the door carefully, taking care not to make any noise. In the darkness, I walked to the small bedroom at the end of the corridor.

There, sleeping peacefully under rumpled sheets, was Léo, my son. Her blond curls fell on her forehead, and her breathing was calm. My whole world fit in this bed.

I knelt beside him, gently stroking his cheek. An involuntary smile stretched my lips.

— “I’m here, my angel,” I whispered.

He stirred slightly, but did not wake up. I placed a kiss on his forehead before getting up. No matter how strong I acted, it was for him that I put everything on the line every day. Jonas' money allowed us to survive. But at what cost?

I took a quick shower, letting the scalding water wash away the last traces of the evening. When I went out, I dressed in jeans and a black top. The phone vibrated on the coffee table: a message from Clara, my best friend.

— “Come to the club. We’re celebrating tonight!”

I glanced at Leo. He would sleep for hours more. My body was screaming tired, but I knew that after a successful mission, the pressure had to be released.

— “Why not?” I thought.

The deafening music greeted me as soon as I pushed open the doors of the club. Red and blue lights flashed, casting moving shadows over the frenzied crowd. I found Clara near the bar, a vodka in hand and her radiant smile as always.

— “The star of the evening!” she cried when she saw me.

I joined her, taking the glass she handed me.

— “So, mission accomplished?” she asked, curious.

— “As always,” I replied with a wink.

Clara laughs before leading me onto the dance floor. The rhythm of the music vibrated beneath my feet, carrying with it the weight of the evening. I danced as if nothing else existed. Laughter erupted around us, bodies collided, and for a moment, I felt free.

Free to no longer think about Samuel Moretti. Free to no longer see his gaze in my mind. But despite the alcohol and the euphoria, a small voice whispered to me that this was all just a temporary respite.

I let myself go, laughing with Clara, spinning around on the track. The tickets were safe in my apartment, Leo was sleeping peacefully, and for one night, I could forget.

Samuel’s POINT OF VIEW

I woke up with a dull pain in my head, like a hammer was pounding inside my skull. The dim light in my room seemed to blind me, and it took me a few seconds to regain my senses. My throat was dry, and my body strangely heavy.

The leather chair creaked under my weight as I sat up. The memories of the evening gradually came to the surface: the party, this mysterious woman… Jade Delacroix.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to understand. Something was wrong.

My hand instinctively found the glass on the coffee table. Empty. Still, I was sure I hadn't drunk enough to pass out like that.

And that's when I saw it: the painting slightly moved, as if someone had rummaged behind it.

An icy shiver ran through me.

— “No…” I whispered, standing up abruptly.

I jerked the painting away, revealing the chest hidden in the wall. My heart was pounding as I punched in the code. A red light flashed.

— “No, no, no!” I growled.

I repeated the code, but the result was the same. Someone had broken into the trunk.

When I finally managed to open it, the truth hit me: empty. The tickets, the jewelry, the watches… everything was gone.

I clenched my fists, my rage boiling inside like a volcano ready to explode. This woman... This damn woman had drugged me and stripped me like an amateur.

— “Never again.”

I crossed the room in a flash, throwing the door open. The guards posted in the corridor instantly stood up, surprised by my furious appearance.

— “You didn’t see her leave?” I barked.

The taller of the two, Marco, shook his head, looking uncomfortable.

— "No, boss. She stayed in the room with you, and we didn't see anything unusual after that."

— “Nothing seen?! You want me to believe that a single woman managed to leave this house with a bag full of my things without anyone noticing?”

They exchanged a nervous look. The other, a young dark-haired man named Luca, stammered:

— “We thought she was still with you, sir. She looked… normal.”

Normal. This word echoed in my head. They were fooled just as easily as I was.

I ran a hand over my face, trying to contain my fury. Everything about this evening had been a trap, and I had jumped into it like an idiot.

— “Bring the others,” I ordered, my voice cold. "And check the cameras. I want to know how she escaped and where she went."

— “Right away, boss,” Marco replied as he walked away.

I returned to my room, my head buzzing with anger and humiliation. I couldn't believe that a stranger had manipulated me like that.

I leaned over the coffee table, staring at the empty glass. The bitter taste of betrayal was harder to swallow than the sleeping pill she had given me.

— “Jade Delacroix,” I whispered. “Or whatever your real name is… You won’t get away with this.”

She had managed to put me to sleep, steal from me, and disappear. But she didn't yet know who she was dealing with.

I picked up my phone and immediately called my security contact.

— "Tony, check all the recordings from this evening. I want a face, a trace, a trail. And find me everything you can on this woman. Now."

I hung up before he could answer.

There was a rule in this world: no one betrayed me without paying the price. Jade or whatever her real name was had signed her death warrant. I would do anything to find her, to understand how she had managed to deceive me.

And when I get my hands on her...

I smile despite myself, a cruel smile, full of dark promises.

— "Let's see who plays the mystery game best, Nina."