Chapter 4
The woman in Gabriel’s study stood with one hand on the fireplace mantel like she needed it to stay upright.
She had dark hair, pale skin, and eyes that looked exactly like Gabriel’s.
Tired.
Sharp.
Haunted.
Gabriel stopped in the doorway.
“Isabella.”
Her mouth trembled.
“Hello, Gabe.”
I stood behind him with Noah pressed to my side.
My son.
The word still hurt.
Not because it was wrong.
Because it was finally true out loud.
Gabriel did not move.
“You died.”
“So did I, in a way.”
His jaw flexed.
“Where have you been?”
“Hiding from the men our father trusted.”
Mason closed the study doors.
Mrs. Morrison crossed herself.
Isabella looked at me.
“You’re Harper Queen.”
I stiffened.
“Yes.”
“And Noah.”
My arm tightened around him.
Gabriel noticed.
“Why do you know them?”
Isabella opened her purse and pulled out a photograph.
She placed it on the desk.
My mother stood outside our old apartment building holding baby Noah.
Beside her stood Isabella Ashford in sunglasses.
Younger.
Thinner.
Alive.
I stared at the photograph.
“You knew my mother?”
Isabella nodded.
“Rosa hid me after my brother was told I was dead.”
Gabriel’s voice dropped.
“Why would Rosa Queen hide you?”
“Because she cleaned one of Father’s offices. She found the ledgers before I did.”
Mason muttered, “Jesus.”
Isabella looked at Gabriel.
“Uncle Vincent had Father killed. I found proof. He tried to kill me too.”
Gabriel’s expression turned dangerous.
“Where is the proof?”
“Rosa kept copies.”
I shook my head.
“My mother cleaned offices. She didn’t steal from mob families.”
Isabella’s eyes softened.
“She stole from monsters.”
Noah whispered, “Grandma?”
I knelt in front of him.
“She was brave.”
He looked confused.
I did not blame him.
My whole life had become impossible in one night.
Isabella opened a small notebook.
“Rosa sent me one message before she died.”
She read it.
“If anything happens to me, find Harper when the bruises become louder than her fear.”
My throat closed.
Gabriel looked at the marks visible near my collar.
I pulled his jacket tighter around me.
Isabella continued.
“Derek worked for Vincent. He married you because Vincent wanted eyes on Rosa’s daughter.”
The room spun.
“What?”
Gabriel turned slowly.
“Lawson was assigned to her?”
“Yes.”
I backed into the wall.
Derek had not found me because I was unlucky.
He had been placed in my life.
Every slap.
Every threat.
Every apology I begged for.
All part of a leash tied to my mother’s courage.
I covered my mouth.
Noah grabbed my hand.
“Mom?”
That word kept me standing.
Gabriel looked at Isabella.
“Where would Rosa hide the ledgers?”
I knew.
Not the apartment.
Not in any obvious place.
My mother had a cedar sewing box with a broken hinge.
She kept old buttons, church envelopes, and tiny secrets inside it.
After she died, I put it in the back of my closet and never opened it.
“It’s in Dorchester,” I said.
Gabriel shook his head.
“No.”
“My mother’s box is there.”
“Vincent will expect that.”
“Then we get there before him.”
Noah clung to my sleeve.
“I’m coming.”
“No,” I said.
His face changed.
“You said you won’t leave me.”
I knelt again.
“And I meant it. But I also need you alive.”
He looked at Gabriel.
“Will she come back?”
Gabriel crouched.
“I’ll bring her back.”
Noah stared at him.
“You promise?”
Gabriel’s voice was low.
“On my name.”
Mason inhaled sharply.
Noah didn’t understand what that meant.
But everyone else did.
We went to Dorchester before dawn.
The apartment door was open.
Inside, everything was destroyed.
Mattress cut open.
Cabinets emptied.
Drawers broken.
I ran to the closet.
The sewing box was gone.
On the empty shelf was a note.
Rosa should have burned what she stole.
May you like
Beside it lay my mother’s silver rosary.
Snapped in half.
