Chapter 1
Adriano locked down the estate before he asked Bernadette a single question.
Nobody left.
Nobody was searched publicly.
Nobody was threatened.
He simply told security chief Grant Holloway that every child attending the reception needed to be located immediately and returned to a parent or verified guardian.
There were seven children at the estate.
Six were found within three minutes.
The seventh was nine-year-old Ethan Price.
Sadie’s cousin.
The son of Adriano’s late younger sister, Nora.
Adriano’s expression changed when Grant spoke the name.
“Where was he last seen?”
“Children’s game room.”
“With who?”
“Two sitters and three other kids.”
“Find him.”
Sadie grabbed Adriano’s sleeve.
“He’s upstairs.”
Adriano looked down.
“How do you know?”
“Aunt Bernadette said they were moving him.”
“Who is they?”
Sadie’s breathing became uneven.
Adriano crouched.
“Never mind. You don’t have to tell me right now.”
That was difficult.
Everything inside him wanted answers.
But Bernadette had already frightened his daughter for knowing too much.
He would not become another adult demanding performance from her.
Grant received a call through his earpiece.
“Found him.”
Adriano stood.
“Where?”
“Blue guest room.”
“Why?”
“Apparently somebody told the sitter his father was running late and Ethan would stay overnight.”
Adriano went still.
Ethan’s father, Daniel Price, had specifically told Adriano that morning he would collect his son at nine.
There had been no overnight arrangement.
Adriano left Bernadette under security supervision in the study and went upstairs.
Ethan was sitting on a guest bed watching television.
His shoes had already been removed.
A small overnight backpack stood beside the dresser.
Adriano recognized it.
“Nobody brought that bag with him this afternoon.”
The sitter looked confused.
“It was delivered up here around eight.”
“By whom?”
“One of Mrs. Bernadette’s assistants.”
Ethan looked from Adriano to Grant.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Dad said I’m going home.”
“You are.”
Ethan pointed toward the backpack.
“Aunt Bernadette said Dad changed his mind.”
Adriano slowly turned toward Grant.
“Call Daniel.”
Daniel answered immediately.
His first words were:
“Why is Bernadette texting me that you insisted Ethan stay at the estate?”
Adriano closed his eyes.
“I didn’t.”
Silence.
Then Daniel’s voice hardened.
“I’m coming now.”
Adriano looked at the overnight bag.
The recorder had said the boy would disappear after Adriano left.
May you like
Someone had already packed Ethan for a night he was never supposed to spend there.
That was the first thing that made the recording feel less like an angry phrase and more like a plan.
