Chapter 12 - The Ghost of the Past
Over the next three days, the atmosphere within Moretti Manor shifted from domestic tranquility to guarded vigilance. Security details were doubled. The iron gates remained locked tight, and the trusted men of Dominic’s inner circle—led by his loyal right-hand, Marco—patrolled the perimeter around the clock.
Ava, oblivious to the brewing storm, was busy in the sunroom with her art tutor, completely absorbed in mixing oil paints to capture the changing hues of the autumn leaves. Emily made sure to keep the children’s routine as normal as possible, acting as the steady anchor of the household while Dominic operated in the shadows.
Late that night, down in the underground communications room, Dominic reviewed security footage from the perimeter sensors. The red dot blinked on sector four—near the old greenhouse. A digital ghost. No footprints, no security breach alarms triggered, but a fresh white rose left neatly on the stone steps. A calling card.
Marco stepped into the dim light of the room, his face grim. "Boss, we swept the grounds twice. No trace of an intruder. Whoever left that rose knows our blind spots. They’re toying with us."
Dominic’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "They aren’t just toying with us, Marco. They’re letting us know they can breach our fortress whenever they choose. It’s a psychological game."
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"What are your orders?" Marco asked, his hand instinctively resting on his holster.
"Draw them out," Dominic commanded, his voice ice-cold. "Set a trap at the south pavilion tomorrow night. I want whoever is running this ghost show to realize they’ve walked straight into a cage."
