Chapter 3 - The Shadow in the Lobby
Cade’s fingers slid beneath the envelopes.
He smiled, triumphant.
“Found it,” he whispered, his hand curling around the small plastic card.
Suddenly, a heavy, deliberate sound echoed from the seating area across the lobby.
Scrape.
The sound of leather shoes shifting against the marble floor.
Cade froze.
His hand paused inside the drawer.
He turned his head slowly toward the waiting area.
I opened my eyes.
Sitting in the leather armchair across the lobby was Emmett Castellano.
He had not left for the sixth-floor conference room after all.
He sat with his legs crossed, resting a heavy leather folder on his knee.
His charcoal wool overcoat was unbuttoned.
His cold, gray eyes were fixed entirely on Cade Branick.
The room seemed to drop ten degrees in an instant.
Cade forced an awkward, defensive smile, pulling his hand out of the drawer empty-handed.
“Ah, Mr. Castellano,” Cade stammered, trying to mask his panic behind corporate bravado. “We’re just... wrapping up some administrative matters here before the holiday break.”
Emmett did not blink.
He did not smile.
He slowly stood up.
His tall, broad-shouldered frame uncoiled with terrifying, predatory grace.
He smoothed down the front of his coat.
The old wristwatch on his wrist showed hands permanently frozen at 9:40.
“Administrative matters,” Emmett repeated.
His voice was a low, resonant baritone that carried effortlessly across the cavernous lobby.
It wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
It had the chilling weight of a death sentence delivered in a whisper.
Cade swallowed hard, taking an involuntary step back from the reception desk.
“Yes, sir,” Cade forced out, his voice squeaking slightly. “Just an internal HR review with Miss Vance.”
Emmett walked slowly across the polished marble floor.
His leather shoes clicked with rhythmic, unrelenting precision.
Click. Click. Click.
He stopped five feet from the reception counter, standing directly between Cade and the exit.
“HR review,” Emmett said quietly.
He turned his cold, gray gaze from Cade to me.
He saw the wet trail of tears on my cheeks.
He saw the trembling of my hands.
He saw the nursing home document lying abandoned on the counter.
Emmett’s eyes darkened into a storm of silent, absolute fury.
“Step away from the desk, Mr. Branick,” Emmett commanded softly.
Cade bristled, puffing out his chest.
“Now look here, Castellano, this is an internal company issue—you have no right to—”
Before Cade could finish his sentence, two men in dark suits materialized out of the shadows behind the waiting-room chairs.
Gio Traumante and another enforcer.
They moved with terrifying speed, grabbing Cade by both arms and slamming him down hard against the marble pillar.
Cade gasped as the wind was driven violently from his lungs.
Emmett didn't even look at him.
He stepped up to the reception counter, resting his large, calloused hand right beside where I stood shaking.
“Are you hurt, Miss Vance?” Emmett asked, his voice softening just enough for only me to hear.
May you like
I stared up at him, my heart pounding in my throat, realizing that the quiet man who had refused my coffee a half-hour ago was dangerous enough to tear this entire building apart.
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