The sun went down, and the mansion became very quiet. A maid brought Amara a dress. It was made of deep red silk—the color of a rose, or fresh blood.
"Mr. De Luca is waiting for you in the dining room," the maid said, her voice shaking slightly. "He says you must wear this."
Amara put on the dress. It fit her perfectly, as if Lorenzo already knew her every measurement. She walked down the wide marble stairs, her bare feet silent on the cold stone. She found Lorenzo sitting at the head of a very long table. The room was lit only by candles, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Lorenzo looked up. The red dress made Amara's skin look pale and soft. His eyes darkened with something she couldn't name. It wasn't just anger anymore. It was hunger.
"Sit," he said. He pointed to the chair right next to him. He didn't want her at the other end of the long table. He wanted her close enough to touch.
Amara sat down. A servant placed a plate of expensive food in front of her, but she was too nervous to eat. "Why the dress, Lorenzo? Why the dinner? I am a witness to a murder, not your date."
Lorenzo picked up his wine glass. The red liquid swirled in the crystal. "In my world, appearance is everything, Amara. My men are starting to talk. They wonder why the King let a witness live."
"What are they saying?" she whispered.
"They think I am getting soft," Lorenzo said. He leaned toward her, the candlelight making his sharp features look like a statue. "They think you are a weakness. I had to show them that you aren't a mistake. You are a choice."
He reached out and ran a thumb over her lower lip. Amara shivered, but she didn't pull away. She was terrified of him, yet his touch felt like electricity.
"I kept you because I saw something in your eyes in that alley," he whispered. "A spark. I decided then that I wouldn't let that spark go out. Not unless I was the one to extinguish it."
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the dining room swung open. A guard rushed in, his face pale and sweating.
"Boss," the guard gasped. "We have a problem. The Moretti family... they found out about the girl. They are at the front gate with ten cars. They want the witness."
Lorenzo didn't jump up. He didn't look scared. He slowly finished his wine and stood up, pulling a silver handgun from his waistband. He looked down at Amara and placed a heavy, warm hand on her shoulder.
"It seems my enemies want to meet you, Amara," Lorenzo said, his voice as cold as a winter grave. "Stay behind me. If you move an inch away from my side, I cannot promise you will see tomorrow."
The sound of a loud explosion shook the house. The war for the silent witness had begun.
The Morettis have arrived to take Amara! Should we move to Chapter 5: No Escape, where Amara tries to use the chaos to run away?