Chapter 2: The Secret Beneath the Crib
The mansion alarms did not sound.
That was what frightened Matteo the most.
A normal intruder would trigger sensors.
A normal enemy would leave evidence.
But whoever had entered the nursery knew how to move through his home without being seen.
That meant only one thing.
They were not outside the Varric security system.
They were inside it.
Matteo reached beneath his jacket and pulled out the weapon hidden against his back.
Liana’s eyes widened.
“You brought that into a baby’s room?””
“I bring protection everywhere.””
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?””
“No.””
The honesty surprised her.
Matteo moved toward the dark cameras.
“Nobody touches the lights.””
Liana stayed where she was.
She wanted to run.
Every instinct told her to run.
But Nico was calm.
Still sleeping.
Still holding onto her.
And for some reason, leaving him felt impossible.
The door handle moved.
Liana stopped breathing.
Matteo raised his weapon.
The door opened.
A security guard stumbled inside.
“Boss—”
Matteo lowered the weapon slightly.
“What happened?””
The guard looked nervous.
“That’s the problem.””
“What?””
“The cameras went offline, but nobody entered through the main security points.””
Matteo’s expression hardened.
“Impossible.””
“I checked twice.””
Liana watched the two men.
There was fear in the guard’s face.
Not fear of Matteo.
Fear of what he had discovered.
“What did you find?”” Matteo asked.
The guard hesitated.
“Your son’s old medical records.””
Silence.
Matteo’s eyes narrowed.
“What about them?””
“They were accessed tonight.””
“By who?””
“We don’t know.””
Liana looked down at Nico.
Medical records.
Why would someone want information about a baby?
Unless Nico was not just a baby.
Unless there was something about him that even his father didn’t know.
Matteo saw the question forming on her face.
“Don’t.””
“Don’t what?””
“Don’t start imagining things.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
“I always do.””
“No,” Liana said quietly.
“You tell people what keeps them obedient.””
The guard looked shocked.
Nobody spoke to Matteo like that.
But Matteo did not punish her.
Instead, he studied her.
Because the strange thing was…
She was right.
His entire life had been built on controlling information.
But tonight, control was slipping.
“Leave,” he told the guard.
Once they were alone again, Matteo looked at Liana.
“You want answers?””
“Yes.””
“Then I need answers from you first.””
“About my husband?””
“Yes.””
Liana looked at Nico.
The baby’s fingers were still wrapped around her necklace.
She slowly removed the pendant from his hand.
“My husband’s name was Daniel.””
Matteo’s expression changed.
“Daniel what?””
“Daniel Graves.””
“Where did he work?””
She hesitated.
“Security.””
The room became colder.
“For who?””
Liana looked at him.
“I don’t know.””
Matteo stepped closer.
“You don’t know where your husband worked?””
“He never talked about it.””
“That’s a lie.””
Her eyes flashed.
“I know what my husband told me.””
“And what did he tell you?””
“That his job was dangerous.””
Matteo stared.
“How long ago did he die?””
“Three weeks ago.””
The answer struck him.
Three weeks.
The exact moment Nico changed.
The exact moment the mysterious woman entered the nursery.
The exact moment someone started hiding information.
Matteo’s mind began connecting pieces.
“No.””
Liana looked confused.
“What?””
He walked away.
“No.””
“What are you thinking?””
“I’m thinking your husband may not have died when you think he did.””
Her face went pale.
“Don’t say that.””
“I need to investigate.””
“You think I don’t know my own husband?””
“I think someone wanted you to believe he was dead.””
The pain in her eyes almost made him stop.
Almost.
But Matteo had survived because he followed facts, not emotions.
He moved to the crib.
Slowly, he lifted the mattress.
This time, he checked every corner.
Then he felt something.
A small cut in the fabric.
Hidden underneath.
He pulled.
A tiny envelope slid out.
Liana covered her mouth.
Matteo opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of Daniel Graves.
Standing beside Isabella Varric.
His dead wife.
Neither of them was smiling.
On the back of the photo were six words.
“Your son was never only yours.””
Matteo stopped breathing.
Liana looked at the picture.
Then at Matteo.
“What does this mean?””
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For the first time in years, Matteo Varric had no answer.
And that frightened him more than any enemy ever had.
