The lock clicked behind the guards.
The sound echoed through the office like a gunshot.
No one spoke.
Allegra slowly walked around the desk, her heels quiet on the marble floor. The body of her father lay between them like a warning.
She could feel their eyes following her.
Measuring.
Waiting.
The Di Sante family had always been ruled by strength.
Tonight they were about to learn whether she had any.
She stopped in front of the open safe again.
"Who opened this?" she asked.
Silence.
One of the caporegime shifted in his chair.
Allegra turned her head slightly.
"Antonio."
The man straightened immediately.
"I—I don't know, Miss Di Sante."
"Don't lie to me tonight."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
Antonio swallowed.
"I wasn't here."
"Then where were you?"
"At the casino."
Rafael spoke from the side of the room.
"That's true. I saw him there."
Allegra nodded once.
Then she looked at the others.
"Marco."
The older man raised his hands defensively.
"I arrived after Rafael called me."
Her gaze moved again.
One by one.
Each face.
Each expression.
She had grown up around these men.
They had watched her as a child.
Brought her birthday gifts.
Called her principessa.
Now every single one of them looked like a suspect.
Matteo finally stepped forward.
"Allegra."
His tone carried the same quiet authority her father used to have.
"You're grieving. We all are. But accusing your own family—"
"I'm not accusing anyone," she said.
Her eyes cut to him.
"I'm asking questions."
Matteo held her gaze.
Then he looked down at the body.
"Your father had many enemies."
"Yes."
Allegra turned back to the safe.
"But enemies don't know the code to his safe."
The words hung in the air.
No one moved.
Across the room, the stranger in the black suit watched everything silently.
Aiden Kane.
He hadn't spoken again since entering the office.
But Allegra could feel his attention.
Sharp.
Focused.
She ignored him for now.
Instead she stepped closer to the desk.
"Rafael."
"Yes."
"Who knew the safe code?"
Rafael hesitated.
Then answered.
"You."
"Of course."
"Your father."
"Yes."
Another pause.
"And… Matteo."
All eyes turned.
Matteo's expression didn't change.
He looked mildly irritated, as if the entire situation were beneath him.
Allegra watched him carefully.
"You had the code."
Matteo shrugged slightly.
"Your father trusted me."
"Did he?"
A faint smile appeared on Matteo's face.
"You sound surprised."
Allegra didn't answer.
Instead she reached into the safe.
It was empty.
Completely empty.
Her stomach tightened.
"Something was taken."
Rafael frowned.
"What?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know yet."
Then she turned toward the stranger.
The man in black.
"You," she said.
The room shifted slightly.
Aiden Kane looked at her calmly.
"Yes?"
"You walked into a crime scene and immediately criticized our security."
"That's correct."
"Why?"
"Because whoever killed your father walked out of here without resistance."
His voice was steady.
Matter-of-fact.
Not afraid.
Allegra studied him.
"You speak like you already know how it happened."
"I know how most murders happen."
"And how is that?"
He glanced briefly at the open safe.
"Inside help."
The room went still.
Antonio swore under his breath.
Marco shifted in his chair.
Matteo's eyes narrowed slightly.
Allegra didn't move.
She simply looked at Aiden.
"You're very confident for someone who just arrived."
He met her gaze.
"Confidence keeps people alive."
For a long moment they stared at each other.
Then Allegra looked back at the others.
"Here's what is going to happen."
Her voice was colder now.
Sharper.
"The doors stay locked."
"No one leaves this room."
Antonio frowned.
"You can't seriously—"
"I can."
She stepped closer to the table.
"And until I know who betrayed my father…"
Her gaze moved slowly from one man to the next.
"…every single one of you is a suspect."
The silence that followed felt dangerous.
Then Aiden Kane spoke again.
"Actually," he said quietly.
Everyone turned toward him.
"There's one more thing."
Allegra tilted her head slightly.
"What?"
He pointed toward the desk.
"Your father's phone."
Rafael picked it up.
"It's gone."
Aiden nodded once.
"Exactly."
Allegra felt a cold realization settle in her chest.
"Whoever killed him…"
Aiden finished the sentence for her.
"…took something important."
He looked directly at her.
"And I don't think they're done yet."
The implication hung heavy in the room.
Allegra slowly straightened.
"Meaning?"
Aiden's eyes darkened slightly.
"Meaning the person who killed your father…"
He paused.
"…will probably try to kill you next."