Chapter 2 - The Iron Gates Lock and the Sovereign’s Decree
The word hung in the air like a detonated charge.
Dr. Sterling took a frightened step backward, nearly tripping over the stone hearth.
Matteo’s hand instantly dropped away from his holster, his eyes darting between Claire and his boss.
“Poisoned?” Matteo repeated, the word tasting like ash in his mouth.
“Guard the doors,” Luca commanded, his voice slicing through the chaos with absolute authority.
Neither guard moved an inch from their posts, but the tension in their posture shifted from hostility toward Claire to focused perimeter defense.
Luca leaned forward in his chair, the gray pallor of his skin contrasting sharply with the terrifying brilliance of his dark eyes.
“Explain yourself, nurse,” Luca ordered, resting his chin on his steepled fingers.
“Your symptoms only manifest when you reside within these walls and consume food prepared in this kitchen,” Claire stated without hesitation.
“When you travel, your body begins to clear the accumulation, which explains why you feel stronger away from home.”
“Dr. Sterling’s charts show treatment for hypertension and cardiac fatigue, yet none of his prescriptions address the underlying autonomic nervous system collapse.”
“Either your physician is shockingly incompetent, or someone inside this household is deliberately dosing your meals with a cumulative botanical neurotoxin.”
Dr. Sterling turned pale as paper.
“That is a monstrous accusation!” the physician shouted, pointing a trembling finger at Claire.
“Mr. Moretti, she is an outsider trying to sow discord within the inner circle!”
Luca ignored the doctor entirely.
He continued to study Claire, measuring every fiber of her being for deceit, fear, or hidden motives.
He found none.
She stood before him with the unflinching courage of a seasoned soldier, despite being surrounded by armed men who could end her life with a twitch of a finger.
“Matteo,” Luca said softly.
“Sir?”
“Lock the main gates.”
“No one enters, and no one leaves Blackthorn House under any circumstances until further notice.”
Matteo stiffened in surprise.
“Boss, locking the estate will trigger immediate concern among the regional syndicates and our business associates.”
“Let them worry,” Luca interrupted, his voice dropping into a dangerous purr.
“Someone in this house is trying to put me in the ground.”
“And the thirteenth nurse is the only one smart enough to look past the medical charts and see the blade at my throat.”
Luca stood up from his chair, swaying slightly before steadying himself against the backrest.
Every guard instinctively tensed, ready to catch him, but Claire moved first.
Without asking permission—violating his sacred rule for the second time in ten minutes—she slipped her arm firmly around his waist, supporting his heavy frame.
Dr. Sterling gasped in horror at the breach of protocol.
The armed guards braced for Luca to strike her down for her audacity.
Instead, Luca looked down at Claire, feeling the steady strength radiating from her touch.
He did not push her away.
“From this moment forward,” Luca announced to the entire room, his gaze sweeping over Matteo, the guards, and the trembling physician, “Claire Bennett is under my absolute personal protection.”
“Anyone who touches a hair on her head answers directly to me.”
“Matteo, escort Dr. Sterling to the lower guest quarters and confiscate all his communication devices.”
“Search his belongings and test every vial in his medical kit.”
“If he protests, lock him in the vault.”
Dr. Sterling let out a strangled cry as two guards grabbed his arms, dragging him out of the room as he pleaded his innocence.
The heavy oak doors slammed shut behind them, sealing their fate.
Claire kept her arm around Luca until he regained his balance, then slowly stepped back.
“Thank you,” Claire said quietly.
“Do not mistake this for kindness, nurse,” Luca replied, though the harsh edge in his voice had softened noticeably.
“You have just placed a massive target on your own back.”
“If your theory proves correct, the traitor inside this house will stop at nothing to eliminate you before you uncover their identity.”
“Then I suggest we move quickly,” Claire replied, unfazed by the threat.
“I need access to the estate’s primary kitchen pantry, your complete dietary logs for the past eight months, and a secure workspace to analyze your blood chemistry.”
Luca looked at Matteo with a grim smile.
“Give her whatever she needs, Matteo.”
“And double the guard detail outside her quarters tonight.”
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“Understood, boss,” Matteo said, bowing slightly before turning his attention to Claire with newfound respect.
The game of shadows inside Blackthorn House had officially changed, and the nurse from the outside had just thrown down the gauntlet.
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