THE HEIR OF SHADOWS

CHAPTER 2

The Black Box

Lia stared at Matteo.

"What are you doing here?"

Matteo closed the door behind him.

"I could ask you the same question."

"This is my house."

"I know."

"Then why did you walk into my father's study?"

His eyes moved to the desk.

"I came because I knew your father left something behind."

Lia's heart skipped.

"What?"

Matteo didn't answer.

Instead, he looked at her carefully.

"You found the box."

Lia instinctively placed a hand over her jacket.

"What box?"

"The one you're hiding."

She said nothing.

Matteo sighed.

"Lia, if I wanted to take it from you, I wouldn't be standing here talking."

"That's supposed to make me trust you?"

"No."

His answer surprised her.

"Good," Lia said.

Matteo almost smiled.

"Your father once told me that you were stubborn."

"You knew him well enough for him to talk about me?"

"Better than you realize."

Lia pulled the letter from her jacket.

"Then tell me what happened to him."

Matteo's expression changed.

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I wish I were."

He stepped closer.

"Your father contacted my father several weeks before his death."

Lia froze.

"Why?"

"He said someone was watching him."

"Who?"

"We never found out."

"Then why did he die?"

Matteo looked away.

"That's what I'm trying to discover."

Lia placed the letter on the desk.

"My father said the war between our families wasn't what we were told."

Matteo stared at the words.

"He's right."

Lia's eyes widened.

"You believe him?"

"I always did."

"Then why are our families enemies?"

"Because someone wanted us to be."

Lia looked toward him.

"Who?"

Before Matteo could answer, the sound of glass breaking came from downstairs.

They both turned.

Matteo immediately moved toward the door.

"Stay here."

"No."

"Lia."

"I'm coming."

They reached the staircase.

The front window had been shattered.

But there was nobody outside.

On the floor was another black envelope.

Lia picked it up.

Inside was a photograph.

Her father.

Standing beside Matteo's father.

And a third man.

Lia didn't recognize him.

On the back of the photograph were three words:

THE THIRD FAMILY.

Matteo stared at the photograph.

His face had gone pale.

"You know him," Lia said.

Matteo didn't answer.

"Matteo."

He finally spoke.

"His name is Adrian Vale."

"Who is he?"

Matteo looked at her.

"Someone who was supposed to be dead."