Chapter 4 - The First Crack in the Ice
By the end of the week, the atmosphere inside the Kelly compound had subtly, unmistakably shifted.
The change was invisible to the armed guards pacing the stone walls, but to Levi, who had managed Diamond’s affairs for a decade, it was as obvious as a siren in the dark.
Levi walked into the master suite on Thursday afternoon, carrying a leather briefcase packed with offshore account ledgers and street intelligence reports. He expected to find Diamond in his usual state: brooding in the dark, snapping at questions, and refusing his protein supplements.
Instead, Diamond was sitting by the desk, his tablet open, reviewing a medical file from a private orthopedic clinic in Switzerland.
"What's this?" Levi asked, dropping the briefcase onto the table. "You haven't looked at a surgeon's file since the specialist from Johns Hopkins told you to give up."
"Things change," Diamond said curtly, keeping his eyes on the screen. "Did the shipment from the docks clear customs?"
Levi leaned against the desk, crossing his arms and studying his boss closely. "It cleared. Smoothly. Levi's guys took care of the dock inspector." He paused, narrowing his eyes. "You look different, Dom. You're wearing a clean shirt. You shaved."
Diamond's jaw tightened. "I have a reputation to maintain."
"With whom? The guards?" Levi chuckled dryly. "Mrs. Higgins told me you ordered the kitchen staff to stock organic fruit and high protein meal prep in the east wing fridge. You don't eat fruit."
"Mrs. Higgins talks too much," Diamond growled, though there was no real heat in his voice. "If you're here to gossip, leave."
Levi's smile faded, replaced by a calculating, intense look. "The girl. The night cleaner. She’s been staying past six AM every morning. My security guys noticed her getting into your town car."
Diamond lifted his gaze from the tablet. The air in the room instantly plummeted ten degrees. His dark eyes locked onto Levi with lethal precision.
"Watch your tongue, Levi," Diamond said, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly register that made the hair on the back of Levi's neck stand up. "She is staff. Nothing more."
"I'm just saying, Dom, it's dangerous," Levi said, stepping back slightly, holding his hands up in a defensive gesture. "A man in your position... vulnerable. If the rival families think you've developed a soft spot for a civilian, they'll use her to get to you."
"Nobody gets to me," Diamond said coldly. "And nobody touches her. Make sure your men understand that clearly."
That night at one AM, Caprice arrived for her shift.
She looked less ragged than she had a week ago. Her mother’s care facility had mysteriously received a anonymous wire transfer covering six months of back fees and advance care, accompanied by a strict non disclosure agreement. Caprice knew exactly where the money had come from, even if no one would confirm it.
She walked into Diamond's study carrying a fresh pot of black coffee and two cups.
Diamond was working at his desk. When he saw the second cup on the tray, he raised an eyebrow.
"I don't remember asking for company," he said.
Caprice set the tray down on the corner of his desk. She poured the dark liquid into his mug, then poured a splash into the second cup for herself.
"You didn't," she said calmly, taking a seat on the leather chair opposite him. "But I'm taking my ten minute break. And I'm sitting here."
Diamond stared at her, his mug halfway to his lips. "You are remarkably bold for someone whose entire salary depends on my good mood."
"Your good mood is a myth anyway," Caprice replied softly, taking a cautious sip of the hot coffee. "So I might as well sit in a comfortable chair."
For the second time in a month, Diamond let out a short, quiet laugh. It was a dark, low sound that seemed to shake the tension out of his heavy chest.
"You're an insolent girl, Caprice," he said, setting his mug down.
"I'm a tired girl, Mr. Kelly," she corrected gently, looking across the polished wood at him. "And you're a man who spends too much time staring at dark windows."
Diamond looked down at his useless legs beneath the desk, his expression darkening for a brief second. "There isn't much else to look at."
May you like
Caprice leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Her eyes were bright, clear, and completely devoid of the pity he hated so fiercely.
"Then look at me," she said softly. "Tell me about the man who built this place before he started hiding inside it."
