Page 28 of Vows of Silence

“Isabelle, get yourself under control right this instant!”

A loud slap clapped against my cheek, silencing me immediately.

My screaming stopped, and I clutched my stinging face, my eyes focusing, seeing the concerned faces of my mother and Frank frowning down at me.

“Honey, I am so sorry. I didn’t know what else to do, you were hysterical. Let Mummy see your cheek, darling.”

She was babbling. Her words were barely registering.

“Ma’am, why were you screaming?” Frank asked me, his voice hard and gruff. He wasn’t wearing his usual black jacket, but still had on his fitted grey tank top and gun holder.

“The cameras…” I whispered. “He’s here, Mum. He’s watching me. He’s always fucking watching me.”

What?

That wasn’t right.

Silas wasn’t watching me on the cameras,Lucawas. Luca was helping me. And Silas…

Oh God, where was he?

The hysteria started bubbling again, rising up inside me, threatening to take control completely.

My mum’s tinkling laugh brought me back to reality.

“Sweetheart… did you really lose control over a few cameras?” she laughed again. “Of course there are cameras. Your daddy has them everywhere. There’s a lot of valuables in this house, you know?”

She knew there were cameras.

Of course she knew there were cameras.

Had I really thought Luca installed them all? Of course my dad had his own that Luca likely hacked into.

But there were more. My dad certainly hadn’t installed cameras in my bedroom and shower.

Or had he? The man had sold me off like cattle. I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

“Who are you talking about?” Frank asked me, taking this much more seriously than my mother was.

Which was hardly surprising, to be fair. He spent much more time with me lately than she did. He knew I wasn’t prone to bouts of hysterical screaming.

“Silas,” I whispered, the mere mention of his name on my lips having me shivering uncontrollably.

Frank was alert immediately, grabbing my arm and pulling me close.

“Sir, we’ve had a breach. All units to Carbone office, stat!”

“Is that really necessary?” My mother protested as Frank swung into action, hauling me out of the office.

“Mrs Carbone, please return to your quarters and activate the safety procedures.”

“This is nonsense! I think I would know if—” she stumbled over the word, her face paling. “If Silas Falcone was in my house,” she finally finished, swallowing heavily.

“Roger that,” Frank said, speaking into his earpiece. “Isabelle, can you tell me why you were in your father’s office tonight?”

“No,” I said quickly.

“How did you get past the lock?”