Chapter 19 Nineteen
Mira didn’t move.
For a second, her body refused to move.
She stood there frozen..
Her eyes stayed locked on the bed.
The bird. The blood.
Her picture.
Something inside her chest snapped.
A sound tore out of her before she could stop it…
A scream.
Loud. Raw.
It echoed through the room, down the hallway, into the silence of the mansion.
Mira stumbled back a step, her hand flying to her mouth, her breathing uneven now. Fear gripped her.
“What the—”
Her voice broke.
Suddenly footsteps could be heard down the hall.
Coming straight for her door.
Before she could even think, the door swung open.
Salvatore….. He stepped in first.
Antonio right behind him.
Mira turned toward them, still shaking, her fingers gripping the towel tighter around her body.
Her eyes flicked back to the bed.
Then back to him.
“There’s—” she tried, but the words didn’t come out right.
Salvatore didn't say a word just stared at ther then he just walked past her.
Straight to bed.
Like he already knew something was wrong.
His gaze dropped to the bird.
To the blood. To the photo.
His face was unreadable.. His eyes were cold and empty
Mira watched him, her chest rising and falling too fast.
“What is that?” she asked, her voice unsteady despite her effort to control it.
Salvatore didn’t answer her. He reached down and picked the bird up like it was nothing.
Blood stained his fingers instantly.
Mira’s stomach twisted.
He turned it slightly in his hand, studying it.
Then he touched the blood with his thumb.
Rubbed it, his eyes closed as he sniffed the bird, and a smile tugged on his lip.
“Fresh,” he said calmly.
Mira stared at him horrified and confused.
“What?”
“It's freshly killed,” he added,” about thirty minutes ago.”
He said it light it was something simple..
Her grip tightened.
“Someone put that in my room,” she said, her voice rising slightly. “While I was in the bathroom—someone was in here—”
Salvatore still didn’t look at her.
He handed the bird to Antonio without a word.
Antonio took it immediately, like this wasn’t strange at all.
“Dispose of it,” Salvatore said.
Antonio nodded once and walked out with the bird.
Just like that.
Like it was normal.
Mira stood there, staring at the space where it had been.
Her heart was still racing.
Her eyes were still horrified. She couldn't believe what just happened.
Salvatore finally turned toward her. His eyes moved over her face. Then down slightly. Taking off the towel.
The way her hands were gripping it.
The way she was still shaking, even if she tried to hide it.
For a brief second… Something in his expression shifted.
Like a smile.. Mira couldn't tell.
“You should lock your door,” he said.
Mira blinked…she couldn't believe her ears
“Is that all you’re going to say?” she asked, disbelief creeping into her voice.
He didn’t give her a response.
He just ignored her… Like this didn’t concern him.
Like it wasn’t his problem.
He turned toward the door then his gaze held hers a second longer then he smiled at her for a second and suddenly His eyes went cold.”
“Goodnight, Miss Voss.”
Just like that.
He walked out closing the door behind him.
And Mira was left standing there.
Alone.
Shaking..
Her eyes slowly moved back to the bed.
To the picture still lying there.
Her picture from the ball.. Her stomach dropped again.
She stood there for a long second, staring at the photo on the bed like it might move if she blinked.
Slowly, she stepped closer.
Her fingers hesitated before picking it up.
Someone had taken their time…to take her picture and decided to mess with her.
Mira’s jaw tightened.
“This isn’t funny,” she whispered under her breath.
She turned the photo over.
Blank. No message. No warning.
Which somehow made it worse.
Because whenever a message wasn't given it meant.. She is being watched
Her chest tightened again.
Mira looked around the room quickly now.
Corners. Walls… Ceiling… for cameras she found nothing.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Think,” she muttered. “Think.”
Someone got in.
That meant… they knew when she stepped into the bathroom. They were watching her.
Her grip on the photo tightened.
“…where did they plant the camera” she whispered.
She checked around again, but she still couldn't find any camera.
Mira walked quickly to the door and locked it this time.
Then checked it twice.
Just to be sure.
Her thoughts started running wild.
Salvatore’s reaction replayed in her head.
He seemed amused…enjoying her panic.
Her brows pulled together.
“Did he already know?” she murmured.
The thought made her stomach twist.
No.
Maybe.
“Was he the one behind this?” Mira muttered as a cold shiver traveled across her body.