The Shadow Gate
Chapter 3 - The Midnight Return
At 11:45 PM, Roman Moretti’s black SUV fishtailed slightly as it swung through the estate gates.
He was in a foul mood; Laya’s party had dragged on far longer than he wanted, and his phone had buzzed incessantly with unanswered calls from Aaron before his battery finally died.
He climbed out into the freezing sleet, expecting the usual quiet, orderly welcome of his fortress.
Instead, the main foyer was pitch black.
“Aaron?” he called out, his boots echoing sharply across the marble floor.
No answer.
He strode toward the kitchen, finding the lights off and the sink dry.
A cold spike of adrenaline shot through his chest.
He bypassed the master bedroom and headed straight for the nursery.
The door was pushed open.
Roman stepped inside, his dark eyes sweeping the room until they landed on the empty bassinet.
The mobile still spun lazily in the draft.
On the nightstand sat his wedding ring, resting neatly beside a single piece of paper bearing thirty-eight seconds of transcribed voicemail.
