Page 30 of Secrets in the Dark

The State acknowledges Ms. Celia Marshall, whose exceptional analytical work in reconstructing the defendant's shadow ledger provided the critical evidence for today's conviction.

My name, right there in the public record. Easy to find for anyone with motivation and basic research skills.

The snake tattoo on Tommy's hand now made sense. It was the Licata family symbol—the constrictor that slowly squeezed its victims. Tommy hadn't been stalking me randomly.He'd methodically targeted me as revenge for his brother's conviction. The notes, the break-in, the sabotage—all calculated steps in a plan to make me suffer before whatever finale he had envisioned.

I closed the laptop, mind racing. Running wasn't an option anymore, not when Tommy Lace was watching so closely. Fighting back alone was suicide against someone with his resources and connections.

I needed help.

"I need to show you something."

Roman looked up from the deck of cards he'd been shuffling as I slid into the seat across from him in the employee break room. His expression revealed nothing, but his eyes traveled quickly over my face, assessing my state.

After our encounter in the prop storage room, I'd expected awkwardness. Instead, his demeanor was all business—focused, controlled, somehow more distant than before our intimacy rather than less.

"What is it?" he asked, setting the cards aside.

I pulled out my phone and showed him the photo Riley had taken in the elevator. "This man cornered me today. Threatened me. I think he's behind the sabotage."

Roman studied the image, his face impassive but something hardening in his eyes. "The tattoo is distinctive."

"It's connected to the Licata crime family," I said, watching carefully for his reaction. "I think he's targeting people at the Jade Petal as revenge for something that happened in the past."

"What kind of revenge?" Roman's question was measured, careful.

I hesitated, calculating how much to reveal. "I think it's connected to a case that...someone I know worked on. A legal case against the Licatas."

"Someone you know?" His eyebrow arched slightly.

"Yes." I held his gaze steadily. We were both dancing around truth, offering partial revelations while concealing our core secrets.

"This person," Roman said slowly, "they helped convict a Licata?"

I nodded. "Found financial evidence. The brother wants payback."

Something flickered in Roman's expression—recognition, perhaps, or confirmation of a suspicion. He reached for my phone, zooming in on the tattoo. "Tommy Lace," he murmured, almost to himself.

"You know him?" I tensed.

"By reputation only." Another careful answer. "He's dangerous, Nova. More dangerous than you realize."

"I know exactly how dangerous he is," I countered. "He's already tried to kill Val with the lighting rig. He's been leaving threats in my dressing room. And today he made it clear that tomorrow night's performance is when he plans to make his move."

Roman's eyes narrowed. "He specifically mentioned tomorrow night?"

"Front row seat," I confirmed. "He called it 'the finale.'"

Roman was silent for a long moment, his fingers drumming once on the table—the only visible sign of internalcalculation. "You need to pull out of the show," he finally said. "Leave the Jade Petal immediately."

"I tried. He intercepted me at the elevator. He's watching all the exits."

"I could help you—"

"No," I interrupted. "Running isn't an option anymore. He'll just follow me to the next hiding place. Keep threatening people around me. This ends tomorrow night, one way or another."

"What are you suggesting?" His voice carried a note of wariness.

"A trap," I said simply. "He'll be in the front row expecting to execute whatever plan he's arranged. But we'll be ready for him."

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