Chapter 3 – The Man Who Never Missed
The first photograph arrived at exactly 7:12 the next morning.
It landed on Victor Sloan's desk without a return address.
Inside was a single glossy print.
Alexander Moretti.
Standing outside Apartment 2B.
Looking up toward Rachel Bennett's window.
Nothing else.
No note.
No threat.
Just the picture.
Victor stared at it for a long moment before slowly picking up his phone.
"Who took this?"
"I don't know, sir," his head of security admitted.
"Find out."
The call ended.
Victor leaned back in his leather chair.
Alexander Moretti had spent twenty years building a reputation for one simple reason.
He never involved himself personally.
Never.
He solved problems through lawyers, executives, or trusted associates.
If he showed up himself...
...someone had already crossed a line.
Victor suddenly wondered whether buying one run-down apartment building had become the worst investment of his life.
Across town, Rachel was getting Noah ready for school.
His cheeks already looked healthier.
The medicine had worked.
He smiled while packing his backpack.
"Mom?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think whoever helped us likes dinosaurs?"
Rachel laughed.
"Why dinosaurs?"
"I drew this."
He proudly held up a crayon picture.
A giant green dinosaur wearing a superhero cape.
Across the top, in uneven handwriting, he had written:
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME BREATHE.
Rachel hugged him tightly.
"You have such a good heart."
Before they could leave, another knock echoed through the apartment.
Rachel opened the door cautiously.
A delivery driver stood outside.
"Rachel Bennett?"
"Yes?"
He handed over three grocery bags.
"I think you've got the wrong apartment."
"No, ma'am."
She looked inside.
Fresh fruit.
Milk.
Eggs.
Chicken.
Bread.
Vegetables.
Even Noah's favorite cereal.
"There must be a mistake."
The driver checked his tablet.
"Already paid."
"By who?"
He shrugged.
"Anonymous."
Then he walked away.
Rachel stood frozen.
Someone wasn't simply helping anymore.
Someone was watching over them.
Meanwhile...
Alexander sat inside the headquarters of Moretti Financial.
His chief legal officer entered carrying a thick folder.
"We finished reviewing Victor Sloan."
Alexander looked up.
"How bad?"
The attorney smiled faintly.
"Worse than expected."
She opened the file.
"Twenty-three complaints of illegal evictions."
"Only complaints?"
"Seven lawsuits."
"Settled?"
"Every one."
Alexander nodded.
"What else?"
"Shell companies."
"Tax fraud."
"Bribery allegations."
"Forged inspection reports."
She slid one document across the desk.
"This one matters."
Alexander examined it carefully.
The apartment Rachel lived in had failed multiple safety inspections.
The reports had vanished.
Replaced with forged certificates.
Someone had paid inspectors to lie.
Alexander quietly closed the folder.
"Contact the Attorney General."
"Today?"
"No."
His expression remained calm.
"First..."
He smiled slightly.
"...let him think he's winning."
That afternoon, Victor arrived personally at Rachel's building.
This time he wasn't smiling.
Rachel answered the knock.
"I already told you—"
Victor interrupted.
"You've attracted the attention of someone important."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I think you do."
"I don't."
He stepped closer.
"If you know Alexander Moretti..."
"I don't."
"...tell him to stay out of my business."
Rachel stared in genuine confusion.
"Who?"
Victor studied her face.
No acting.
No deception.
She truly didn't know.
Interesting.
Before leaving, he lowered his voice.
"People like him don't help for free."
Then he walked away.
Rachel watched him disappear down the hallway.
His words stayed with her.
People like him...
Who was Alexander Moretti?
Later that evening...
Alexander visited his younger sister, Sophia.
Unlike him, she had chosen medicine over business.
She poured coffee before speaking.
"I heard you've become someone's guardian angel."
He smiled faintly.
"News travels fast."
"It always does."
She sat opposite him.
"You haven't looked into a stranger like this since..."
She stopped.
Alexander finished the sentence.
"Since Luca."
Silence settled between them.
Luca.
His little brother.
Gone for twenty-eight years.
Sophia quietly reached across the table.
"This woman isn't him."
"I know."
"You can't save everyone."
"No."
He stared into his untouched coffee.
"But maybe I can save one family."
Sophia smiled sadly.
"You've always carried guilt that wasn't yours."
Alexander stood.
"It feels like mine."
Across the city...
Rachel tucked Noah into bed.
The groceries filled the refrigerator.
The medicine rested safely beside the kitchen calendar.
For the first time in months...
She wasn't terrified about tomorrow.
Noah looked up sleepily.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"If we ever meet the person helping us..."
"What would you say?"
He thought carefully.
"I'd tell them they don't have to hide anymore."
Rachel smiled.
"Why?"
"Because good people shouldn't be lonely."
At exactly 10:43 p.m...
Alexander returned to his penthouse.
His security chief was already waiting.
"We have a problem."
Alexander removed his jacket.
"What happened?"
"A private investigator has been following you."
"Who hired him?"
"We don't know."
The security chief placed several photographs on the table.
Alexander entering the pharmacy.
Alexander outside Rachel's apartment.
Alexander buying groceries.
Alexander watching Noah leave for school.
Someone had documented everything.
Alexander's expression never changed.
"Anything else?"
The security chief hesitated.
"Yes."
He slid over one final photograph.
Rachel.
Walking home from work.
Completely unaware.
Taken through the scope of a long-distance camera lens.
Alexander looked at the picture for nearly ten seconds.
Then quietly picked up his phone.
"Prepare the car."
"Where are we going?"
Alexander's voice became colder than anyone in the room had ever heard.
"To have a conversation."
"With Victor Sloan?"
Alexander slowly shook his head.
"No."
His eyes remained fixed on Rachel's photograph.
"With the person who thinks she's become a target."
Outside, thunder rolled across the Manhattan skyline.
For the first time in years...
Alexander realized he wasn't the only powerful man interested in Rachel Bennett.
May you like
And whoever the other man was...
He wasn't coming to help.
