Chapter 2 - The Men Hunting Lena Were My Former Soldiers, and One of Them Knew Exactly What Had Happened the Night Gabriel “Died”The first shot never came.
Because Bear attacked.
The starving dog lunged at the nearest gunman with everything he had.
The man fell backward.
Marcus fired into the pavement.
My guards opened a path.
“Move!”
I grabbed Lena.
Bear followed.
We ran through the alley.
Bullets shattered brick behind us.
Lena clung to my coat.
“Don't let them take Bear!”
“I won't.”
I looked back.
The dog limped behind us.
One of my men lifted him.
Bear snapped.
“Easy.”
We reached the SUV.
I pushed Lena inside.
Bear followed.
Marcus slammed the door.
We pulled away.
The gunmen didn't chase.
That bothered me.
They wanted us to run.
Why?
Back at the estate, I carried Lena inside.
Bear was bleeding.
I ordered the veterinarian.
“Take care of him.”
Lena wouldn't let go.
“He saved me.”
“He'll be fine.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
She finally released him.
As doctors treated the dog, I took Lena to my study.
She sat on the couch.
She looked tiny in my coat.
I poured water.
She drank slowly.
“What did your father tell you about me?”
“He said you were his best friend.”
I stared.
“We were.”
“He said you would keep me safe.”
“Why did he trust me?”
“He said because you were the only person who would believe Mommy.”
That sentence hurt.
“Believe her about what?”
Lena shook her head.
“He said I shouldn't tell anyone.”
I leaned back.
“What about Gabriel?”
She looked at the floor.
“He said he had to disappear because people were trying to kill him.”
“Who?”
“He didn't say.”
“What happened six years ago?”
“Daddy said he would tell me when I was older.”
I stared at her.
“Then why did he send you to me now?”
“Because he was dying.”
My chest tightened.
“Dying?”
“He had cancer.”
I closed my eyes.
“When did he die?”
“Yesterday.”
That explained why she was alone.
“Who brought you here?”
“No one.”
“You walked?”
She nodded.
“How far?”
“I don't know.”
My heart hurt.
Eight years old.
Alone.
In winter.
Carrying a secret.
I asked one of my men to identify the attackers.
Thirty minutes later, he returned.
“They're former Duca soldiers.”
My jaw tightened.
“Duca?”
“They worked under Gabriel.”
“And me.”
He nodded.
One man had escaped.
But another had been captured.
I ordered him brought in.
He was bleeding.
His name was Victor.
He looked at me.
“Boss.”
“You've got one chance.”
“I didn't hurt the girl.”
“Who ordered you?”
He stayed silent.
I stepped closer.
“Gabriel?”
Victor laughed weakly.
“Gabriel ordered us years ago.”
“For what?”
“To protect Elena.”
My heart stopped.
“Elena.”
“Yes.”
“She was alive?”
Victor nodded.
“Until last year.”
“Then why did you come after Lena?”
“Because Gabriel knew someone else would.”
“Who?”
Victor closed his eyes.
“The Black Circle.”
I knew the name.
An old organization.
I had spent years fighting them.
“They wanted Elena's daughter.”
“Why?”
Victor looked at Lena through the glass.
“Because she's the proof.”
“Proof of what?”
He smiled.
“Proof that Gabriel never betrayed you.”
I stared.
“My best friend didn't betray me?”
Victor shook his head.
“He protected you.”
The room went silent.
Six years earlier, evidence had suggested Gabriel had been working against me.
He had supposedly stolen money.
Killed two men.
Betrayed the organization.
Then died.
I had believed it.
Maybe all of it had been fabricated.
Victor whispered:
“Gabriel discovered a mole.”
“Who?”
He looked toward the office door.
Someone had entered.
My chief adviser.
Anton.
He had been with me for fifteen years.
Victor's eyes widened.
“That's him.”
My blood went cold.
May you like
Anton smiled.
Then pulled a weapon.
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