Chapter 4 - The Bride Returned—And Her Confession Revealed Who Was Really Behind The Wedding

Camille called at dawn.

Evelyn stared at the phone.

Then answered.

"Cam?"

Silence.

Then her friend's voice.

"Evie."

"Where are you?"

"Somewhere safe."

Evelyn closed her eyes.

"You’re alive."

"Yes."

"What happened after the attack?"

Camille started crying.

"I wasn't allowed to leave."

"By Damen?"

"By everyone."

"Why didn't you warn me?"

"I tried."

"You told me to be scared."

"I knew they were watching."

Evelyn sat down.

"Come to me."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because they have someone."

"Who?"

"My brother."

Evelyn froze.

"I thought your brother died."

"So did everyone else."

Camille sobbed.

"They've been using him against me for years."

Evelyn looked at Alessandro.

He had been listening from across the room.

His eyes hardened.

"Tell me where you are," Evelyn said.

Camille whispered an address.

The call ended.

Alessandro stood.

"We're going."

They reached an abandoned church outside Albany.

Camille was waiting inside.

She looked exhausted.

The moment she saw Evelyn, she ran into her arms.

"I'm sorry."

Evelyn held her tightly.

"Tell me everything."

Camille nodded.

"Damen didn't choose me."

"What?"

"His father chose me."

"Why?"

"Because my family had access to something they wanted."

"The ledger."

Camille nodded.

"But that's not why Damen married me."

"Then why?"

Camille looked toward Alessandro.

"Because he needed Evelyn."

Alessandro's face became expressionless.

Evelyn frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Camille pulled out a photograph.

It showed Evelyn as a child.

Standing beside her father.

Next to them was a man.

Victor Santi.

Evelyn stared.

"Why am I with him?"

"Because he knew your father."

Camille wiped her tears.

"And because Victor believed your father hid the ledger inside something connected to you."

"My drawings."

"Yes."

Evelyn felt sick.

"Damen knew?"

"He knew everything."

"Then why marry you?"

"To bring Evelyn to Blackmere."

Evelyn stared at her best friend.

"You used me."

Camille shook her head violently.

"No."

"You brought me into that place."

"I thought I could protect you."

"You knew it was dangerous."

"I had no choice!"

Camille broke down.

"My brother was being held."

Evelyn's anger softened.

"Show me."

Camille led them to another building.

Inside, a young man sat chained to a chair.

Camille ran toward him.

"Julian!"

The man looked up.

He was pale but alive.

Alessandro's men freed him.

Then a gunshot cracked through the ceiling.

Alessandro pushed Evelyn to the floor.

Men stormed the building.

A firefight erupted.

Camille grabbed Julian.

Evelyn crawled behind a concrete pillar.

Then she heard a voice.

"Little Harper!"

Victor Santi.

He stepped into the room.

Older.

Elegant.

Smiling.

"You look just like your mother."

Evelyn stared.

"Where is she?"

Victor smiled.

"Closer than you think."

Alessandro stepped forward.

"Let them go."

Victor laughed.

"You always were your father’s weakness."

"Say that again."

"You protect people."

Victor's gaze shifted to Evelyn.

"That's why you'll lose."

He raised his weapon.

Alessandro fired first.

Victor disappeared behind a wall of smoke.

By the time the smoke cleared, he was gone.

But he left something behind.

A phone.

It contained one message.

You have seventy-two hours.

Bring the girl.

Or your mother dies.

Evelyn felt the blood drain from her face.

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Alessandro looked at her.

"We're getting her back."