Chapter 4 - The Enemy Who Knew My Name
The first thing Norah noticed about the Russo house was that nobody laughed loudly.
Not because they were unhappy.
Because everyone seemed aware that noise carried.
Doors closed softly.
Phones were answered quickly.
Security guards appeared in the background and disappeared without explanation.
Elena, however, behaved as though none of it existed.
She spent mornings feeding birds on the balcony.
She argued with Adrian about medicine.
She complained that his men never ate enough vegetables.
She treated the feared Adrian Russo as if he were still fourteen and forgetting his homework.
One morning, Norah watched as Elena slapped Adrian's hand away from a plate.
“Eat properly.”
“I am eating.”
“You pushed the vegetables aside.”
“I don't like them.”
“You liked them yesterday.”
“I was pretending.”
Norah laughed.
Adrian looked at her.
“You're enjoying this.”
“A little.”
Elena smiled.
“Good.”
For several days, life became almost normal.
Norah helped Elena organize old photographs.
Adrian worked long hours.
Norah applied for jobs.
Then the calls started.
Unknown number.
No voice.
Just breathing.
The first time, Norah hung up.
The second time, she blocked it.
The third time, Adrian answered.
Silence.
Then a voice.
“Claire should have stayed away.”
Adrian's face became still.
“Who are you?”
The caller hung up.
Norah stared.
“What did they say?”
Adrian didn't answer.
He called one of his men.
“Trace it.”
Then he looked at Norah.
“From now on, you don't go anywhere alone.”
She crossed her arms.
“I survived thirty years before meeting you.”
“That doesn't make you immune to danger.”
“You're scaring me.”
“I'm telling you the truth.”
She softened.
“I know.”
Elena entered.
“What happened?”
Adrian didn't want to tell her.
Norah did.
“The caller mentioned my mother.”
Elena's face changed.
She sat.
“My dear.”
Norah knelt beside her.
“What do you know?”
Elena took a long breath.
“There was another man.”
“Who?”
“Marco Bellandi.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“I thought he was dead.”
“He disappeared,” Elena said.
“Not the same thing.”
Norah looked between them.
“Who is he?”
Adrian answered.
“He was my father's closest adviser.”
Elena continued.
“And the person who ordered the kidnapping when Adrian was sixteen.”
Norah's stomach tightened.
“The man my mother exposed.”
“Yes.”
“But you said the police arrested your uncle.”
“They did.”
“Then Marco wasn't involved?”
Adrian shook his head.
“He was never caught.”
Silence.
Elena reached into a drawer and removed an old envelope.
“This belonged to Claire.”
Norah opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My dear Elena,
If you are reading this, something has gone wrong.
I don't know whether Marco will come back.
But if he does, he won't come for you.
He will come for my daughter.
Norah's hands trembled.
“Why?”
“Because you were the one person he couldn't find.”
Adrian took the letter.
His eyes narrowed as he read the final lines.
I know what people say about powerful families. I know what people say about yours.
But my daughter must never become part of this world.
Protect her from us, if you can.
Norah cried silently.
Her mother had known.
She had feared this.
But she had still trusted Elena.
Adrian looked at Norah.
“I'll protect you.”
Norah wiped her face.
“I don't want to run.”
“You won't.”
“Then what do we do?”
“We find Marco.”
That night, Adrian increased security around the house.
Norah hated it.
She also understood why.
The next morning, a stranger arrived at the gate.
He claimed to be a delivery driver.
Security refused him entry.
He left.
An hour later, one of Adrian's men found a phone taped beneath the delivery vehicle.
It contained one message.
You cannot guard everyone forever.
Adrian stared at it.
Then deleted the message.
But not before saving the evidence.
He turned to Norah.
“You need to make a decision.”
“What kind?”
“Leave the city.”
She looked at him.
“No.”
“Norah.”
“No.”
“This isn't a movie.”
“I know.”
“People can get hurt.”
“I know.”
“Then why stay?”
She looked toward Elena.
“Because she helped my mother once.”
Elena's eyes filled.
Norah continued.
“And because I'm tired of running from things I didn't do.”
Adrian stared at her for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
“Okay.”
“What?”
“You stay.”
Elena smiled.
“But there are rules.”
Norah rolled her eyes.
“Of course.”
“You'll learn self-defense.”
“I don't need to become an assassin.”
“Good.”
“Anything else?”
“You carry a phone.”
“I already do.”
“You answer when I call.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You're demanding.”
“I'm responsible.”
“Same thing in your world?”
His mouth twitched.
“Apparently.”
Something changed between them after that.
Not romance.
Not yet.
Trust.
Late one night, Norah found Adrian alone in the kitchen.
He was staring at the photograph of his dead brother.
“You miss him.”
“Yes.”
“What was he like?”
“He was better than me.”
“In what way?”
“He believed everyone could be saved.”
“And you don't?”
“I believe everyone deserves a chance.”
“What changed?”
“My brother died trying to give someone a second chance.”
Norah sat beside him.
“Did your family make you become like this?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Do you hate it?”
“Every day.”
That answer surprised her.
“I thought you liked power.”
“I like keeping my mother safe.”
He looked at his hands.
“The rest of it is a burden.”
Norah studied him.
“You could leave.”
“People don't just walk away.”
“Why not?”
“Because if I leave without dismantling the structure, someone worse takes my place.”
“So you're trapped.”
“Yes.”
Norah said nothing.
Then:
“Maybe my mother left you something else.”
“What?”
“A reason to change.”
Adrian looked at her.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Elena's voice floated down the hall.
“If you're going to fall in love, at least stop blocking my refrigerator.”
Norah almost choked.
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Mother.”
Elena laughed and disappeared.
Norah stood.
“I’m going to bed.”
He smiled.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
She walked away smiling.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
His expression changed.
He answered.
A voice said:
“We found Marco.”
Adrian went completely still.
“Where?”
May you like
The answer came.
“He's already inside the city.”
