Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Claire's knees buckled.
“Mom?”
The voice on the phone broke.
“Claire…”
Adrian caught her before she fell.
“Where are you?”
Her mother began crying.
“I never wanted you involved.”
“You were alive.”
“Yes.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“I needed you to believe it.”
“For what?”
“To protect you.”
Claire closed her eyes.
There it was again.
That word.
Protect.
Every secret in her life had been wrapped around it.
“Mom, where are you?”
The line went silent.
Then her mother whispered.
“Thomas knows.”
Adrian took the phone.
“Put her back on.”
A click.
The line died.
Adrian stared at the screen.
Claire was crying.
He pulled her into his arms.
She did not resist.
“I thought I was alone.”
“You're not.”
“I don't know what's real anymore.”
He held her tighter.
“This is real.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Claire looked up.
“You.”
“What?”
“You said you didn't want this marriage.”
Adrian went still.
“I didn't.”
“But now you are holding me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because you're my wife.”
She searched his eyes.
“That sounds like duty.”
“It started that way.”
“And now?”
He hesitated.
“Now I don't know how to protect you without caring what happens to me.”
Claire's breath caught.
Adrian brushed a tear from her cheek.
“I didn't plan this.”
“Neither did I.”
“I know.”
Their faces were close.
For a second, the danger outside disappeared.
Adrian kissed her.
Not hard.
Not possessive.
A careful, hesitant kiss.
Claire closed her eyes.
Then a gunshot echoed downstairs.
They separated.
Dominic shouted.
“Boss!”
Adrian reached for his weapon.
“Stay here.”
Claire grabbed his sleeve.
“No.”
“Claire.”
“I am done being left behind.”
He looked at her.
“Then stay close.”
They entered the hallway.
The estate was under attack.
But the attackers weren't coming for Adrian.
They were coming for the records.
Thomas had sent them.
Claire and Adrian escaped through the underground passage.
They reached a waiting vehicle.
Dominic drove.
Victor sat beside him.
Claire held the USB drive.
“Where are we going?”
“Your mother's last known location,” Adrian said.
Maine.
A small coastal town.
An abandoned lighthouse.
They arrived before dawn.
Inside the lighthouse they found an elderly man guarding the entrance.
He looked at Adrian.
“You're late.”
“Where is my mother?”
“In the basement.”
Claire ran.
Her mother stood inside a small room.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
Claire stopped.
For one second neither moved.
Then they ran toward each other.
They embraced.
Claire sobbed.
“I thought you were dead.”
Her mother held her.
“I thought I would never see you again.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“Because Thomas was watching.”
Claire froze.
“Thomas?”
Her mother nodded.
“Your father trusted him.”
“Michael trusted him too.”
“He trusted everyone who promised to protect you.”
Claire stepped back.
“Why?”
Her mother looked at Adrian.
“Because Thomas was the reason your father stayed alive as long as he did.”
Adrian frowned.
“What are you saying?”
“Thomas was born to Vincent Cross.”
Silence.
“Your father discovered Thomas had turned against his own family.”
Claire looked at Adrian.
“He betrayed them?”
“No.”
Her mother shook her head.
“He infiltrated them.”
Adrian stared.
“For how long?”
“Since he was sixteen.”
Thomas had spent nearly two decades inside The Circle.
He had quietly redirected money.
Protected witnesses.
Moved people out.
Saved Claire.
Saved Michael.
But eventually someone discovered his double life.
That person was James Caruso.
James had not disappeared.
He had been captured by The Circle.
Thomas had been keeping him alive.
Adrian's father was being held in an underground facility.
Claire looked at Adrian.
“Then Thomas isn't the villain.”
Her mother nodded.
“He is trying to stop one.”
“Who?”
The answer came from the doorway.
Thomas Hale.
He stood there alone.
Claire raised the gun Adrian had given her.
“You lied.”
Thomas looked exhausted.
“I had to.”
“You lied about everything.”
“Yes.”
“You paid me.”
“To protect you.”
“You followed my family for years.”
“To keep you alive.”
Adrian stepped between them.
“Where is my father?”
Thomas looked at him.
“Three hours away.”
“Take me.”
Thomas shook his head.
“You'll get him killed.”
“Then what do I do?”
“Trust me.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“That is a difficult request from you.”
Thomas nodded.
“I know.”
He handed Adrian a small device.
“Michael left this for you.”
Adrian looked at it.
“What is it?”
“A recording.”
Adrian pressed play.
Michael's voice filled the room.
“Adrian, if you've made it this far, listen carefully.”
Claire held her breath.
“The man you think is betraying you may be the only one keeping you alive.”
Adrian looked at Thomas.
Michael continued.
“But I couldn't tell you because Vincent had someone inside your organization.”
A pause.
“The traitor isn't Thomas.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Then who?”
The recording continued.
“It's the man you've trusted since childhood.”
The device clicked off.
Adrian stared.
There was only one person left.
Someone who had been with him from childhood.
Someone who had supported every move.
May you like
Someone who had always been close enough to know everything.
Dominic.
