Chapter 4 - The Night They Were Hunted
Lorenzo drove like a man who had forgotten traffic laws existed.
Vivien sat in the passenger seat, gripping the door.
“Where are we going?”
“An old property outside the county.”
“Is it safe?”
“It used to be.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we can't stay there forever.”
She looked at him.
“You said Leonardo stayed behind.”
“He gave us time.”
“You don't know if he's alive.”
“No.”
The pain in Lorenzo's voice was unmistakable.
Vivien looked away.
For the first time she understood what the two brothers meant to each other.
Not enemies.
Not completely.
Something more complicated.
“What happened five years ago?” she asked.
Lorenzo stared at the road.
“Everything.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“No.”
He exhaled.
“Leonardo discovered someone was selling family information. He wanted to expose them. I told him to wait.”
“He didn't.”
“He believed waiting would get someone killed.”
“Who?”
“Your father.”
Vivien's heart tightened.
Lorenzo continued.
“Your father had evidence. Leonardo was helping him move it. The night they met, the warehouse was attacked.”
“Who attacked them?”
“We never knew.”
“Then Leonardo disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“And you let me believe he was dead.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if people believed he was dead, they stopped looking for him.”
Vivien swallowed.
“Was the funeral real?”
“For everyone except me.”
“You stood there.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me cry.”
“I know.”
“You watched me believe you had lost your brother.”
“I know.”
She turned toward the window.
“And you never told me.”
“I was afraid that if I told you anything, they would notice you.”
Vivien laughed without humor.
“They noticed me anyway.”
“I know.”
Silence filled the vehicle.
Then headlights appeared behind them.
Lorenzo glanced in the mirror.
“Hold on.”
The road curved.
Another car appeared.
Then another.
Vivien's pulse raced.
“Are they following us?”
“Yes.”
“What do we do?”
“Trust me.”
She almost laughed.
“That's difficult right now.”
“Then trust the fact that I refuse to let you die.”
He turned the wheel sharply.
The car left the highway and disappeared down an unpaved road.
The pursuing vehicles continued straight.
Lorenzo turned off the headlights.
For several minutes they drove in darkness.
Finally, they reached an abandoned summer house.
Lorenzo led her inside.
There was a fireplace.
Two bedrooms.
Emergency supplies.
Medical equipment.
Vivien stared.
“You have a secret house.”
“I have several.”
“Of course.”
“I’m trying not to give you another reason to hate me.”
She looked at him.
“It's too late for that.”
Lorenzo's eyes lowered.
“I know.”
He disappeared into another room.
Vivien heard him talking on the phone.
She walked toward the sound.
“…if Leonardo is alive, he needs medical help.”
A pause.
“No. Don't send anyone.”
He ended the call.
“Who were you talking to?”
“A doctor.”
“Why?”
“Because I found blood.”
Her heart tightened.
“Leonardo's?”
“I don't know.”
“Where?”
“At the farmhouse.”
She sat down.
Lorenzo stayed standing.
“I need you to believe one thing.”
“What?”
“I never stopped loving you.”
Vivien looked at him.
“Then why did you marry me for convenience?”
“Because that's how it started.”
“And why did you stay?”
“Because somewhere along the way, convenience stopped mattering.”
“You could have told me.”
“I wanted to.”
“So what stopped you?”
“Fear.”
“You're not afraid of guns.”
“I am afraid of losing you.”
Vivien stared at him.
“You already did.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
She expected him to argue.
He didn't.
That hurt even more.
A soft alarm sounded.
Lorenzo moved instantly.
“What is it?”
The security tablet showed a vehicle approaching.
He grabbed his gun.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Vivien.”
“I've spent three years being told to stay inside.”
She stood.
“I won't do it again.”
He almost smiled.
“There you are.”
“What?”
“The woman I married.”
She looked away.
He quickly disabled the exterior lights.
A car stopped outside.
A man stepped out.
Not an enemy.
Mateo.
Lorenzo let him inside.
Mateo was bleeding.
“It's bad,” Vivien said.
“I've had worse.”
“Sit.”
She found medical supplies.
Her hands were steady.
Mateo watched her.
“You shouldn't be here.”
She wrapped his arm.
“I've heard that today.”
Mateo grimaced.
“Leonardo is alive.”
Lorenzo looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“He called me.”
Vivien looked up.
“Where?”
“Saint Agnes.”
Lorenzo went still.
“He wants us to come.”
“Why?”
Mateo handed him a flash drive.
“Because he found the person behind everything.”
Vivien's breathing slowed.
“Who?”
Mateo looked at Lorenzo.
“Your uncle.”
Lorenzo's face changed.
“Our uncle is dead.”
“So was Leonardo.”
No one spoke.
Mateo continued.
“Your uncle Rafael staged his own death two years before Leonardo disappeared. He controls the offshore accounts. He has been funding the attacks.”
Vivien stared.
“Why?”
“Because he wants control of Falconee Enterprises.”
Lorenzo took the drive.
“How long has he been active?”
“Years.”
“Who else?”
“Elias Vane.”
“Anyone inside?”
Mateo's gaze shifted.
“Yes.”
Vivien knew before he said it.
“The west gate security chief.”
Mateo nodded.
Her stomach turned.
“All this time.”
“Yes.”
“And Saint Agnes?”
“Connected.”
Vivien stood.
“What about my mother?”
Mateo looked down.
“Rafael arranged her poisoning.”
The room became silent.
Vivien felt something inside her crack.
Her mother's face appeared in her mind.
Warm hands.
Soft voice.
The smell of lavender.
Everything she had believed was suddenly wrong.
Lorenzo stepped toward her.
She raised a hand.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
“I need a moment.”
She walked outside.
Snow had begun falling.
She stood under the porch roof.
Lorenzo remained inside.
After several minutes, he joined her.
He didn't touch her.
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t kill her.”
“But I kept the truth from you.”
“Yes.”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“You were protecting yourself too.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“That is what I needed to hear.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“The truth.”
Vivien turned to him.
“I don't need you to be perfect. I need you to stop deciding what I can handle.”
“I can do that.”
“You have to.”
“I will.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know if I can forgive you yet.”
“I'll wait.”
“You don't get to ask me to come back.”
“I won't.”
“And you don't get to tell me that I belong with you because I'm carrying your child.”
“I would never.”
She stared at him.
“Then we have a chance.”
He looked surprised.
“A chance?”
“To see who we are without lies.”
His voice softened.
“I'd like that.”
A gunshot echoed in the distance.
Lorenzo immediately moved in front of her.
“Inside.”
This time, Vivien followed.
Their enemies had found them.
But something had changed.
May you like
They were no longer trying to escape separately.
They were finally standing on the same side.
