Chapter 4 - The Enemy Came for Sadi
The attack changed everything.
Ronan moved Sadi from her house before sunrise.
She hated it.
He knew.
“You're kidnapping me.”
“No.”
“Then why am I being driven somewhere with three SUVs?”
“Protection.”
“Same difference.”
Ronan looked at her.
“You can get out.”
Sadi glanced at the armed men around them.
“Into what?”
He almost smiled.
“Fair.”
They reached a private estate outside the city.
Not like his main compound.
This one was smaller.
Hidden.
Beautiful.
A lake behind it.
Tall trees.
Security cameras hidden beneath stone.
Sadi stepped inside.
“I hate this.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't trust me.”
“I don't trust anyone.”
Ronan looked at her.
“Neither did I.”
She studied him.
“What happened?”
He didn't answer.
The answer came from Mara.
“You should ask him about his wife.”
Ronan shot her a look.
“Mara.”
Sadi froze.
“You were married?”
“Once.”
“What happened?”
“She died.”
Mara walked away.
Ronan stared at the floor.
“She was killed because of me.”
Sadi understood.
There was more beneath his anger.
A graveyard.
The man in front of her was not simply powerful.
He was grieving.
Later that day, Sadi learned how the Vale organization worked.
Ronan was not a reckless criminal.
He was strategic.
Disciplined.
He controlled shipping companies, construction firms, nightclubs, and private security companies.
The illegal side existed beneath legitimate businesses.
But he had been slowly dismantling it.
“Why?” Sadi asked.
“Because I wanted out.”
“You're the boss.”
“That's exactly why.”
He looked at the city through the glass.
“You don't leave a world like mine by resigning.”
She nodded.
“What were you going to do with the ledger?”
“Destroy it.”
She frowned.
“All those names?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone who owns part of that information kills to keep it.”
“Then why did your father create it?”
“To control people.”
Ronan looked at her.
“I don't want that.”
Sadi studied him.
“Then why keep fighting?”
“Because the people who want the ledger aren't interested in destroying it.”
“They want power.”
“Yes.”
That evening, an unexpected visitor arrived.
Detective Elias Ward.
He had worked with Sadi when she was an EMT.
She hadn't seen him in two years.
He walked into the estate.
“Sadi.”
She ran toward him.
“Elias?”
He hugged her.
Then looked at Ronan.
His face tightened.
“You're in deep.”
Sadi looked at him.
“How did you find me?”
“I followed the hospital security network.”
Ronan's gaze sharpened.
“You shouldn't have.”
Elias stared.
“She's my friend.”
Ronan stepped closer.
“She is now under my protection.”
Elias laughed.
“That's exactly what worries me.”
Sadi stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Both men did.
Elias lowered his voice.
“Sadi, your father's file was reopened last year.”
Her face changed.
“What?”
“Someone requested the original evidence.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Can you find out?”
“Yes.”
“Do it.”
Elias nodded.
Before leaving, he whispered:
“Don't trust the Vale family.”
Ronan heard him.
Sadi watched Elias go.
“What was that?”
Ronan said nothing.
Later that night, he received a call.
He listened.
Then stood.
“What happened?”
Sadi asked.
“The city police chief was murdered.”
Her face went pale.
“Why?”
“Because he had seen the ledger.”
Ronan picked up his coat.
“Where are you going?”
“To stop a war.”
Sadi grabbed his arm.
“Don't.”
He looked at her hand.
She released him.
“I mean…”
He waited.
She swallowed.
“Come back.”
Something moved behind his eyes.
“I will.”
He left.
Three hours later, Sadi woke to shouting downstairs.
She ran down.
Ronan was being carried through the door.
Blood covered his coat.
He had been shot again.
Sadi screamed.
“Put him down!”
She rushed toward him.
“What happened?”
Mara answered.
“Ambush.”
Sadi looked at Ronan.
His eyes opened.
“I'm fine.”
“You've been shot twice in forty-eight hours.”
“Three times.”
“What?”
“Tonight makes three.”
Sadi stared at him.
“You are the most irresponsible patient I've ever had.”
Ronan smiled weakly.
“You're worried.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She glared.
“You're impossible.”
His eyes closed.
Sadi began treating him.
But when she cut open his shirt, she discovered something beneath the bandages from the first injury.
A small tattoo.
A symbol.
She recognized it.
Her father had drawn it on her school notebooks.
She froze.
Ronan saw her expression.
“What?”
She touched the symbol.
“My father.”
Ronan looked down.
“The same mark?”
She nodded.
“He taught me that symbol.”
Ronan's face hardened.
Then he realized the truth.
“This was never about the ledger.”
Sadi looked at him.
“Then what?”
May you like
Ronan whispered:
“It was about you.”
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