Chapter 2 - The Secret Her Father Took to the GraveRoarke spent the next four hours comparing the photograph to old Castellano records.
The box existed.
He had seen it once as a child.
His father kept it in a locked office beneath the family warehouse.
Then, one day, it disappeared.
So did several financial ledgers.
Roarke had been twelve.
His father had told him never to ask questions.
Now he understood why.
Adeline sat across from him in the private library.
She looked exhausted.
“You said your father worked for mine.”
“Yes.”
“What did they do together?”
“I don't know.”
“Did your father ever talk about the Castellanos family?”
“Only once.”
“What did he say?”
“He said there were people who would kill for numbers.”
Roarke nodded.
“He was right.”
Adeline looked down.
“My mother knew too.”
“How?”
“She used to receive envelopes.”
“From whom?”
“I don't know.”
“Why didn't you ask?”
“I was a child.”
Roarke softened.
He had forgotten she was young too.
They had both grown up in families whose secrets had shaped their lives.
Adeline looked at him.
“You're staring.”
“I was thinking.”
“About?”
“How much you've had to survive.”
She smiled without humor.
“So have you.”
He didn't deny it.
Then Posy's hospital called again.
Adeline answered.
Her face changed.
“Tomorrow morning?”
She listened.
“I understand.”
She hung up.
Roarke watched her.
“What happened?”
“They moved the procedure forward.”
“When?”
“Six a.m.”
“You need the deposit.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
She hesitated.
“Twenty-seven thousand.”
Roarke took out his phone.
She immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were going to pay it.”
“Yes.”
“I won't take it.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know what you want.”
Roarke stared at her.
“Nothing.”
“That's impossible.”
“Not everything is a transaction.”
“Everything is.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Some things are choices.”
She didn't believe him.
Not yet.
Roarke arranged the hospital deposit anonymously.
Adeline discovered it thirty minutes later.
She stormed back into his office.
“You lied.”
“I didn't.”
“You said you wouldn't.”
“I said I wouldn't give you money.”
“This is my sister.”
“Yes.”
“You paid it.”
“I did.”
“You promised.”
“I never promised anything.”
She looked furious.
“Why?”
He stood.
“Because Posy shouldn't have to wait for a signature while you work yourself to death.”
Tears filled her eyes.
She turned away.
“Thank you.”
It was almost a whisper.
Roarke nodded.
“You're welcome.”
She wiped her face.
“I'll repay you.”
“You don't have to.”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
He smiled faintly.
“Then repay me.”
“How?”
“Stay alive.”
She looked at him.
“That isn't a debt.”
“It is to me.”
Neither spoke.
Then Silvio appeared.
“Boss.”
Roarke turned.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Someone broke into the family archive.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“What did they take?”
Silvio hesitated.
“The photograph.”
Adeline's face went white.
“What?”
“The one you brought.”
She looked at Roarke.
“That was my father's.”
“Apparently it was worth stealing.”
Adeline grabbed her bag.
“I need to go.”
“Where?”
“To Posy.”
Roarke nodded.
“I'll take you.”
“No.”
“Adeline.”
She looked at him.
“I have a car.”
“You're exhausted.”
“So are you.”
He almost smiled.
She was becoming difficult in an entirely different way.
“You're coming with me.”
She sighed.
“Fine.”
They drove to the hospital.
Posy was awake.
She smiled when Roarke entered.
“You're Mr. Scary.”
Roarke looked at Adeline.
“She has questions.”
“Always.”
Posy studied him.
“Are you rich?”
“Yes.”
“Very?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a castle?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Too much maintenance.”
Posy laughed.
Adeline smiled for the first time that day.
Roarke noticed.
The hospital room felt unexpectedly warm.
Then Posy said:
“Mommy used to say you would find us.”
Adeline froze.
“Posy.”
“What?”
“Who told you that?”
“Mommy.”
“When?”
“Before she died.”
Roarke looked at Adeline.
“What exactly did your mother say?”
Posy frowned.
“She said the tall man would come.”
Roarke felt a chill.
“What tall man?”
“You.”
Silence.
Adeline looked terrified.
Roarke stared at the child.
“Did she know my name?”
Posy nodded.
“She called you Roarke.”
Roarke stood motionless.
His mother had died twenty years ago.
Adeline's mother had died three years ago.
Yet somehow, they had both spoken about him.
Then the hospital lights flickered.
A nurse rushed in.
“Everyone needs to move to the waiting area.”
“Why?”
“Security issue.”
Roarke knew immediately.
Someone had found them.
He took Adeline's hand.
“Stay close.”
This time, she didn't object.
They moved through the corridor.
At the end, a man stood beside an elevator.
Gray coat.
Black gloves.
Silver ring.
He looked at Roarke.
Then at Adeline.
Then smiled.
“Your father should have killed her.”
Roarke's expression changed.
“Who are you?”
The man stepped into the elevator.
Before the doors closed, he said:
“Ask Adeline what happened the night her father died.”
The doors shut.
Adeline was shaking.
Roarke looked at her.
“Tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't remember.”
He stared.
May you like
She whispered:
“I was there.”
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