Chapter 4 - The Man Adrian Should Never Have Trusted
Adrian did not accuse Luca.
Not yet.
He simply changed the rules.
Every phone was confiscated.
Every vehicle was searched.
Every security badge was replaced.
No one was permitted to leave the estate.
Chloe noticed immediately.
“You suspect your own people.”
“I suspect everyone.”
“Even Luca?”
“Especially people who have earned my trust.”
Luca stood outside the room.
He did not protest.
That made Chloe more nervous.
Hours passed.
Marianne slept in a guarded room downstairs.
Adrian worked through Daniel’s letter.
Chloe sat across from him.
The tension between them had changed.
At first she had been afraid of him.
Now she was afraid of what might happen to him.
“You lost someone,” she said.
“My father.”
“I meant Vincent.”
Adrian looked up.
“He was like a second father.”
“Then why did he betray you?”
“I don't know.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes.”
It was the first honest answer he had given her.
Chloe looked down.
“I’m sorry.”
He studied her.
“You shouldn't be.”
“Why?”
“Because you were not the one who betrayed me.”
The words settled between them.
Later that night, Chloe woke to a strange sound.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Two knocks.
Pause.
Three knocks.
She sat up.
The signal came again.
Someone was outside.
She opened the door.
No one.
At the end of the hallway, a light blinked.
She followed it.
The light led to the library.
A man stood inside.
Luca.
Chloe froze.
“You're not supposed to be here.”
“I know.”
“What are you doing?”
He turned.
“Looking for the thing Adrian missed.”
Chloe's heart raced.
“What?”
Luca held up a key.
“Your mother's room.”
“How did you get this?”
“Vincent gave it to me.”
She stepped back.
“Why?”
“Because I work for him.”
Silence.
Chloe reached for the alarm.
Luca shook his head.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because if you scream, his people will shoot your mother.”
Her blood turned cold.
“You're threatening me?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
Luca looked exhausted.
“I joined Adrian’s organization eight years ago.”
“Why?”
“Because Adrian saved my life.”
“Then why betray him?”
“I didn't.”
“Vincent says you did.”
“He's lying.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
The answer startled her.
Luca continued.
“Trust no one.”
He handed her a folded piece of paper.
“My job was to protect the key.”
Chloe opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a woman.
Her mother.
Standing beside a little girl.
Chloe.
And behind them was Tommy Mercer.
But the photograph had been taken fifteen years earlier.
Before Chloe had ever met Tommy.
Her stomach dropped.
“That's impossible.”
“No.”
She stared.
Tommy had been around her family long before she knew him.
Luca whispered.
“His father worked for Daniel.”
Chloe looked at the photograph again.
“What did Tommy know?”
“Everything.”
Suddenly footsteps approached.
Adrian.
Luca stepped away.
Adrian entered.
His eyes went first to Chloe.
Then Luca.
“What are you doing here?”
Luca answered.
“Protecting her.”
Adrian's gaze hardened.
“Explain.”
Luca reached for his weapon.
Adrian drew his faster.
Chloe stepped between them.
“Stop.”
“Move,” Adrian said.
“No.”
She looked at Luca.
Then at Adrian.
“He says Vincent gave him the key.”
Adrian lowered his gun slightly.
“Which key?”
Luca handed him the paper.
Adrian looked at the photograph.
His face became unreadable.
“Where did you get this?”
“From a safe Vincent keeps beneath St. Agnes Cemetery.”
Adrian studied him.
“Why tell me now?”
“Because I found out what Vincent plans to do.”
“What?”
“Trade Chloe to the Calderons.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“For what?”
“The ledger.”
“And Marianne?”
Luca hesitated.
“They will kill her after the exchange.”
Chloe's face went pale.
“Why would Vincent want the Calderons to have it?”
“Because he already sold part of the information.”
Adrian stared.
“You helped him?”
“I infiltrated his operation.”
Adrian lowered his weapon.
Then he did something Chloe did not expect.
He walked to Luca.
And hugged him.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
“You should have trusted me.”
“I did.”
“No. You trusted yourself.”
“That kept me alive.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“Fair.”
They began planning.
The exchange would happen at an abandoned train terminal.
Chloe would be the bait.
But Adrian had another plan.
He would plant a false key.
Meanwhile Luca would find Marianne.
The night arrived.
Chloe wore a black coat and a wire beneath it.
Adrian adjusted the microphone.
“You stay beside me.”
“What if Tommy appears?”
“He will.”
“Are you going to kill him?”
Adrian looked at her.
“That depends on what he says.”
They reached the terminal.
Tommy stood on the platform.
No cousins.
No guards.
Just him.
He smiled.
Chloe recoiled.
“Hello, Chloe.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Stay away from her.”
Tommy laughed.
“You really believe she belongs to you?”
“She belongs to no one.”
Tommy's smile faded.
“You don't understand what she is.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No, you don't.”
Tommy looked at Chloe.
“Do you remember the lake?”
She froze.
A memory flashed.
Summer.
A red boat.
Her father.
Tommy's father.
A gunshot.
She stumbled.
Adrian caught her.
“What did you remember?”
Chloe whispered.
“My father gave me something.”
Tommy smiled.
“There it is.”
He looked at Adrian.
“She remembers.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Then talk.”
Tommy approached.
“My father killed Daniel Bell.”
Chloe gasped.
“But he didn't do it alone.”
Tommy pointed at Adrian.
“Your father ordered it.”
Silence.
Adrian's face went cold.
Chloe looked at him.
“No.”
Tommy laughed.
“You think Adrian is a hero?”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Keep talking.”
“Your father betrayed Daniel first. Vincent only finished what he started.”
“Proof.”
Tommy tossed a photograph.
Adrian caught it.
It showed his father meeting Daniel.
On the table was a document.
A transfer agreement.
Adrian stared.
The date was the night before the warehouse explosion.
Chloe looked at him.
“Is that real?”
“I don't know.”
Tommy reached into his coat.
“Then ask your mother.”
A gunshot rang out.
Tommy dropped.
Chloe screamed.
Adrian pulled her down.
Snipers.
Chaos exploded around them.
Luca fired toward the roof.
Men rushed the platform.
Tommy disappeared.
Adrian grabbed the photograph.
“Get out!”
They ran.
Back in the SUV, Chloe stared at Adrian.
“You didn't know.”
“No.”
“About your father.”
“No.”
“What if it's true?”
Adrian looked out the window.
“My father was many things.”
He turned to her.
“But he was not a murderer.”
Chloe wanted to believe him.
Then her phone buzzed.
A video message.
Marianne appeared on screen.
Behind her stood Vincent.
And Tommy.
Marianne looked directly into the camera.
“Chloe, there is something I never told you.”
May you like
She swallowed.
“You are not Daniel's only daughter.”
