Chapter 4 - The Woman Callie Thought Had Abandoned Her Was Secretly Working Against Nathaniel—and Had Left One Final MessageCallie's mother had disappeared after her father's death.
Callie believed she had abandoned her.
The truth was worse.
She had been forced into hiding.
Nathaniel had used her as leverage.
She had spent ten years working through intermediaries to protect Callie.
The trust beneficiary was not evidence of betrayal.
It was a protection mechanism.
The funds had been used to keep Callie's mother alive.
And one of the accounts contained a message.
Callie,
If you're reading this, you're ready.
Nathaniel was never your biggest enemy.
The account belongs to someone above him.
Callie's hands shook.
“Above him?”
Adrian looked at the document.
“Who?”
The name had been blacked out.
But beneath it was an initial.
S.
Stone.
Adrian froze.
“That isn't possible.”
Callie looked at him.
“Your family?”
He shook his head.
“My father.”
Adrian's father had died eight years earlier.
But the evidence suggested he had been connected to the original network.
Callie stared.
“Maybe he built it.”
Adrian looked horrified.
“Why?”
“To protect the organization.”
“From whom?”
“Everyone.”
That night, Adrian searched his father's private records.
They found old photographs.
Nathaniel.
Adrian's father.
Callie's father.
All together.
Years ago.
Working together.
Until someone betrayed the group.
The question was no longer whether Nathaniel had stolen money.
It was who had ordered it.
And why.
Then Callie found a hidden note.
If Adrian ever learns the truth, tell him his father wasn't the enemy.
His uncle was.
Richard Stone.
Adrian's uncle.
The man currently serving on the board.
The man who had supported every major business decision for ten years.
The man who had welcomed Callie without ever asking questions.
Adrian stared at the note.
“Richard.”
Callie nodded.
“Now we know.”
But Richard already knew they knew.
Because within an hour, the office was attacked.
Windows shattered.
Security alarms screamed.
Adrian pulled Callie behind him.
She whispered:
“Don't.”
“What?”
“Your left.”
He turned.
A gunman appeared.
Callie moved faster than Adrian.
She fired.
The attacker dropped.
Adrian stared.
She looked at the weapon.
Then at him.
“You really thought I was just a secretary?”
He almost laughed.
“No.”
“You did.”
“Not anymore.”
For the first time, Adrian looked at her without seeing the disguise.
He saw the woman underneath.
Strong.
Strategic.
Dangerous.
And breathtaking.
He took her hand.
“You're not doing this alone.”
May you like
She looked at him.
“Neither are you.”
Related Stories
