Chapter 4 - Sophie Heard the Secret Adults Thought She Didn't UnderstandAfter the kidnapping, Adrian doubled security.
Grace wanted to leave.
But this time she didn't ask.
She knew Victor was watching.
And she knew leaving the estate could make Sophie easier to reach.
Sophie, however, had changed.
She became quiet.
Too quiet.
She stopped running through the halls.
Stopped asking Adrian to play.
Stopped sleeping without the lights on.
One evening, Adrian found her sitting beneath the dining table.
“What's wrong?”
She hugged Mr. Bunny.
“Mommy is sad.”
“Yes.”
“Because of you.”
Adrian sat on the floor.
“Maybe.”
Sophie looked at him.
“You make bad things come.”
His chest tightened.
“I know.”
“Then go away.”
The words hurt.
But he nodded.
“If that's what keeps you safe.”
Sophie looked surprised.
“You would go?”
“If you need me to.”
She thought for a long time.
Then whispered:
“But I don't want you to.”
Adrian looked at her.
She crawled into his arms.
“I want you to stay.”
He closed his eyes.
For a man who had survived bullets, betrayal and war, that tiny sentence nearly destroyed him.
Grace watched from the doorway.
She finally understood.
Adrian wasn't dangerous because he lacked feelings.
He was dangerous because he had too many feelings and no idea what to do with them.
That night, Grace found Adrian on the terrace.
“You're leaving.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
She stepped beside him.
“You think that's what Sophie wants?”
“I think it's what she needs.”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“She needs you.”
“That's dangerous.”
“So is loving someone.”
He stared.
Grace's voice trembled.
“You love her.”
“Yes.”
“And you love me.”
Adrian looked away.
“Grace.”
“Say it.”
“I don't know how.”
“Try.”
He finally looked at her.
“I love you.”
She cried.
He stepped toward her.
“I've never said that to anyone.”
“I know.”
“I don't know what happens next.”
Grace smiled through tears.
“Neither do I.”
They kissed.
It was gentle.
Uncertain.
Real.
And neither noticed the small figure standing behind the glass door.
Sophie smiled.
She had never seen Adrian kiss anyone.
She decided she liked it.
The next morning, however, everything changed.
A package arrived.
Inside was a photograph of Sophie.
Taken yesterday.
At the estate.
On the back were three words:
SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH.
Adrian's blood ran cold.
He looked at Grace.
“What does she know?”
Grace shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then Sophie walked into the room.
She looked at the photograph.
Her face went pale.
“That's the man.”
Adrian crouched.
“What man?”
“The man who took Mommy.”
Grace froze.
“Where did you see him?”
Sophie pointed to the photograph.
“Here.”
Adrian looked closer.
Behind Grace and Sophie, reflected faintly in the window, was a man standing near the garden.
A man wearing a Cross security uniform.
Adrian knew him.
Marcus knew him.
Everyone trusted him.
May you like
His name was Thomas Reed.
And he had been inside the estate for eleven years.
Related Stories
