Chapter 2 - The Father She Thought Was Dead
The private penthouse floor locked down within minutes.
Two guards stood outside the elevator.
Another checked every stairwell.
Sophie sat on the sofa eating cookies from room service while Rachel stood near the window with her arms crossed.
Adrian remained across the room.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Rachel said, “Say it.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You want me to say something?”
“You’ve been staring at me for ten minutes.”
“I buried you.”
Rachel’s expression shifted.
Adrian stepped closer.
“I buried an empty coffin.”
His voice remained calm.
That made it worse.
“I stood beside your parents while a priest told me my wife and unborn child were gone.”
Rachel looked away.
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
“No.”
She turned back.
“Someone planted a bomb under our car.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“I remember.”
“I was five months pregnant.”
“I remember that too.”
“The doctors said Sophie survived because the blast pushed most of the impact toward my side of the vehicle.”
Adrian’s eyes moved toward Sophie.
Rachel continued.
“You were unconscious for almost two days.”
“I woke up and you were gone.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I heard two men talking outside my hospital room.”
Adrian froze.
“What men?”
“I didn’t know.”
“What did they say?”
Rachel stepped closer.
“They said, ‘The boss survived. Finish the wife before she wakes up.’”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“And you never told me?”
“You were unconscious.”
“You had guards.”
“I didn’t know which guards I could trust.”
Adrian said nothing.
Rachel lowered her voice.
“Someone gave them our route that night.”
He looked at her.
“You believe someone inside my organization did it.”
“I know someone did.”
“How?”
Rachel touched the chain around her neck.
A small silver key hung beneath her blouse.
Adrian noticed.
“What is that?”
“Insurance.”
Before Rachel could explain, Sophie spoke.
“Mom?”
Rachel turned.
Sophie was standing beside the sofa.
Her cookie remained untouched.
“Is he my dad?”
The room went still.
Adrian looked toward Rachel.
For the first time, he didn’t make the decision.
He waited.
Rachel walked over.
“Soph—”
“You told me Dad died.”
Rachel crouched.
“I know.”
“You said before I was born.”
“I know.”
“Was that a lie too?”
Rachel’s throat tightened.
“Yes.”
Sophie looked at Adrian.
“Are you my dad?”
Adrian slowly crouched in front of her.
“Yes.”
Sophie stared at him.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then where were you?”
Adrian’s expression cracked slightly.
“I didn’t know where you were.”
Sophie looked at Rachel.
“Why didn’t he know?”
Rachel answered quietly.
“Because I was scared.”
“Of him?”
Adrian remained still.
Rachel shook her head.
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
“His world.”
Sophie looked at Adrian again.
“What does that mean?”
Rachel hesitated.
Adrian answered.
“It means some bad people don’t like me.”
Sophie frowned.
“Why?”
“That’s complicated.”
“Did you do something bad?”
Rachel almost interrupted.
Adrian answered first.
“Yes.”
Sophie blinked.
Rachel looked at him sharply.
Adrian remained calm.
“I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”
Sophie studied him.
“Are you bad?”
“No.”
Rachel interrupted.
“He’s dangerous.”
Adrian looked at her.
Sophie caught the exchange.
“Dangerous to us?”
Adrian answered immediately.
“Never.”
Sophie stepped closer.
Then placed her small hand in his tattooed one.
Adrian stared down.
For a man feared across Chicago, he suddenly looked completely unprepared.
Sophie said, “Your hand is huge.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“I’ve been told that.”
“Your tattoos look scary.”
“They’re supposed to.”
“Why?”
“To scare people.”
“Do they work?”
One of the guards near the doorway coughed to hide a laugh.
Adrian glanced at him.
The guard immediately became serious.
Sophie giggled.
Then Adrian’s security chief entered.
“Boss.”
Adrian stood.
“What?”
“We identified the men downstairs.”
Rachel felt uneasy.
“Who are they?”
The guard looked at Adrian.
“They work for Marco.”
Silence.
Adrian’s brother.
Marco Moretti.
Rachel whispered, “I knew it.”
Adrian looked toward her.
“You knew what?”
She reached beneath her blouse and removed the silver key.
“That key opens a safe-deposit box.”
“What’s inside?”
“Records.”
“What kind?”
“Bank transfers. Phone logs. Copies of security reports.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“From whom?”
“Marco.”
Sophie looked between them.
“Who’s Marco?”
Rachel didn’t answer.
Adrian did.
“My brother.”
Sophie’s eyes widened.
“So he’s my uncle?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Technically.”
Rachel walked toward him.
“Your brother ordered the bombing.”
Adrian stared at her.
“Be very careful.”
“I found proof three days before the attack.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wasn’t sure.”
“And now?”
Rachel held up the key.
“Now I am.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Speak.”
His expression changed.
“What?”
Rachel stepped closer.
Adrian ended the call.
“Marco sent a message.”
Rachel’s face went pale.
“What does he want?”
“The key.”
“And?”
Adrian looked toward Sophie.
“He says if we give it to him, Sophie lives.”
Rachel whispered, “Oh God.”
Adrian looked at her.
“No.”
“What?”
“He made a mistake.”
Rachel stared at him.
“What mistake?”
Adrian buttoned his coat.
May you like
“He threatened my daughter.”
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