Chapter 5 - The Enemy Inside the House
Victor disappeared after Union Station.
For three days, nothing happened.
That frightened Adrian more than an attack would have.
On the fourth night, I woke to a sound outside my bedroom.
Click.
Pause.
Click.
Someone was turning the doorknob slowly.
“Adrian?”
No answer.
I reached for my cane.
The door opened.
A man entered.
I smelled cedar.
Evan.
“You should have stayed out of this,” he whispered.
I backed toward the wall.
“You should change cologne.”
He lunged.
I swung my cane hard.
It struck something.
He cursed.
I ran.
Not randomly.
I had memorized Adrian's house.
Seven steps.
Right.
Twelve steps.
Stair rail.
“ADRIAN!”
Evan caught my coat.
I slipped free.
Footsteps thundered upstairs.
“Claire!”
Adrian.
“Hallway!”
Everything happened quickly.
A struggle.
Furniture crashed.
Then silence.
“Claire?”
I recognized Adrian immediately.
“Here.”
His hands found my shoulders.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Behind him, Luca said, “Evan's breathing.”
“Keep it that way,” I said.
Adrian sighed.
“You remembered.”
“You promised.”
“Yes.”
Luca took Evan away.
I touched Adrian's face.
His cheek was wet.
“Blood?”
“Not mine.”
I lowered my hand.
“Victor sent him.”
“Yes.”
“Then Victor knows where I am.”
“He always knew.”
I frowned.
“How?”
Adrian didn't answer.
Then I understood.
“Someone else inside your house.”
By morning, every employee had been questioned.
Nothing.
Then Lena called.
“Claire?”
Her voice was trembling.
“What happened?”
“A man came to my apartment.”
I stood.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Police were already nearby.”
“What man?”
“He gave me a message.”
Adrian took the phone.
“What message?”
Lena hesitated.
Then:
“He said Victor wants Claire at the old Lakeshore Theater tonight.”
“No.”
Adrian hung up.
“Absolutely not.”
I faced him.
“This ends tonight.”
“Not with you there.”
“Adrian.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“Victor keeps coming because he thinks I’m leverage.”
“You are.”
“Then stop treating me like leverage.”
Silence.
“Treat me like your partner.”
That word changed the room.
Adrian slowly said:
“Partner?”
“Yes.”
His voice softened.
“That is a very dangerous word around me.”
“Get used to it.”
We made a plan.
Not Victor's plan.
Ours.
That evening, I entered the abandoned theater with Adrian nearby and Luca's men surrounding every exit.
Victor waited onstage.
“Claire Bennett.”
I stopped.
“You're louder than I expected.”
He laughed.
“Where's Adrian?”
“Close.”
“Of course.”
Victor approached.
“You changed him.”
“No.”
I tilted my head.
“I reminded him he still had something worth protecting.”
Victor's voice hardened.
“He'll destroy you eventually.”
A second voice answered from the darkness.
“No.”
Adrian.
“He won't,” I said.
Victor spun.
Doors slammed throughout the theater.
Luca announced from the balcony:
“Every exit is covered.”
Victor's breathing changed.
For the first time, I heard fear.
Adrian walked onto the stage.
“It’s over.”
Victor said, “Kill me.”
“No.”
Adrian looked toward me.
“You don't get the easy ending.”
Police sirens approached outside.
Victor laughed bitterly.
“You're handing me to the police?”
Adrian answered:
“Claire prefers paperwork.”
I smiled.
May you like
“I do.”
---
