Chapter 5 - Someone Was Watching
Noah improved for thirty-six hours.
Then Roman received a photograph.
He was standing beside the hospital window when his phone vibrated.
I saw his expression change.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Roman.”
He locked the screen.
I stepped closer.
“Show me.”
He refused.
So I grabbed the phone.
The photograph showed Noah outside his school.
Taken three days earlier.
Someone had circled his face.
Beneath it were five words.
VALE BLOOD DOESN’T STAY HIDDEN.
My hands started shaking.
“They knew?”
Roman took the phone.
“Apparently.”
“Who?”
“I’m finding out.”
“This is exactly why I left!”
“And leaving didn’t protect him.”
I slapped him.
The room went silent.
Roman didn’t move.
“You don’t get to say that.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“I gave up everything. My family. My career. Every friend I had. I moved four times before Noah turned three.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I had people reconstruct your movements after I arrived.”
Anger exploded through me.
“You investigated me?”
“I discovered you’ve spent eight years living like a fugitive.”
“Because of you!”
Roman stepped closer.
“No, Claire.”
His voice lowered.
“Because I taught you to fear what I was capable of.”
That stopped me.
He looked toward Noah.
“I cannot change the man you knew.”
Then he looked back at me.
“But I can decide what kind of father walks out of this hospital.”
A guard entered.
“Boss.”
Roman turned.
“We found him.”
“Who?”
“Victor Salerno.”
I recognized the name.
Roman’s former lieutenant.
A man who disappeared after stealing millions from Roman’s organization.
“He’s been tracking the boy for months.”
Roman’s face became ice.
I grabbed his wrist.
“No killing.”
“Claire.”
“Noah wakes up tomorrow and asks where his father went. What am I supposed to tell him?”
Roman stared at my hand around his wrist.
“You want me to forgive a man who targeted my son?”
“I want you to prove I was wrong to run.”
That landed harder than the slap.
Roman remained silent for several seconds.
Then he looked at his guard.
“Call federal authorities.”
The guard blinked.
“Boss?”
“You heard me.”
“Roman—”
“Give them everything on Salerno.”
His eyes stayed on mine.
“Let the law take him.”
The guard hesitated.
Roman’s voice hardened.
“Now.”
The man left.
May you like
For the first time, Roman Vale chose my world over his.
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