Chapter 3 - The Friend Who Knew Everything
Adrian wanted Mara upstairs.
Mara refused.
“I am not hiding in a bedroom while everyone discusses the man trying to kill me.”
“You're not part of this.”
“He burned down my job.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Exactly.”
“So I'm part of it.”
“Mara.”
“No.”
Luca stood near the doorway, watching them argue.
Finally he said, “She's not going upstairs.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Whose side are you on?”
“The side that wants this conversation to end before lunch.”
Mara pointed at Luca.
“I like him.”
“You shouldn't,” Adrian said.
“He's killed people.”
Luca frowned.
“Unnecessary.”
Mara stared.
Luca shrugged.
“Long career.”
Adrian placed both hands on the table.
“We believe Victor has been working against me for almost a year.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“That's boring.”
“Power.”
“Still boring.”
“Revenge.”
Mara stopped.
Adrian's expression changed.
“My father killed Victor's father twenty-two years ago.”
There it was.
The part nobody laughed about.
“Did you know?”
“I learned the truth three months ago.”
“And you kept Victor around?”
“He was my brother in every way that mattered.”
“Apparently not.”
Adrian looked away.
For the first time, Mara saw something beneath the controlled exterior.
Not fear.
Pain.
Victor's betrayal had actually hurt him.
Mara softened slightly.
“Why poison you?”
“Because shooting me starts a war. A quiet death creates confusion.”
“And Victor takes over?”
“With outside support.”
Luca's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then handed the phone to Adrian.
“It's him.”
Adrian's face became unreadable.
He put the call on speaker.
Victor laughed.
“Morning, brother.”
Adrian said nothing.
“Did your waitress enjoy my present?”
Mara leaned toward the phone.
“My restaurant had rats anyway.”
Silence.
Then Victor laughed again.
“There she is.”
Adrian shot her a look.
Mara ignored him.
Victor continued.
“You should've stayed invisible, sweetheart.”
“You should've picked a poison that doesn't come in a cartoon-sized vial.”
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
Luca looked toward the ceiling.
Victor's voice hardened.
“You think this is funny?”
“No. I think you're bad at murder.”
“Mara.”
Adrian's warning was quiet.
Victor heard it.
“Oh, Adrian. She's already got you defending her.”
“Where are you?”
“Wouldn't you like to know?”
“I already know.”
Victor stopped.
Adrian continued.
“You're not at the airport. You left the car there because you wanted us looking south.”
No answer.
“You're still in Boston.”
Victor disconnected.
Mara stared at Adrian.
“You actually know where he is?”
“No.”
She blinked.
Adrian looked at Luca.
“But now we know I'm right.”
Luca smiled.
Mara shook her head.
“You people are exhausting.”
Suddenly an alarm sounded.
Luca reached beneath his jacket.
Adrian grabbed Mara's arm and pulled her away from the windows.
“What happened?”
“North gate,” Luca said.
Two sharp impacts echoed outside.
Mara froze.
Adrian moved her behind a stone wall near the staircase.
“Stay here.”
“Adrian—”
“Stay.”
Men rushed through the hallway.
Mara heard engines.
Shouting.
Then silence.
Thirty seconds later Luca returned.
“False alarm.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
“Delivery truck hit the outer gate.”
Mara exhaled.
Then Luca's phone buzzed.
He read the message.
His expression darkened.
“What now?” Adrian asked.
Luca slowly raised his eyes.
“The truck was empty.”
Adrian understood first.
He turned.
“Mara!”
Too late.
May you like
The lights went out.
---
