Chapter 5 - THE TRUTH ADRIAN HAD HIDDEN FROM HER
Nora read the sentence twice.
Then a third time.
Adrian said nothing.
That was enough.
“What did you do?”
Dominic looked away.
Nora saw it.
“You know too.”
Dominic exhaled.
“Nora—”
“No.”
She pointed at Adrian.
“Him.”
Adrian stared at the notebook.
Then closed it.
“Your father wanted to contact you after six months.”
Her heart stopped.
“What?”
“He believed the immediate threat had passed.”
Nora didn't move.
“I disagreed.”
The van became very quiet.
“You disagreed.”
“Yes.”
“You told him not to contact me?”
“Yes.”
She laughed.
There was no humor in it.
“You?”
“The people after him still had access to surveillance, police databases, schools—”
“You decided.”
“Yes.”
“Did my father?”
“No.”
The answer came quietly.
Nora stared.
“He wanted to come back?”
“Yes.”
“And you stopped him.”
“I convinced him it would put you at risk.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
“No.”
“How?”
Adrian looked toward the rain outside.
“One of Ward's people was still watching your house.”
“Who?”
“We never identified him.”
“So you told my father to stay gone.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Another year.”
Her eyes filled.
“Then?”
Adrian said nothing.
Nora understood.
“Then another.”
“Yes.”
“And another.”
“Yes.”
She wanted to hit him.
Instead she said:
“My mother got sick.”
Adrian's face changed.
“I know.”
“Cancer.”
“I know.”
“Did my father want to come home then?”
Long silence.
“Yes.”
Nora stopped breathing.
“You stopped him then too?”
“I told him Ward had reactivated surveillance after your mother filed an insurance claim.”
Nora covered her mouth.
“I told Thomas if he appeared, Ward would know exactly where to look.”
“Did you tell him he should choose?”
“I told him what I believed would happen.”
“And he listened.”
“Yes.”
Her voice broke.
“My mother died without him.”
Adrian looked down.
“Yes.”
Nora opened the van door.
Dominic grabbed her sleeve.
“Where are you going?”
“Anywhere else.”
Adrian said:
“Let her.”
She climbed out into the rain.
No coat.
Bandaged hands.
No plan.
She walked three blocks before Adrian caught up.
On crutches.
In pain.
Ridiculous.
“Nora.”
“Go away.”
“I can't.”
“You're very good at leaving people alone for twelve years.”
He stopped.
That hit.
Good.
She turned.
“You protected me without ever asking what protection would cost.”
“Yes.”
“You protected my body.”
His face tightened.
“And destroyed everything else.”
“Yes.”
The answer made her angrier.
“Stop agreeing!”
“What would you prefer?”
“Defend yourself!”
“I can't.”
Rain ran down his face.
“I thought I was right.”
“You weren't.”
“I know.”
“You stole years.”
“I know.”
“My mother.”
“I know.”
“My father.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't get to know.”
Adrian's eyes reddened.
For the first time, Nora realized something.
He wasn't cold because he didn't feel guilt.
He was cold because guilt had been living there too long.
“I was twenty-six,” Adrian said.
Nora froze.
“When Thomas came to me.”
He looked toward the dark street.
“My father was dying. Victor was trying to take control. Half our people were choosing sides.”
His voice remained low.
“I thought every problem could be solved by controlling enough variables.”
Nora said nothing.
“I got Thomas out.”
He swallowed.
“And once I succeeded, I became terrified that bringing him back would prove the rescue temporary.”
“That's still control.”
“Yes.”
“Not protection.”
“Yes.”
She hated that he understood now.
“Why didn't you tell me nine months ago when I came to work for you?”
“Because the moment I saw your name, I knew Thomas had broken protocol.”
“What?”
“He told me he would never allow you near the Vale family.”
Nora stared.
“So when I applied…”
“I assumed someone sent you.”
“Who?”
“Ward.”
Her anger paused.
“You thought I was bait.”
“At first.”
“Then why hire me?”
Adrian almost smiled.
“You were a terrible spy.”
Despite everything, Nora nearly laughed.
“You dropped an entire tray because Dominic said hello.”
“He appears unexpectedly.”
“He was standing in front of you.”
“I was distracted.”
Adrian's expression softened.
“Within two weeks, I knew Ward hadn't sent you.”
“So why keep me?”
He looked at her.
The answer hung there.
Nora's heartbeat changed.
Adrian looked away first.
“Because I needed to know why Thomas's daughter had walked into my house.”
“And?”
“You were looking for him.”
“Yes.”
“I kept telling myself I'd explain after I knew where Thomas was.”
“That took nine months?”
“No.”
His voice changed.
“I started finding excuses.”
Nora stared.
There it was.
Not romance.
Not yet.
Attachment.
Fear.
Guilt.
Something more dangerous than strategy.
His phone rang.
Dominic.
Adrian answered.
“What?”
His expression changed instantly.
“When?”
Pause.
“No. Don't touch it.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?”
“The drive.”
Nora's stomach tightened.
“What?”
“It's encrypted.”
“Of course.”
“Dominic's analyst found a timer.”
Nora frowned.
“What timer?”
“If the wrong access sequence is attempted again, the drive wipes itself.”
“How many attempts?”
“One remaining.”
Nora stared.
“And who knows the password?”
Adrian looked at Thomas's notebook.
May you like
Then at her.
“Probably your father.”
