Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT SHE RAN
Three years earlier, Sadie had arrived at Roman's penthouse shortly after midnight.
She remembered the elevator opening.
The marble hallway.
The sound of a man screaming.
Roman stood near the basement stairs.
Blood stained his cuffs.
A man lay on the floor.
Sadie recognized him.
Daniel Price.
A security contractor who had worked for Elena.
Daniel was begging.
“Please.”
Roman looked at him.
Then said:
“Tell me where she is.”
Sadie froze.
Elena.
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Roman stepped closer.
Sadie backed away.
Then Daniel saw her.
His expression changed.
“Nora!”
Roman turned.
Daniel shouted:
“Run!”
Sadie did.
She fled the penthouse.
Changed her identity.
And never looked back.
Now, three years later, Roman sat across from her in a private office.
His hands were clasped.
His face was pale.
“Daniel was working for my father,” he said.
Sadie stared.
“He was helping Vittorio locate Elena.”
“Then why was he begging?”
“Because he'd failed.”
Sadie's voice shook.
“And the blood?”
Roman looked down.
“Mine.”
She frowned.
“What?”
Roman rolled up his sleeve.
A pale scar crossed his forearm.
“Daniel stabbed me when I confronted him.”
Sadie stared.
“I was trying to find Elena before my father did.”
Sadie's eyes filled.
“You could have told me.”
Roman nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
His voice broke.
“Because I thought keeping you ignorant would keep you alive.”
Sadie stood.
“That wasn't your decision to make.”
Roman looked up.
“I know.”
She stared at him.
For the first time, she saw genuine regret.
But regret did not erase three years.
Then Rebecca entered.
Her face was grim.
“We traced Elena's email.”
Sadie turned.
“Where?”
Rebecca swallowed.
“It came from a server connected to Vittorio.”
Roman stood.
His expression hardened.
Rebecca continued.
“And the message wasn't sent by Elena.”
Sadie's heart stopped.
“Then who?”
May you like
Rebecca looked at Roman.
“Someone wants you two to turn against each other.”
