Chapter 4 - Marcus Reed’s Second Phone
Marcus carried two phones.
The first was public.
The second never connected to ordinary cellular towers.
Thomas had discovered it years earlier while auditing Vale security equipment.
The device communicated through an encrypted private network owned by Lucian.
Adrian needed it.
He invited Marcus to his penthouse the next evening.
The city glittered below.
Two glasses of whiskey sat untouched between them.
Marcus looked tired.
“You met with federal prosecutors.”
Adrian did not react.
“How do you know?”
“Lucian has people in the building.”
There was no longer a reason to pretend.
Adrian leaned back.
“Did you arrange the convoy?”
Marcus looked toward the windows.
“You already know.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
Marcus’s face hardened.
“Yes.”
The word entered the room quietly.
No apology.
No explanation.
Adrian’s hand closed around the arm of his chair.
“Why?”
“Because Lucian offered me a future.”
“I gave you everything.”
“You gave me a place beside you.”
“I called you my brother.”
“You remained the heir. I remained the boy Lucian rescued.”
“You could have walked away.”
“From the Vale family?”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“No one walks away.”
“Evelyn tried.”
“And look what happened.”
Adrian moved before thought.
He crossed the room and drove Marcus against the wall.
His hand closed around his throat.
For one second, killing him felt simple.
Then Lily’s face appeared in his mind.
Not Evelyn’s grave.
His living daughter.
Adrian released him.
Marcus coughed.
“You’ve changed.”
“No.”
Adrian stepped back.
“I finally understood what strength is not.”
Marcus touched his neck.
“You think the law will protect Evelyn?”
The name confirmed he knew.
Adrian’s pulse slowed.
“Where is she?”
“Alive, last I heard.”
“Why?”
“Lucian needed access codes she memorized after reviewing his charity accounts.”
“Evelyn was an art teacher.”
“She volunteered with the foundation. She saw payments to clinics and judges. She copied them.”
Of course she had.
Evelyn noticed what powerful men assumed ordinary women would ignore.
Marcus poured whiskey with a shaking hand.
“She confronted Lucian. He decided the baby made her dangerous.”
“And you helped him.”
“I redirected the convoy.”
“You put Lily in a burning car.”
“I was told Thomas would remove the baby before the impact.”
“Thomas nearly died.”
“Lucian changed the plan.”
Marcus sounded offended by the betrayal of a murderer.
Adrian watched him.
“Your second phone.”
Marcus froze.
“What?”
“The one Lucian gave you.”
“I don’t have it.”
Adrian pressed a button.
Security footage appeared on the wall.
Marcus entering.
Removing a black phone from his coat.
Placing it inside the bar cabinet before sitting.
Thomas had predicted he would hide it during the meeting.
Adrian opened the cabinet.
The phone was gone.
Marcus smiled.
“You still think Thomas is the only ghost in this room?”
A shot cracked through the penthouse.
The window behind Adrian shattered.
Marcus dropped.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Adrian dragged him behind the stone bar.
Another round struck the wall.
Lucian’s sniper had been waiting for Marcus to confess.
Marcus stared at his wound.
“He’s cleaning the board.”
“Where is the phone?”
“Under the whiskey tray.”
Adrian retrieved it.
The screen showed one incoming message.
MOVE EVA TONIGHT. ELIMINATE REED.
Marcus laughed weakly.
“He finally used my real name.”
Adrian called emergency services through a secure line.
Marcus caught his sleeve.
“Don’t let them take me to a Vale hospital.”
“You think I care whether you live?”
“No.”
Marcus looked at him.
“But you need me to testify.”
For the first time in fifteen years, their relationship became honest.
No brotherhood.
No loyalty.
May you like
Only evidence.
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