Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Adrian did not move.
The figure beneath the trees remained there for three seconds.
Four.
Then the security lights brightened.
The man disappeared.
Adrian ran outside.
“Lock the grounds!”
Guards rushed from the side entrance.
“West lawn!”
“North gate!”
“Check the trees!”
Adrian crossed the grass himself.
He reached the spot where the man had stood.
Nothing.
Only wet soil.
Then he saw something.
A black button.
Adrian crouched and picked it up.
It had been torn from a coat.
On the back was a tiny silver engraving.
J.K.
Julian Kane.
Adrian closed his hand around it.
His brother had been dead for twelve years.
Or so everyone believed.
Julian had disappeared after a failed negotiation in Baltimore.
His car had been found abandoned near the harbor.
No body.
No witnesses.
Vincent Kane had declared him dead.
Adrian had been twenty-six.
He had spent months searching.
Then his father had told him to stop.
“Julian is gone.”
Adrian had believed him.
For twelve years.
Now Julian had appeared outside his house.
Watching Lily.
Adrian returned inside.
Nora was waiting at the staircase.
Her face was frightened.
“What happened?”
“Stay upstairs.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
She looked at him.
Then shook her head.
“No.”
Adrian stopped.
Nora hugged Lily.
“If someone is coming for my daughter, I need to know why.”
Adrian studied her.
Then showed her the button.
Her face changed.
“That's not Damian's.”
“No.”
“Who is Julian?”
Adrian froze.
“You know that name?”
Nora swallowed.
“Vivian said it once.”
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“What did she say?”
“She said Julian Kane should have stayed dead.”
Adrian felt the pieces shift again.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know what it meant.”
Adrian looked at Lily.
Then at Nora.
“Did Vivian ever mention him again?”
Nora shook her head.
Adrian walked into the office.
He called the family archive department.
“Bring me Julian Kane's file.”
Twenty minutes later, an old leather folder sat on his desk.
Adrian opened it.
Photographs.
School records.
Business reports.
Medical history.
Then one photograph stopped him.
Julian was twenty-eight.
Standing beside a woman.
Nora stared over his shoulder.
“That's her.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Who?”
“Vivian.”
Adrian's heart sank.
The photograph was dated thirteen years earlier.
One year before Julian supposedly died.
Vivian was younger.
She was smiling.
Her hand rested on Julian's arm.
Adrian stared at the image.
“Why would my fiancée be with my dead brother?”
Nora whispered,
“Maybe because he isn't dead.”
Adrian closed the folder.
“That's what I'm going to find out.”
He called Damian.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Adrian's suspicion deepened.
He checked Damian's house location.
The tracker showed him moving toward Manhattan.
Then stopping.
Adrian sent two trusted men.
Ten minutes later, they reported Damian's car was empty.
No Damian.
No struggle.
Just his phone lying on the passenger seat.
Adrian drove there himself.
Inside the car, he found a folded note.
DON'T TRUST THE WOMAN YOU PLAN TO MARRY.
He read it twice.
Then another message arrived on his phone.
Unknown number.
YOU HAVE ONE NIGHT TO ASK YOUR BROTHER WHY HE LEFT.
Adrian stared at the screen.
He deleted the message.
Not because he wasn't frightened.
Because fear made people predictable.
He returned to the estate.
Nora was waiting.
Lily was asleep.
Adrian sat across from her.
“Tell me everything Vivian ever said about Julian.”
Nora hesitated.
“She once asked me if Lily had a father.”
“What did you say?”
“That he was dead.”
“Is that true?”
Nora looked away.
“No.”
Adrian went still.
“Who is Lily's father?”
Nora's eyes filled with tears.
“His name is Ethan Hale.”
Adrian frowned.
“Hale?”
“My husband.”
“Was?”
Nora nodded.
“He died two years ago.”
“How?”
“He was murdered.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“By whom?”
“I don't know.”
“But you suspect someone.”
Nora nodded.
“Ethan worked for Julian.”
Adrian leaned forward.
Nora continued.
“Before Julian disappeared, Ethan was his driver.”
That explained too much.
And not enough.
Adrian looked at Lily.
“Did Ethan know about the Kane family?”
“Yes.”
“Did he know Vivian?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Nora's voice dropped.
“Vivian hired him once.”
“For what?”
“To follow Julian.”
Adrian stared.
“Why would she follow him?”
Nora looked toward the window.
“Because Julian had something she wanted.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
A noise came from the hallway.
Adrian immediately stood.
Nora grabbed Lily.
A guard appeared.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found Damian.”
“Where?”
The guard looked uneasy.
“Outside the old chapel.”
Adrian's expression changed.
The chapel was abandoned.
His father had used it for private meetings.
Adrian drove there.
Damian was sitting on the chapel steps.
His hands were empty.
His face was bruised.
Adrian stopped several feet away.
“Who did this?”
Damian laughed weakly.
“Your brother.”
Adrian froze.
“Julian?”
Damian nodded.
“He found me first.”
“Where is he?”
“Gone.”
“What did he want?”
Damian looked at him.
“To warn you.”
“About what?”
Damian's expression became serious.
“Vivian isn't working for Julian.”
Adrian stared.
“Then who?”
Damian looked toward the chapel door.
“Your father.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
“Vincent is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then explain.”
Damian swallowed.
“Your father wasn't killed by natural causes.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“What are you saying?”
Damian looked directly into his eyes.
“Someone poisoned him.”
Adrian's face became empty.
“Who?”
Damian whispered,
“Vivian.”
The world seemed to stop.
Adrian remembered the perfect fiancée.
The charity dinners.
The gentle smile.
The way she had touched his father's coffin.
The way she had cried.
Damian reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“I stole this from her.”
Adrian took it.
Inside was a photograph.
Vivian standing beside Vincent Kane.
On the back:
THE WEDDING MUST HAPPEN BEFORE ADRIAN LEARNS ABOUT THE GIRL.
Adrian looked at Damian.
“What girl?”
Damian's eyes hardened.
“Not Lily.”
He pointed toward the photograph.
“Another one.”
Then the chapel doors opened behind them.
Julian stepped out.
His hands were raised.
“I can explain.”
Adrian turned.
May you like
Julian looked at him.
“But you won't like the truth.”
