Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Adrian returned just before sunrise.
Nia was sitting at the kitchen island.
She had not slept.
He stopped when he saw her.
“You're still awake.”
“Yes.”
He looked at the untouched coffee beside her.
“What happened?”
“I found Daniel Vale.”
Adrian's expression changed.
It was small.
But Nia saw it.
“You searched him.”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn't have.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't know what you're looking for.”
“Then tell me.”
He remained silent.
Nia pushed her laptop toward him.
“Was Daniel really killed?”
Adrian looked at the screen.
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
Nia froze.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did everyone think he was dead?”
“Because Daniel needed to disappear.”
“Why?”
Adrian pulled out a chair.
“Because he stole something.”
“What?”
“Money.”
Nia almost laughed.
“That's your answer to everything.”
“This isn't funny.”
“I know.”
He rubbed his face.
“Daniel discovered that someone inside Cole Meridian was moving money through shell companies.”
“Who?”
“We never proved it.”
“Did Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he disappear?”
“Because the person behind it wanted him dead.”
“And Erin?”
“Daniel's daughter.”
Nia stared at him.
“So you aren't the father.”
“No.”
“Then why are you protecting her?”
Adrian looked toward the window.
“Because Daniel saved my life once.”
Nia waited.
“He took a bullet for me.”
She hadn't known that.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You just said he wasn't dead.”
“I said he disappeared.”
“Same difference when someone is hiding.”
Adrian's eyes met hers.
“I've been searching for him for eighteen months.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know who I could trust.”
Nia's voice became quiet.
“You could have trusted me.”
“I thought I could.”
The words hurt.
He saw it immediately.
“I didn't mean—”
“No.”
She stood.
“You meant exactly what you said.”
Adrian followed her.
“Nia.”
She turned.
“You've lied to me for months.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From my world.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You brought your world into our marriage the day you hit me.”
He froze.
Neither of them spoke.
The memory had been buried between them for years.
Nia continued.
“You apologized.”
“I know.”
“You cried.”
“I know.”
“I forgave you.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“But I never forgot.”
Adrian looked down.
“I haven't either.”
For once, he did not defend himself.
That mattered.
But it did not erase what happened.
Nia walked toward the stairs.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
He answered.
“Cole.”
His expression changed.
“Where?”
He listened.
“Don't move her.”
He hung up.
“What happened?” Nia asked.
“Erin left the hospital.”
Nia's stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Someone entered her room.”
“Who?”
“They don't know.”
Adrian grabbed his coat.
“I need to go.”
Nia stepped in front of him.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Nia, you're pregnant.”
“And that means you don't get to lock me in this house.”
He stared at her.
Finally, he nodded.
They drove to the hospital together.
Erin's room had been emptied.
A nurse handed Adrian a small paper bag.
“She left this.”
Inside was Erin's hospital bracelet.
And a silver watch.
Nia recognized it immediately.
Daniel's watch.
Adrian stared at it.
His face lost all color.
There was a folded note beneath it.
He opened it.
Four words.
HE KNOWS ABOUT NIA.
Nia's blood ran cold.
“Who?”
Adrian looked at her.
Before he could answer, a doctor approached.
“Mr. Cole?”
“Yes?”
“I need to speak with you privately.”
“No.”
The doctor looked at Nia.
“This concerns the patient.”
“Then say it here.”
The doctor hesitated.
“Someone accessed Erin's medical records last night.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“Then what do you know?”
The doctor lowered his voice.
“They accessed your wife's records too.”
Adrian went still.
Nia stared at him.
“What records?”
“Your prenatal records.”
The hallway seemed to tilt.
Adrian stepped closer to Nia.
“When?”
“Three hours ago.”
Nia's hand moved to her stomach.
Someone knew.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had accessed her medical information.
Adrian turned toward his security chief.
“Lock down the hospital.”
The man nodded.
Nia grabbed Adrian's arm.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Don't turn this into a war.”
“It already is.”
She shook her head.
“No. You don't understand.”
She looked at Daniel's watch.
“The message said someone would kill for Erin's baby.”
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.”
Nia's eyes filled.
“But now they're looking at mine too.”
Adrian stared at her.
Then the elevator doors opened.
A nurse stepped out holding a sealed envelope.
“Mrs. Cole?”
Nia turned.
“This was left at the maternity desk for you.”
She opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Her.
Walking into St. Catherine's the previous afternoon.
The photograph had been taken from across the street.
On the back was one sentence.
YOU WERE NEVER THE TARGET.
Nia looked at Adrian.
“Then who was?”
The elevator doors closed behind them.
May you like
And Adrian whispered,
“Me.”
