Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN ADRIAN VALE SHOULD NEVER HAVE UNDERESTIMATED
Harper had been upstairs when the shop alarm sounded.
Lucy had gone home.
The street below was nearly empty.
Harper looked at security app.
Rear door open.
She called Damian.
Then heard footsteps.
Her first instinct was not to confront.
Growth.
She locked apartment door and moved toward fire escape.
Then the lock clicked.
Someone had key.
Not ordinary shop key.
Master?
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Early thirties.
Expensive coat.
Gray eyes almost like Damian’s but colder.
“Harper Bennett.”
She backed toward window.
“Who are you?”
“Adrian Vale.”
The cousin.
She knew name only from article.
He held no weapon visibly.
That did not comfort.
“What do you want?”
“To talk.”
“You broke into my building.”
“Door downstairs was simple.”
“That makes it better.”
He smiled.
“I see what he likes.”
Harper’s pulse hammered.
“I’m leaving.”
“No.”
One word.
Vale tone.
She hated it instantly.
Adrian stepped between her and fire escape.
“Call Damian.”
“I already did.”
His expression flickered.
Good.
He grabbed her phone.
Harper did not fight.
Not yet.
He spoke into it.
Then ended call.
“You know what’s fascinating?”
Harper said nothing.
“Damian has spent his entire adult life convincing everyone he has no weak points.”
“I’m not his weak point.”
“You kissed him.”
“This city needs better hobbies.”
Adrian laughed.
“Then he doubled your security.”
“Without permission.”
“Sounds like Damian.”
There was family knowledge in bitterness.
“What do you want from him?”
“Ledger.”
“Ask.”
“I did.”
“Try email.”
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
“Then stop.”
Harper went still.
He sounded like someone used to being obeyed.
Like Damian sometimes.
But difference existed.
Damian heard no eventually.
Adrian heard insult.
“Your uncle has ledger.”
Adrian’s face changed.
“How do you know?”
“He visited.”
“Sebastian came here?”
“Yes.”
Interesting.
Harper filed reaction.
For all Damian’s background people, Harper had her own kind of intelligence.
Customers lied constantly.
About budgets.
Affairs.
Birthdays.
Forgotten anniversaries.
People reveal themselves when surprised.
Adrian was surprised Sebastian had contacted her.
“You didn’t know.”
“No.”
“Then you’re not controlling this.”
He grabbed her wrist.
“Careful.”
Pain.
Harper looked at hand.
Then at him.
“Let go.”
He tightened.
“Damian would kill me if I bruised you.”
“No.”
Adrian laughed.
“You sound certain.”
“I think he’d be very angry.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
She leaned closer.
“Difference matters.”
Then she drove heel into his foot.
Hard.
Adrian cursed.
She yanked free.
Ran for stairs.
He caught her coat.
Fabric tore.
Harper slammed elbow backward.
Not skillful.
Desperate.
Enough.
She reached fire escape.
Climbed down one level.
Then headlights flooded alley.
Black SUVs.
Roman had sent nearby detail the instant alarm triggered.
Adrian saw.
He swore.
He could flee through shop front.
Instead he grabbed Harper again.
A terrible choice.
Because now security had body cameras.
Police had already been called.
Harper screamed.
Not dramatic.
Useful.
“LET GO OF ME!”
Neighbors looked.
Adrian released.
Ran.
Two security men followed but Roman had instructed:
No private chase beyond property.
Call police.
Preserve.
Damian was learning too.
Adrian disappeared into waiting car.
Harper collapsed onto wet metal stairs.
Security officer Jasmine Reed approached slowly.
“Ms. Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“Are you injured?”
“My wrist.”
“Ambulance?”
“No.”
Then she reconsidered.
“Yes.”
Document.
Damian arrived six minutes later.
Harper was sitting in ambulance doorway with ice around wrist.
He stopped twenty feet away.
Did not approach.
“Can I?”
That question.
Harper nodded.
He came closer.
His face looked dangerous enough that paramedic stepped sideways.
Harper said:
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
Damian almost laughed.
“Specific.”
“Do not hunt Adrian.”
“He kidnapped you.”
“He did not get me anywhere.”
“He broke in.”
“Yes.”
“He grabbed you.”
“Yes.”
“And you want me calm?”
“I want police.”
“They’re coming.”
“Good.”
Damian looked at bruising.
His jaw tightened.
Harper touched his sleeve.
“Damian.”
He looked.
“Do not prove Adrian right.”
“What?”
“He thinks you and him are same.”
That landed.
Damian’s eyes changed.
“I am not.”
“Then show it.”
Police arrived.
Harper gave statement.
Security footage.
Body camera.
Damian did not interfere.
Roman gave relevant information on Adrian.
Later, Damian sat with Harper in hospital waiting room.
Same city.
Different kind of danger.
She asked:
“Your father?”
He told.
Everything.
Sebastian.
Boat.
Debt.
Adrian.
Ledger.
When finished, Harper stared.
“You have an exhausting family.”
Damian laughed despite himself.
Then covered face.
“I don’t know what to do with Sebastian.”
“You don’t have to decide tonight.”
“People expect me to.”
“People expect me to have peonies in February. They survive disappointment.”
He smiled.
Then became serious.
“I brought this into your life.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yes.”
“I can buy your building.”
“No.”
He blinked.
“So you can relocate.”
“No.”
“I’ll pay security.”
“We can discuss.”
Progress.
He noticed.
“Discuss?”
“Do not get excited.”
“I’m trying.”
Then Harper said:
“I also want something.”
“Anything.”
“Bad answer.”
He corrected.
“What?”
“Truth.”
His face became still.
“If I’m anywhere near you, no mysterious ‘for your protection’ decisions.”
“That’s difficult.”
“Then leave me alone.”
He looked at her.
There it was.
Choice.
“I’ll try.”
“No.”
He understood.
“I will.”
Good.
Then Roman entered.
“Police found Adrian’s car.”
“Where?”
“Abandoned.”
“Adrian?”
“Gone.”
Then he placed a phone in evidence bag on table.
“Found inside.”
Damian recognized.
Adrian’s secondary phone.
Police had obtained initial information under proper process.
Roman had been told one screen was open before device secured.
A draft message.
Recipient:
V. DELUCA
Text:
If Damian gets ledger, Vale ends. Harper is leverage. Sebastian is expendable.
Harper looked at Damian.
“Who’s V. DeLuca?”
Damian’s expression hardened.
“Victor.”
May you like
The man whose three employees she had kissed Damian to “save” him from.
And suddenly the ridiculous moment in the alley no longer looked random at all.
