Chapter 2 - The Name Behind the Threat
The rain outside became heavier as Callum led Sadie through the restaurant.
Every person who saw him move stepped aside.
They didn’t know why.
They didn’t need to.
Power recognized power.
Marcus, Callum’s oldest security officer, followed three steps behind.
“Callum,” Sadie whispered.
He didn’t stop.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“I don’t need a safe place.”
Callum finally turned.
“Yes, you do.”
His voice wasn’t cold.
That made it worse.
Because Sadie knew Callum Russo.
Anger from him was predictable.
Concern was not.
“I can handle myself.”
Callum looked at her damaged shoe.
“The evidence disagrees.”
Sadie looked away.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then she said quietly:
“You don’t understand.”
Callum opened the car door.
“Then explain.”
She hesitated.
“I wasn’t supposed to be there.”
“Where?”
“The warehouse.”
Callum’s expression changed.
“What warehouse?”
Sadie realized her mistake.
Too late.
Callum closed the door slowly.
“Sadie.”
She looked down.
“I heard something.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying again.”
Her eyes filled with frustration.
“Do you always do this?”
“Do what?”
“Act like everyone is hiding something from you?”
Callum stared at her.
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised her.
Then he continued.
“Because usually they are.”
The car moved through the wet streets of Chicago.
Sadie sat silently beside him.
Finally, she whispered:
“I saw someone from your company.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try again.”
She looked at him.
“Evan Blake.”
The name changed everything.
Callum’s jaw tightened.
Evan Blake was not just an employee.
He was one of his most trusted managers.
A man who had worked beside him for six years.
A man who knew schedules.
Security systems.
Private locations.
Everything.
Callum looked out the window.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
Sadie closed her eyes.
“After leaving the gallery, I received a message.”
“From who?”
“Unknown number.”
“What did it say?”
She swallowed.
“Come to the old warehouse. Bring the Caravaggio documents.”
Callum frowned.
“Why would you go?”
“Because I thought it was about the painting.”
“And?”
“And then I saw Evan.”
The car became silent.
“He wasn’t alone.”
Callum turned.
“With who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sadie.”
“I couldn’t see.”
Her voice cracked.
“Then someone grabbed me.”
Callum’s hand tightened.
“What happened next?”
“I fought.”
A small, bitter smile appeared on her face.
“You always said I needed better security training.”
“You do.”
“Well, I remembered one thing.”
“What?”
“Hit where it hurts.”
For the first time that night, Callum almost smiled.
Almost.
Then he saw the bruises again.
The smile disappeared.
“Did Evan touch you?”
Sadie hesitated.
“No.”
That answer was too fast.
Callum noticed.
“Sadie.”
She looked away.
“He wasn’t the one who grabbed me.”
“Then who was?”
“I don’t know.”
Callum stared forward.
But his mind was already working.
Someone had used his name.
Someone had used his company.
Someone had threatened a woman under his protection.
That meant one thing.
There was a traitor inside his organization.
And traitors were dangerous.
The car stopped outside Callum’s private residence.
Sadie looked at the enormous gates.
“You live here?”
“Yes.”
“This is a fortress.”
“That’s the point.”
She almost laughed.
Almost.
Then her phone rang.
Both of them froze.
Sadie looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Callum held out his hand.
“Give it to me.”
She did.
He answered.
Silence.
Then a distorted voice spoke.
“Mr. Russo.”
Callum’s eyes narrowed.
“Who is this?”
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“You should have stayed out of this.”
Callum looked at Sadie.
The voice continued.
“Now she dies because of you.”
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Then Callum slowly handed the phone back.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Sadie whispered:
“What are you going to do?”
Callum looked toward the darkness outside.
“I’m going to find out who thinks they can threaten me.”
Then his phone rang.
This time, it was Marcus.
Callum answered.
After three seconds, his face changed.
“What happened?”
Marcus’s voice was urgent.
“Boss…”
A pause.
“We found something.”
“What?”
“The security footage from the warehouse.”
Callum stood completely still.
“What did you find?”
Marcus hesitated.
Then said:
“It wasn’t Evan Blake who attacked her.”
Sadie looked at Callum.
“Then who was it?”
Marcus answered:
“Someone wearing your security badge.”
Callum’s eyes darkened.
May you like
Because whoever attacked Sadie…
had wanted everyone to believe it was him.
