Chapter 4 - The Hidden Message
The first thing Callum Russo did after the gunshot was not chase Evan Blake.
It was protect Sadie.
The room was chaos.
Security officers rushed through the doors.
Executives shouted questions.
Someone knocked over a glass of water.
But Callum heard only one thing.
Sadie’s breathing.
“Are you hurt?”
She looked at him, still frozen.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Callum looked over her carefully anyway.
He didn’t care that everyone was watching.
He didn’t care that his entire organization was waiting for orders.
For the first time in years, Callum Russo had allowed himself to care about something other than control.
And that scared him.
Marcus approached quickly.
“Boss, Evan escaped through the service hallway.”
Callum’s eyes hardened.
“How?”
Marcus hesitated.
“That’s the problem.”
Callum looked at him.
“Explain.”
“The cameras were disabled three seconds before the lights went out.”
A cold silence filled the room.
Someone had planned everything.
Not just the attack.
Not just the escape.
Everything.
Callum turned toward the table.
Sadie’s portfolio was still open.
The message stared back at him.
You’re looking in the wrong direction, Russo.
Sadie stepped closer.
“That wasn’t written by Evan.”
Callum looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because Evan wanted me afraid.”
She touched the paper carefully.
“This person wants you confused.”
Callum studied her.
“You think there’s someone else?”
“I know there is.”
The confidence in her voice surprised him.
“You barely saw the attacker.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“But I saw the person behind the plan.”
Callum crossed his arms.
“Tell me.”
Sadie took a breath.
“The attacker knew exactly where I would be. They knew about the Caravaggio documents. They knew your security system.”
She paused.
“They weren’t trying to hurt me.”
Callum’s expression darkened.
“What were they trying to do?”
Sadie looked directly at him.
“Get your attention.”
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone understood the danger of that answer.
Someone had attacked Sadie just to send Callum Russo a message.
And that meant the attack was personal.
Callum picked up the portfolio.
“Take Sadie home.”
She immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
Callum’s voice became colder.
“That wasn’t a request.”
“And I’m not a possession.”
The room became silent.
Marcus looked away.
Nobody wanted to be caught watching an argument between Callum Russo and the one person brave enough to challenge him.
Callum stepped closer.
“You’re a target.”
“I know.”
“You could have been killed tonight.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you arguing?”
Sadie’s voice lowered.
“Because I’m tired of everyone deciding things for me.”
That answer stopped him.
For a moment, Callum saw something beneath her confidence.
Not anger.
Pain.
Sadie had spent her whole life surviving people who underestimated her.
Callum looked away first.
“Fine.”
She blinked.
“Fine?”
“You stay.”
Marcus looked surprised.
Callum continued.
“But you stay where I can protect you.”
Sadie opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because she knew arguing would be pointless.
Callum turned toward Marcus.
“Find Evan.”
Marcus nodded.
“And the second person.”
Sadie looked at him.
“Second person?”
Callum’s expression turned cold.
“The person who wanted us to blame Evan.”
Before anyone could answer, one of the security officers rushed inside.
“Mr. Russo.”
Callum turned.
“What?”
The officer handed him a small envelope.
“We found this outside the building.”
Callum opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
His face changed instantly.
Because the picture showed Sadie.
Taken earlier that night.
Before the attack.
But there was something written on the back.
Three words.
She knows everything.
Callum slowly looked at Sadie.
She turned pale.
Because she knew exactly what they meant.
May you like
Someone wasn’t trying to silence her.
Someone was afraid of what she had discovered.
