Chapter 3 - The Brother He Trusted
Julian called Marco at 11:42 p.m.
His brother answered on the third ring.
“You’re supposed to be relaxing.”
Julian stood alone inside storage room B-417.
The photograph remained in his hand.
“How did you know where I was?”
A pause.
Then Marco laughed.
“You told me you were going to the Alcazar.”
Julian said nothing.
Marco continued.
“Everything okay?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
Julian looked at Elena’s handwriting.
He had spent eight months believing she hated him enough to vanish.
Now four words had cracked that belief apart.
“I found Elena.”
Silence.
Not surprise.
Silence.
Julian’s grip tightened around the phone.
“Marco?”
His brother finally spoke.
“Where?”
“The Alcazar.”
Another pause.
“That’s impossible.”
Julian’s pulse slowed.
Impossible.
Not unbelievable.
Not shocking.
Impossible.
A very specific word.
“Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why is it impossible?”
Marco exhaled.
“I meant after eight months.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“When did you last see her?”
“What?”
“Answer me.”
“Before she left.”
“What day?”
“I don’t remember.”
Julian looked at the photograph.
December third.
The date was printed in the bottom corner.
“When did you last see Elena?”
Marco’s voice hardened.
“Julian, what exactly are you accusing me of?”
“I didn’t accuse you of anything.”
“Then stop interrogating me.”
Julian almost smiled.
Marco had taught him that trick.
Attack before the question becomes evidence.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
He hung up.
Then he called his chief security officer.
Adrian Knox answered immediately.
“Boss?”
“I need you at the Grand Alcazar.”
“When?”
“Now.”
Julian looked toward the open storage door.
“And bring two people you trust more than your own family.”
Adrian paused.
“That serious?”
“Yes.”
Julian ended the call.
When he stepped back into the hallway, Rosa was waiting.
The young housekeeper looked terrified.
“Where is Elena?”
“I don’t know.”
“You were her friend.”
Rosa shook her head.
“I tried.”
“Tell me everything.”
Rosa looked around.
“Not here.”
Julian followed her into the employee laundry room.
Industrial machines thundered around them.
Steam filled the air.
Rosa closed the door.
“Elena came here seven months ago.”
“Seven?”
“Yes.”
“That was only weeks after she disappeared.”
Rosa nodded.
“She had almost nothing.”
“Money?”
“No.”
“Identification?”
“She had a passport copy.”
“A copy?”
“Yes.”
“Where was the original?”
“She said someone took it.”
Julian felt sick.
“What else?”
“She was scared of phones.”
“Why?”
“She thought they could track her.”
“Who?”
Rosa hesitated.
“Your family.”
Julian stared at her.
Rosa continued.
“She never said names.”
“But she told you enough.”
“She said someone close to you told her that if she contacted you, you would die.”
Julian stopped breathing.
Rosa’s eyes watered.
“She said they showed her pictures.”
“What pictures?”
“Your car.”
“My car?”
“Destroyed.”
Julian frowned.
Then he remembered.
December fourth.
The crash.
His driver had been alone.
A truck ran a red light and destroyed the rear half of Julian’s armored Mercedes.
His driver survived.
Julian had been scheduled to ride in that car.
He changed plans at the last minute.
At the time, police called it an accident.
Julian had forgotten about it.
Elena had not.
“They told her they caused the crash?”
Rosa nodded.
“And said next time you would be inside.”
Julian turned away.
Rage moved through him slowly.
Cold rage.
The kind that had built his empire.
The kind that never shouted.
“What did they want from her?”
“To sign something.”
“What?”
“She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Did she sign it?”
Rosa nodded.
Julian closed his eyes.
“Then they sent her here?”
“I think so.”
“Why this hotel?”
“She said someone arranged the job.”
Julian looked through the small window in the laundry room door.
Employees moved through the hallway.
The Alcazar was not simply a place Elena had hidden.
Someone had placed her here.
Someone had controlled where she lived.
Where she worked.
Who watched her.
“Henry Vale?”
Rosa’s silence answered him.
Julian turned back.
“What did Henry do?”
“He checks everything.”
“What does that mean?”
“Her schedule.”
“Her room.”
“Her mail.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“Her room?”
“She lives in employee housing.”
“On the property?”
“Yes.”
Julian took one step toward the door.
Rosa grabbed his sleeve.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“There is more.”
She lowered her voice.
“Three months ago, Elena tried to leave.”
Julian slowly turned.
“What happened?”
“She made it to the bus station.”
“And?”
“Henry brought her back.”
“How?”
Rosa’s face crumpled.
“I don’t know.”
“But after that, she stopped trying.”
Julian stared at her.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No voice.
Only breathing.
“Elena?”
Silence.
Then a whisper.
“Julian.”
He gripped the phone.
“Where are you?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Tell me where you are.”
“You have to leave the hotel.”
“No.”
“They will hurt you.”
“Who?”
A sob.
“Elena, listen to me.”
He forced his voice to remain calm.
“I am not leaving without you.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
“They have everything.”
“What does that mean?”
“Documents.”
“What documents?”
“The company.”
Julian froze.
“What about the company?”
Elena breathed into the phone.
Then said the sentence that changed the entire shape of his life.
May you like
“Julian, you don’t own Rossi International anymore.”
The call ended.
