Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN IN THE HALLWAY
Claire stood halfway down the staircase, one hand gripping the wooden railing.
She looked older than the woman in Adrian’s memories, but not by seven years. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders. Her face had lost some softness, yet her green eyes were exactly the same.
Adrian could not move.
Claire’s gaze dropped to Emma’s hand wrapped around his finger.
Then it lifted to his face.
The color drained from her cheeks.
“Adrian.”
His name broke something open inside him.
Emma looked between them. “You know Grumpy?”
Claire took one careful step down.
“Emma, come here.”
The girl released Adrian and ran upstairs. Claire pulled her close, shielding her with one arm.
Adrian stared at them both.
“You’re alive.”
Claire’s lips parted, but no answer came.
“You’re alive,” he repeated, louder.
Her eyes filled with panic. “You need to leave.”
Adrian laughed once. It sounded empty. “I stood beside your grave.”
“No.”
“I watched them lower your coffin.”
“That wasn’t me.”
“Then who was in it?”
Claire tightened her arm around Emma. “You cannot stay here.”
“Seven years, Claire. Seven years I believed you were dead.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I read every article. I watched every interview. I knew when you took over the company. I knew when your brother died. I knew when you stopped speaking to your father.”
Adrian’s face hardened. “You watched me?”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
Claire looked toward the locked door.
“Because the people who tried to kill me are still looking.”
The words silenced him.
Adrian glanced at Emma. “Is she my daughter?”
Claire went still.
Emma peeked from behind her mother’s dress. “Mommy says I don’t have a daddy.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
Claire whispered, “You need to leave before they find you here.”
“Who?”
A sharp crack shattered the silence.
The front window exploded inward.
Claire dropped to the floor, pulling Emma beneath her.
Adrian moved on instinct. He grabbed Claire and dragged both of them behind the stone wall as another shot struck the staircase.
His guards stormed through the front door, weapons drawn.
Emma began to cry.
Claire clutched her against her chest. “They found us.”
Adrian looked through the broken window.
A black car sped away at the end of the street.
On the floor lay a small red envelope.
He picked it up.
Inside was a single photograph of Claire and Emma.
Written across the back were six words:
May you like
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD, CLAIRE.
Cliffhanger: Adrian realized the photograph had been taken that morning.
