Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS SENT TO LOVE HIM
Adrian replayed the video three times.
Each time hurt worse.
Vanessa had always told him they first met at a charity dinner.
She had smiled across a crowded ballroom.
He had sent her champagne.
She had teased him for being too serious.
Six months later, she moved into his penthouse.
A year after that, he proposed.
Adrian had believed it was chance.
It wasn’t.
She had known Victor before she knew him.
Marcus enlarged the image.
Victor handed Vanessa an envelope.
She kissed his cheek.
Then the two separated.
Adrian’s voice was low.
“She was placed in my life.”
Emily watched him carefully.
“It looks that way.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“It is that way.”
He hit the desk with his fist.
The laptop jumped.
Dr. Reed looked over.
“Try not to destroy the medical equipment.”
Adrian ignored him.
Marcus opened another file.
A spreadsheet appeared.
Payments.
Shell companies.
Offshore transfers.
Vanessa’s name appeared six times.
Adrian read the numbers.
One hundred thousand dollars.
Then another hundred.
Then two hundred fifty thousand after the engagement.
The largest payment came three days ago.
One million dollars.
From a company controlled by Victor.
Marcus stared.
“He paid her to leave you today.”
Adrian laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“My cousin financed my humiliation.”
Emily looked toward him.
“Why?”
“Because Victor wants the company.”
Adrian’s voice had changed.
Calmer now.
More dangerous.
“My shares transfer differently if I marry.”
Marcus understood.
“The family trust.”
Adrian nodded.
“If I married Vanessa, she would control part of my voting rights if I died.”
“If the wedding failed, those rights remain inside the Moretti family structure.”
Emily frowned.
“Meaning Victor?”
“Meaning Victor becomes next in line.”
Marcus suddenly stood.
“We need to find him.”
He opened the door.
A guard stood outside.
“Where is Victor Moretti?”
The guard looked confused.
“We thought he was with you.”
Marcus’s face darkened.
“He’s gone.”
Adrian turned toward Emily.
“Where’s your son?”
She froze.
“With Mrs. Alvarez.”
“Who?”
“My neighbor.”
“Where?”
“Yonkers.”
Adrian grabbed his phone.
“Give me the address.”
Emily hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because if Victor knows you found those files, you’re not his only target.”
The color left her face.
“Noah.”
Marcus was already moving.
“I’ll send a team.”
“No.”
Emily pushed herself off the examination table.
Dr. Reed caught her.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“My son is alone.”
“He’s with your neighbor.”
“He needs oxygen.”
“If he panics, he can’t breathe.”
Adrian turned.
“Get the van.”
Marcus nodded.
Dr. Reed protested.
“She needs medical care.”
“She’ll get it on the way.”
Adrian looked at Emily.
“You’re coming with me.”
Twenty minutes later, a black armored SUV tore down the Hudson River road.
Adrian sat beside Emily.
Marcus drove.
Two security vehicles followed.
Emily held her phone so tightly her fingers shook.
No answer from Mrs. Alvarez.
Again.
No answer.
“Come on.”
She called a fourth time.
Voicemail.
Emily’s breathing quickened.
Adrian watched her.
“Emily.”
“She always answers.”
“We’re ten minutes away.”
“She always answers!”
Her voice cracked.
Adrian reached over and placed his hand around hers.
Emily looked at him.
His voice softened.
“We’re going to get him.”
For the first time all day, Adrian said something he desperately wanted to believe.
They reached the apartment building nine minutes later.
The front door was open.
Marcus drew his gun.
“Stay behind me.”
Emily didn’t listen.
She ran.
“Emily!”
She took the stairs two at a time.
Adrian cursed.
Marcus helped him into a lighter emergency chair kept in the vehicle.
They followed.
Third floor.
Apartment 3B.
The door had been kicked in.
Emily screamed.
“Noah!”
She rushed inside.
Furniture had been overturned.
A lamp was broken.
An oxygen tube lay across the floor.
Mrs. Alvarez was unconscious beside the couch.
Emily dropped beside her.
“Oh my God.”
Adrian entered behind Marcus.
“Noah!”
No answer.
Emily searched the bedroom.
Empty.
Bathroom.
Empty.
Closet.
Nothing.
Then she saw something on the kitchen table.
A plastic inhaler.
Noah’s.
Beside it sat a white envelope.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Noah sitting in the back seat of a car.
Terrified.
An oxygen mask pressed over his face.
On the back were six words.
Bring the drive or he suffocates.
Emily’s knees gave out.
Adrian caught her before she hit the floor.
Then Marcus’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Adrian answered.
Victor’s voice came through.
“Hello, cousin.”
Adrian’s face turned to stone.
Victor laughed softly.
“I hear the wedding didn’t go well.”
Adrian looked at Emily.
“Where’s the boy?”
“Safe.”
“For now.”
“If you touch him—”
“You’ll what?”
Victor interrupted.
“Stand up and come get me?”
Adrian’s eyes went black.
Victor continued.
“Bring me the flash drive.”
“Midnight.”
“Old Moretti shipyard.”
“Come alone.”
“And Adrian?”
“Yes?”
“If I see Marcus…”
“If I see police…”
“If I see one extra car…”
Victor paused.
“The boy stops breathing.”
The call ended.
Emily looked at Adrian in horror.
“We have to give him the drive.”
Adrian stared at the phone.
“No.”
Emily grabbed his jacket.
“He’ll kill my son.”
Adrian looked straight into her eyes.
May you like
“No.”
“He thinks he’ll kill your son.”
