Chapter 12 - THE LAST SECRET
The police reopened Thomas Cole’s death investigation.
An old toxicology report showed something nobody had questioned four years earlier.
A sedative in his bloodstream.
The same class of drug later found in Adrian.
Marcus denied everything.
Vanessa blamed Marcus.
Leonard blamed Vanessa.
Each one tried to survive by destroying the others.
Adrian stopped watching.
He had spent enough time looking backward.
Then Grace disappeared.
She missed breakfast.
Didn’t answer her phone.
By noon, Adrian was furious.
By one, he was worried.
Daniel checked the mansion cameras.
Grace had left at 7:12 a.m.
Alone.
Then Daniel found the message.
A text from an unknown number.
WE HAVE YOUR SON.
COME ALONE.
Adrian’s blood turned cold.
“Eli.”
Daniel nodded.
Adrian stood so quickly he nearly fell.
“Find them.”
“We’re tracing the number.”
“Do it faster.”
Ten minutes later, they located Grace’s car near an abandoned Cole Enterprises warehouse in Brooklyn.
Adrian insisted on going.
Daniel blocked the door.
“No.”
“Move.”
“You’re barely walking.”
“My employee and her son are in there.”
“Exactly why you shouldn’t go.”
Adrian grabbed a cane.
“She saved my life.”
Daniel stared at him.
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“I’m going.”
Inside the warehouse, Grace sat tied to a chair.
Eli was beside her.
A man paced in front of them.
Marcus’s former security contractor.
Victor Hale.
Grace glared at him.
“Marcus is in jail.”
Victor smiled.
“This isn’t for Marcus.”
“Then who?”
“For Vanessa.”
Grace stared at him.
“She paid you?”
Victor laughed.
“Vanessa keeps contingency plans.”
Outside, Adrian moved quietly along the wall.
Every step hurt.
But he kept moving.
Daniel whispered, “Wait for police.”
Then they heard Eli scream.
Adrian didn’t wait.
He entered.
“Let them go.”
Victor turned.
His eyes widened.
“You’re walking.”
“Bad week for surprises.”
Victor pulled a gun.
Grace shouted, “Adrian!”
Daniel moved.
Victor fired.
The shot exploded through the warehouse.
Adrian hit the ground.
Grace screamed.
For one horrifying second, nobody moved.
Then Daniel tackled Victor.
Police rushed in.
Grace broke free and ran toward Adrian.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“No.”
She dropped beside him.
“No, no, no.”
Adrian opened his eyes.
“Grace.”
“Don’t talk.”
He grimaced.
“You always tell me what to do.”
“You’re bleeding.”
He looked toward Eli.
“Is he okay?”
Grace turned.
Her son was crying but unharmed.
“Yes.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Grace grabbed his face.
“Adrian!”
May you like
His hand found hers.
And then went limp.
