Chapter 2 - The Stranger's Claim
The word wife echoed in Adrian’s mind like a gunshot.
His instincts as a syndicate boss surged, pushing down the crushing agony in his chest.
Outside, the heavy doors of the black sedan slammed shut.
Four of Adrian’s armed guards rushed up the front steps, drawing their weapons on the detective.
“Stand down,” Adrian barked, his voice echoing off the narrow walls.
His men froze, their guns still pointed at David’s head, awaiting further orders.
Adrian slowly raised his hands, keeping his eyes entirely on Claire.
She was clutching Emma so tightly the little girl began to squirm.
“She died,” Adrian said softly, speaking only to David. “I identified her body.”
David kept his gun steady, his finger resting heavily on the trigger.
“You identified a burned corpse wearing her wedding ring, Vale.”
David sneered, stepping backward to block Claire from Adrian’s view completely.
“She crawled out of that wreckage with severe head trauma and total amnesia.”
Adrian felt a sickening twist in his stomach.
“I found her wandering the highway,” David continued. “I gave her a safe life, far away from a monster like you.”
Claire peeked around David’s shoulder, her eyes full of tears and confusion.
“Please,” she begged Adrian. “I don’t know you, just leave my family alone.”
Adrian’s heart shattered, but his mind raced with cold logic.
If David had kept her hidden, why would he choose to live in a house tied to Claire’s grandmother?
It was a reckless, arrogant move for a man trying to stay hidden.
Adrian slowly lowered his hands and signaled for his men to step outside.
“I will leave,” Adrian said, his tone turning dangerously calm.
Emma peeked out from her mother’s embrace and waved her small hand.
“Bye-bye, Grumpy.”
Adrian nodded at the child, then turned his back on the loaded gun.
He stepped out onto the stone street, the afternoon sun feeling entirely foreign to him now.
As he walked down the steps, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver key Emma had given him.
He turned it over in the light.
The key had a tiny, unmistakable groove carved into the side of the metal.
May you like
It was not a house key.
It was a high-capacity encrypted hard drive, designed to look like a vintage lock key.
