Chapter 10 - The Ghost
Adrian pulled the trigger.
Don Moretti slumped to the floor, dead.
The remaining Moretti gunmen instantly dropped their weapons and surrendered.
The siege was over.
Adrian wiped a smear of dirt from his forehead and walked back to the SUV.
He opened my door and pulled me into a fierce, crushing embrace.
I buried my face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably as the adrenaline finally left my body.
"It's over," Adrian whispered into my hair.
"They're gone. You and Nora are safe now."
He pulled back slightly and looked down into my eyes.
For the first time since I met him, Adrian Cole looked at peace.
He gently touched my cheek, his thumb brushing away my tears.
"I promise you, Clara, no one will ever hunt you again," he swore.
His men secured the perimeter and began cleaning up the carriage house.
Adrian carried Nora in his arms as we walked safely back to the main mansion.
The dawn was just beginning to break, casting a warm golden light over the estate.
We had won.
We survived the night, the traitor was dead, and the rival family was destroyed.
We walked into Nora’s bedroom, completely untouched by the violence.
Adrian laid her gently on the bed and pulled the pink blanket over her shoulders.
He stood in the doorway, giving me a moment alone with my daughter.
I let out a long, shaky breath and began to unpack her small plastic purse.
I took out the crushed cookies and the broken crayons.
At the bottom of the purse lay James's silver pocket watch.
I picked it up to put it away in the drawer.
As I held it, my thumb brushed against the back of the watch.
The back casing felt loose.
Frowning, I pressed the edge of the metal.
The back plate popped open with a tiny click, revealing a hidden compartment.
Inside was a small, neatly folded piece of white paper.
My hands trembled as I unfolded the note.
The ink was fresh.
The handwriting was unmistakably, undeniably James’s.
May you like
I covered my mouth to muffle my gasp.
The note read: "Did you really think I was dead, Clara?"
