Chapter 8 - The Bodyguard Who Knew Too Much
The most dangerous person in Adrian Moretti's life wasn't standing across the ballroom.
He was standing six feet behind him.
Marcus.
Adrian's trusted security chief.
The man who had personally investigated my family.
The man who had arranged Ethan's protection.
The man who knew every move we made.
I stared at the note.
My hands went cold.
"Mara?" Adrian whispered.
I forced a smile.
"Bathroom."
His eyes narrowed.
"Are you okay?"
"Just nervous."
I walked away before he could question me.
Inside the ladies' restroom, I locked myself in a stall and unfolded the paper again.
Bella is alive.
Don't trust Marcus.
At the bottom was a tiny symbol.
A blue flower.
I recognized it immediately.
Bella had drawn the same flower inside Ethan's copy of The Secret Garden.
My heart hammered.
Whoever wrote the note knew Bella.
And knew something about Marcus.
I stepped outside.
Victoria stood near the mirrors.
Alone.
"Well," she said sweetly. "Enjoying your little Cinderella moment?"
I tightened my grip on my purse.
"Better than expected."
Her smile sharpened.
"You actually think Adrian cares about you?"
"I think Adrian can speak for himself."
She moved closer.
"Men like him don't fall in love with women like you. They use you until you become inconvenient."
I met her eyes.
"Then why are you so worried about me?"
For the first time, Victoria lost her smile.
She stepped closer.
"Because you don't understand what you're interfering with."
"Then explain it."
She laughed.
"You really are naive."
I looked directly at her.
"Where is Bella?"
Victoria froze.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Not surprise.
Fear.
"Be careful, Mara."
"Where is she?"
Victoria leaned closer.
"You should worry less about Bella and more about your brother."
My blood turned cold.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
She smiled.
"Yet."
I pushed past her and hurried into the ballroom.
Adrian immediately approached.
"What happened?"
I grabbed his arm.
"Somewhere private. Now."
He led me into a small adjoining conference room.
Marcus followed.
I stopped.
Adrian noticed.
"Mara?"
I looked toward Marcus.
Then back at Adrian.
"Can we talk alone?"
Marcus's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Adrian nodded.
"Give us a minute."
Marcus hesitated.
Then left.
I handed Adrian the note.
He read it.
His face hardened.
"Where did you get this?"
"A waiter gave it to me."
"Which waiter?"
"I don't know."
Adrian examined the blue flower.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he whispered, "Isabella used to draw this."
"I know."
He looked up sharply.
"How?"
"She drew it in Ethan's book."
Adrian began pacing.
"Marcus has worked for my family for twelve years."
"That doesn't mean he's innocent."
"No."
He stopped.
"It doesn't."
Suddenly, Adrian's phone vibrated.
A message from Evelyn.
His assistant had discovered something while reviewing the files recovered from Bella's memory card.
Adrian opened the attachment.
It contained security footage.
A private parking garage.
Six months earlier.
Bella entered carrying a red backpack.
Marcus followed her.
Then Charles Sterling appeared.
The three argued.
Bella tried to leave.
Marcus grabbed her arm.
I covered my mouth.
"Oh, my God."
Adrian watched silently.
Then another figure stepped out of the shadows.
An older woman with silver hair.
Adrian went completely still.
I looked at him.
"Who is she?"
His voice sounded broken.
"My mother."
I stared.
"You told me your mother died when you were sixteen."
May you like
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
"That's what my father told us."
