Chapter 13 - THE TRUTH THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The DNA test confirmed it.
Adrian Mercer and Natalie Bennett were not related.
For some reason, that revelation frightened Natalie more than the lie had.
Because now there was nothing standing between the feelings she had spent days trying not to name.
Adrian found her on the rooftop of his townhouse that evening.
“You’re avoiding me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“I don’t.”
She turned.
“Don’t make me say it.”
His expression softened.
“Natalie.”
She hated how safe her name sounded in his voice.
She looked toward Manhattan.
“The first night I met you, I was terrified.”
“I remember.”
“You locked the door.”
“Yes.”
“I thought you were trapping me.”
His jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“But you were keeping Ethan out.”
“Yes.”
“And then you gave me choices.”
He stepped closer.
“You always have choices with me.”
“That’s the problem.”
“What?”
She looked at him.
“I’m choosing you.”
The silence changed.
Adrian’s face became unreadable.
“Natalie.”
“I know your life is dangerous.”
“It is.”
“I know you’ve done things I probably don’t want details about.”
“Correct.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve heard that.”
“You order everyone around.”
“Also true.”
Her eyes filled.
“And I trust you.”
That broke something in him.
He reached toward her.
Then stopped before touching.
“May I?”
Natalie smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
He touched her face gently.
Their first kiss was nothing like Ethan’s kisses.
No demand.
No possession.
No pressure.
Adrian kissed her like he knew she could walk away.
And that made her want to stay.
When they separated, he rested his forehead against hers.
“I have wanted to do that since you insulted my carpet.”
She laughed.
“I apologized.”
“Unnecessarily.”
His phone rang.
He ignored it.
It rang again.
Natalie pulled away.
“Answer.”
He sighed.
Gabriel.
“What?”
His expression changed.
“When?”
Natalie’s pulse jumped.
“What happened?”
Adrian ended the call.
“Victor escaped federal custody.”
“What?”
“He had help.”
“Mason?”
“No. Mason is locked down.”
“Then who?”
Adrian looked toward the skyline.
“Robert Harlan.”
Natalie stared.
“My godfather?”
Adrian’s biological father.
“Yes.”
“Why would he free Victor?”
Adrian’s voice was flat.
“Because Victor has spent thirty-nine years keeping Robert’s secret.”
“What secret?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Robert wasn’t blackmailed into betraying Daniel.”
May you like
A pause.
“He ordered Daniel’s murder.”
