Chapter 10 - THE HUSBAND WHO CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD
Clara did not cry.
Not this time.
She looked at Adrien.
“Tell him I want proof.”
Adrien almost argued.
Then handed her the phone.
Her voice was steady.
“Carlo.”
Silence.
Then:
“So the maid speaks.”
“I want Daniel.”
“You’ve wanted him for four years.”
“Put him on.”
Carlo laughed.
Clara continued:
“If he’s dead, you have nothing.”
Smart.
A muffled sound.
Then a man’s voice.
“Clara?”
Her knees nearly buckled.
Adrien caught her elbow.
She pulled away automatically.
Standing herself.
“Daniel.”
His breathing broke through the phone.
“I’m sorry.”
Clara closed her eyes.
Not I love you.
Not save me.
I’m sorry.
Exactly what she needed and hated.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay.”
“Where are you?”
Carlo took the phone back.
“Enough.”
Adrien said:
“What do you want?”
“All Harborlight originals.”
“No copies?”
“I’m not stupid.”
“Debatable.”
Carlo laughed.
“Midnight. Pier Thirty-One.”
Predictable.
Water.
Warehouses.
Old family territory.
Then Carlo added:
“And bring Clara.”
Adrien’s face hardened.
“No.”
Clara said:
“Yes.”
Both men stopped.
She looked at Adrien.
“Daniel risked everything because I was used as leverage. I’m done being the person people move around without asking.”
“You are not walking into Carlo’s hands.”
“You don’t decide that.”
The same lesson again.
Adrien hated how often she was right.
“Then we do it with police.”
Carlo heard.
“No police.”
Clara leaned toward the phone.
“Then no records.”
Silence.
Carlo had not expected resistance from the maid.
Good.
Finally:
“Fine. Two people. Adrien and Clara.”
Call ended.
Luca immediately said:
“Absolutely not.”
Adrien looked at him.
“Federal financial investigators already have copies.”
Harborlight fraud crossed charities, shell companies, interstate transfers.
Police involvement was no longer optional.
Adrien surprised Luca again.
“We coordinate.”
No private army.
No execution.
Evidence.
Clara watched him.
“You’re really letting the law handle Carlo?”
“No.”
She frowned.
“I’m letting the law handle what happens after we get Daniel and Nicholas out.”
“Better.”
At 11:57 p.m., Adrien and Clara entered Pier Thirty-One carrying a hard case.
Inside were copied Harborlight originals.
The real documents already secured.
Carlo stood near the loading dock.
Seventy years old.
Silver hair.
Elegant coat.
Same man who blessed Adrien at his baptism.
Same man who taught him cards.
Same man who had killed Alessandra.
Daniel sat tied to a chair.
Nicholas beside him.
Alive.
Carlo smiled.
“You finally chose strangers over blood.”
Adrien looked at Clara.
Then Daniel.
Then Nicholas.
“No.”
His voice remained calm.
“I finally learned blood doesn’t excuse anything.”
Carlo’s smile disappeared.
Then Mia’s voice came from somewhere behind them.
“Mommy!”
Clara’s face drained.
Adrien turned.
A guard carried Mia from the shadows.
Carlo smiled again.
“You really should improve your childcare.”
Clara made a sound Adrien would remember forever.
The child had been taken from the safe house.
May you like
Someone inside Adrien’s security still belonged to Carlo.
And now the game had changed.
