Chapter 6 - THE SECRET AROUND MY NECK
I had worn Vanessa Crowe’s destruction around my neck for two years.
That realization made me sit down.
Adrian examined the locket.
“It looks ordinary.”
“It was designed to,” Rebecca said.
She showed us where the tiny clasp could be twisted.
Inside was a micro-storage device.
My mother had hidden it perfectly.
I stared at Rebecca.
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
“To protect you.”
“That seems to be everyone’s favorite excuse.”
Rebecca flinched.
I regretted the words immediately.
She had already lost nine years with Ethan.
I sat beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
“No. You’re right.”
She reached for my hand.
“We protected you children by making you live inside lies.”
Adrian connected the device to an isolated laptop.
Files appeared.
Bank records.
Audio clips.
Photographs.
And one video.
Michael Vale.
Adrian’s brother.
Alive.
Speaking directly into the camera.
If you’re seeing this, something happened to me.
Adrian’s face went pale.
Michael continued.
Vanessa Crowe is working with someone inside the Vale organization.
I don’t know who yet.
But money is being moved through Lakefront Cargo.
The video froze for several seconds.
Then another sentence.
Rebecca believes it may be someone close to my brother.
Adrian turned away from the screen.
I understood.
The danger had never been limited to Vanessa.
Someone inside Adrian’s own circle had been helping her for years.
His phone rang.
He answered.
His security chief.
Adrian’s expression became colder with every word.
“What happened?”
He ended the call.
“Vanessa has Ethan.”
Rebecca stood.
“No.”
“How?”
Adrian looked at me.
“She didn’t take him from the hotel.”
“What do you mean?”
“She never had him after the blackout.”
I stared.
“Then who did?”
“Someone from my team.”
The traitor.
Rebecca covered her mouth.
Adrian was already moving.
“We go back to Chicago.”
I followed.
But before we reached the door, Rebecca spoke.
“Adrian.”
He stopped.
“There’s something else you should know.”
Her voice shook.
“Michael suspected the traitor before he died.”
“Who?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“He gave me one name.”
Adrian waited.
My stomach tightened.
Then Rebecca whispered:
“Vincent Hale.”
Adrian’s closest adviser.
May you like
The man who had served the Vale family for twenty-five years.
The same man currently running security at Adrian’s mansion.
