Chapter 6 - THE MURDER INSIDE THE VALE FAMILY
Adrian had spent five years believing his father died peacefully.
Evelyn had apparently made sure he didn’t.
“Explain,” Adrian said.
Kenzie looked ready to disappear into the floor.
“I only know what Damian told me.”
“Then tell me what he told you.”
“He said Victor found out Evelyn had survived the car crash.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“Three years ago?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He tried to finish it.”
I felt cold.
Kenzie continued.
“Evelyn reached him first.”
“How?”
“Poison.”
Roman looked at Adrian.
“That could explain the rapid cancer decline.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“He was sick for months.”
“Slow poison can look like illness.”
Silence.
I thought of Evelyn.
A woman I had never met.
My possible mother.
Alive.
Hiding.
A killer.
Maybe.
“Where is Damian?” Adrian asked.
Kenzie shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“You’ve been working for him.”
“Through messages.”
“Phone?”
“Burners.”
“Meetings?”
“Only once.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
Adrian leaned closer.
“What did he want?”
“The book.”
My pulse jumped.
“Jane Eyre.”
Kenzie nodded.
“I didn’t know what was inside.”
“Did you take it?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
She looked at Roman.
“I think Damian.”
Roman frowned.
“How?”
“He knew Lila’s apartment layout.”
I stared.
“How?”
Kenzie looked ashamed.
“I sent him pictures.”
My anger flared.
“You photographed my home?”
“I thought he was protecting you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone protecting me seems determined to ruin my life.”
Adrian looked at me.
That landed.
He understood.
“Enough,” he said.
Kenzie looked at him.
“You can go.”
I turned.
“What?”
Adrian’s voice stayed calm.
“She’s terrified. Keeping her here won’t help.”
Kenzie looked shocked.
So did I.
He added:
“Roman will put her somewhere safe.”
Kenzie started crying harder.
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t say it was okay.
It wasn’t.
But I said:
“Go.”
After she left, I sat.
Adrian poured water instead of whiskey.
He handed it to me.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I’m practicing.”
He sat across from me.
“This is going to get worse before it gets better.”
“Very encouraging.”
“I’m not good at comfort.”
“I noticed.”
Something almost warm passed between us.
Then Roman returned.
“We traced Damian’s car.”
“Where?”
“Old Vale house in Lake Forest.”
Adrian stood.
“That property is empty.”
“Not tonight.”
We drove through snow.
The old mansion looked dead from the road.
Inside, one room had lights.
Adrian entered first.
I stayed behind Roman.
Damian stood beside the fireplace.
He looked like Adrian.
Same height.
Same dark hair.
But colder somehow.
“Brother.”
Adrian’s voice hardened.
“Where’s the book?”
Damian smiled.
“Straight to business.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
I stepped forward.
“You stole it.”
Damian looked at me.
His expression changed.
Not hostility.
Something closer to sadness.
“Lila.”
“You know who I am.”
“Yes.”
“Is Evelyn my mother?”
Damian nodded.
“Yes.”
My throat tightened.
“Is Victor my father?”
“No.”
Everyone froze.
I stared.
“Kenzie said—”
“Kenzie knew what I needed her to know.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Then who is Lila’s father?”
Damian looked at him.
“You really don’t know?”
“No.”
Damian laughed softly.
“Victor kept one secret even from you.”
He looked at me.
“Your father was Marcus Reed.”
The nightclub manager.
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Damian added:
“And Marcus knows where Evelyn is.”
