Chapter 7 - THE NIGHTCLUB MANAGER'S SECRET
Marcus Reed had looked at me three nights earlier and pretended he had never seen me before.
Now Damian was telling me Marcus was my father.
I wanted to hit someone.
Adrian seemed to understand that instinct.
“Roman,” he said.
“Already finding him.”
Damian leaned against the fireplace.
“You won’t.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because Marcus disappeared an hour ago.”
“Who took him?”
“Evelyn.”
My stomach dropped.
“Why would she kidnap my father?”
Damian looked at me.
“She didn’t.”
“What?”
“He went willingly.”
Adrian’s patience thinned.
“Start explaining.”
Damian’s expression sobered.
“Evelyn was sixteen when she met Marcus.”
Adrian frowned.
“Marcus is older than her.”
“Eight years.”
“That’s not the part I’m concerned about.”
Damian ignored him.
“Victor found out they were together.”
I crossed my arms tightly around myself.
“And?”
“He threatened Marcus.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor wanted Evelyn controlled.”
I looked at Adrian.
“So Marcus and Evelyn had me.”
“Yes.”
“Caroline took me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To hide you from Victor.”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“And Victor told everyone Lila was his child?”
“No. He never acknowledged she existed.”
Damian walked toward a cabinet.
He removed a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Evelyn young and smiling.
Marcus beside her.
A baby wrapped in yellow.
Me.
My eyes burned.
“Why didn’t they come back for me?”
Damian’s voice softened.
“They tried.”
I looked up.
“Caroline refused.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor was watching them.”
That made sense.
It also hurt.
Adrian picked up another photograph.
Marcus and Victor arguing outside a warehouse.
“What happened?”
“Victor threatened to kill Lila if Marcus contacted her.”
Adrian looked at Damian.
“And you knew all this?”
“I found out two years ago.”
“Why keep it from me?”
“Because you were barely functioning after Evelyn’s death.”
“I was still your brother.”
Damian’s eyes hardened.
“And you were still Victor’s favorite.”
Silence.
That cut deeper than an insult.
Adrian stepped closer.
“You think I would have hurt her?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“I thought Victor had more loyalists around you than he did.”
Adrian looked toward Roman.
That implication stayed in the room.
“Where is Evelyn?” I asked.
Damian looked at me.
“She’ll contact you.”
“When?”
“She already has.”
I frowned.
“No.”
He pointed at my phone.
I checked.
A new email.
No sender name.
One attachment.
Audio.
I played it.
Evelyn’s voice filled the room.
“Lila, if you’re hearing this, Damian finally told you the truth.”
My chest tightened.
“I’m sorry I let Caroline raise you without me. I believed distance would keep you alive.”
A pause.
“Marcus and I are together now.”
I closed my eyes.
At least he was safe.
Then her voice changed.
“But Adrian is in danger.”
He looked at the phone.
“From whom?”
Evelyn continued.
“Not Damian.”
Another pause.
“From the man standing closest to him.”
Everyone looked at Roman.
Roman went still.
May you like
Evelyn whispered:
“Roman Cross killed Victor Vale.”
