Chapter 2 - The Man Who Knew His Name
Olivia stared at the message.
DON'T TRUST THE MAN.
Her thumb hovered above the screen.
For three seconds, she couldn't breathe.
Ryan.
It had to be Ryan.
Nobody else had his number.
Nobody else should have access to it.
But the message made no sense.
The man had just protected her.
He had stopped Felix.
He had sent people into the alley before she even knew she needed help.
Why would Ryan tell her not to trust him?
Leo stood several feet away.
“Olivia.”
She looked up.
“Don't come closer.”
Leo stopped.
The mysterious businessman remained near the SUV.
He looked at her phone.
“Read it.”
“You already know what it says?”
“I can see your face.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“No.”
His voice remained calm.
“Because you aren't ready for the answer.”
Felix laughed.
Olivia turned toward him.
“You know Ryan.”
Felix's expression changed.
“I know a lot of things about your family.”
“My family has nothing to do with you.”
“That is what you were told.”
Felix looked at the mysterious man.
Then he smiled.
“You should ask him why he knew your name before you told him.”
Olivia turned back.
The stranger said nothing.
Her fear became anger.
“Who are you?”
He finally answered.
“Adrian Vale.”
The name meant nothing to her.
“Why did you help me?”
“Because someone wanted you found.”
“That doesn't explain anything.”
“No.”
He glanced toward Felix.
“But he does.”
Felix's men had disappeared.
The police sirens were approaching from several blocks away.
Felix stepped backward.
“Olivia, get into the car.”
She shook her head.
“I don't know you.”
“You don't know him either.”
Felix pointed toward Adrian.
“He isn't saving you.”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“Enough.”
Felix smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
Then he walked away.
Olivia watched him disappear into the rain.
She expected Adrian to chase him.
He didn't.
Instead, he opened the rear door of the SUV.
“Get inside.”
“No.”
“Then stand here until the police arrive.”
Olivia stared at him.
“You called them?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Your emergency call was interrupted.”
She froze.
He knew about the call.
Of course he did.
Adrian stepped back.
“You don't have to trust me.”
That surprised her.
“But you do need somewhere safe to wait.”
Olivia looked toward the street.
The police would ask questions.
Felix would deny everything.
And somehow, she knew he would disappear before they could touch him.
She looked back at Adrian.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Somewhere Felix won't find you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he has already tried.”
That sentence changed everything.
Olivia got into the SUV.
Leo followed.
Adrian sat in the front.
As the vehicle moved through the rain, Olivia kept staring at her phone.
Ryan's message remained on the screen.
DON'T TRUST THE MAN.
She typed:
Ryan, where are you?
No answer.
She typed again.
I need you.
Still nothing.
Then Adrian spoke from the front.
“Your brother hasn't been answering for three days.”
Olivia looked up.
“How do you know that?”
Adrian didn't turn around.
“Because I've been looking for him.”
“Why?”
Silence.
“Adrian.”
He finally looked at her through the mirror.
“Because Ryan contacted me before he disappeared.”
Olivia's heart dropped.
“What did he say?”
“He said your life was in danger.”
“From Felix?”
Adrian's eyes stayed on hers.
“No.”
The SUV turned beneath an elevated train line.
Olivia felt her stomach tighten.
“Then from who?”
Adrian looked away.
“That's what Ryan was trying to find out.”
They arrived at a modern private residence overlooking the city.
Olivia refused to leave the car.
Adrian stood beside the open door.
“You can go.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“You're free.”
“Then why bring me here?”
“Because you need to decide whether you're willing to hear the truth.”
“What truth?”
He handed her a sealed envelope.
Her name was written across the front.
OLIVIA MARSHALL.
She recognized the handwriting.
Her brother's.
Her hands began to shake.
“Where did you get this?”
“Ryan gave it to me.”
“When?”
“Three days before he disappeared.”
Olivia opened the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
She looked at it.
Her blood turned cold.
It showed Ryan standing beside Felix.
But the photograph was dated six years earlier.
Olivia whispered:
“They knew each other.”
Adrian nodded.
“Long before you met Felix.”
She turned the photograph over.
There were six words written on the back.
IF I DISAPPEAR, FIND ADRIAN.
Olivia looked up.
“Why would my brother tell me to find you?”
Adrian didn't answer.
Her phone vibrated.
Another message.
This time from an unknown number.
She opened it.
A photograph appeared.
It showed her bedroom.
Taken that night.
From inside the room.
Olivia's face went pale.
Adrian saw the image.
His expression finally changed.
“Leo.”
Leo appeared immediately.
“Sir?”
“Lock the building.”
Olivia looked at Adrian.
“Someone was inside my apartment.”
Adrian's eyes were fixed on the photograph.
“No.”
He pointed at the timestamp.
“They weren't inside.”
Olivia frowned.
“What?”
Adrian looked at her.
“The picture was taken from across the street.”
Then Leo's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“Sir.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
Leo swallowed.
“Someone just entered the building.”
Olivia heard a lock click downstairs.
Then another.
Footsteps began climbing the stairs.
And suddenly, Adrian's calm voice disappeared.
“Everyone stay behind me.”
May you like
The footsteps stopped outside the room.
Then someone whispered Olivia's name.
