Chapter 8 - The Man Behind the Orders
Daniel Russo stopped beneath the emergency light.
Charlotte backed toward the counter.
“You're supposed to be in custody.”
“I was released pending the investigation.”
“That's reassuring.”
“I didn't come to hurt you.”
“Turning off the lights was a strange way to communicate that.”
“I didn't.”
Charlotte froze.
Daniel looked toward the kitchen.
“Someone followed me.”
The back door slammed.
Charlotte grabbed the heavy flashlight beneath the register.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Daniel moved toward the window.
A vehicle waited outside.
“Why are you here?”
“To give you this.”
He placed a flash drive on the counter.
“My father kept another ledger.”
“Take it to the police.”
“I can't trust everyone investigating him.”
“And you trust a waitress?”
Daniel looked at her.
“You're the only person in this entire mess who wasn't connected to the DeLucas before that night.”
Charlotte couldn't argue with that.
“What does it contain?”
“Names. Accounts. People Samuel paid.”
“Why give it to me?”
“Because Adrian will destroy himself trying to fix everything his family did wrong.”
Charlotte looked down at the drive.
Daniel continued.
“He needs someone who isn't afraid of him.”
“He sent me away.”
“Then he's an idiot.”
“Your brother's uncle already established that.”
Daniel blinked.
“Victor?”
“Long story.”
Headlights suddenly illuminated the diner.
A black sedan stopped outside.
Charlotte's heart reacted before her brain.
Adrian stepped out.
He entered seconds later.
His eyes immediately found Daniel.
“What are you doing here?”
Daniel raised his hands.
“Delivering evidence.”
Adrian looked at Charlotte.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
Only then did he breathe normally.
Charlotte noticed.
“So much for distance.”
“I heard Daniel disappeared from surveillance.”
“And you came here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
His answer was immediate.
“You.”
Daniel quietly walked toward the kitchen.
“I'll leave you two alone.”
“No,” Adrian and Charlotte said simultaneously.
Daniel stopped.
Charlotte picked up the flash drive.
“This first.”
They reviewed it together.
Samuel had paid officials, private contractors, and intermediaries.
More importantly, one document proved Samuel had forged the order connected to Elena's car.
Adrian finally had what he'd spent five years searching for.
The truth.
He sat silently.
Charlotte touched his shoulder.
“You found it.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“We found it.”
Adrian handed the drive to Marco when he arrived.
Then he turned back to Charlotte.
“I owe you an apology.”
“Yes.”
He seemed surprised by the speed of her agreement.
Charlotte folded her arms.
“Continue.”
“I told myself sending you away was protecting you.”
“It wasn't.”
“I know.”
“Continue.”
“I was afraid.”
That surprised her.
Adrian DeLuca rarely admitted fear.
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
Charlotte's anger softened.
“You barely know me.”
“I know.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I know that too.”
She tried not to smile.
Failed.
Adrian stepped closer.
“I've spent years controlling every variable around me.”
“I'm not a variable.”
“No.”
His eyes moved over her face.
“You're the first thing in years I didn't see coming.”
Charlotte's heart beat harder.
“I literally walked into your line of sight yelling Tommy.”
“That was difficult to predict.”
She laughed.
Then Adrian kissed her.
No danger.
No audience.
No pretending.
When they separated, Charlotte rested her forehead against his.
“I'm still angry.”
“I assumed.”
“You don't get to decide my life.”
“I know.”
“And you don't get to buy Bellamy's.”
He paused.
“I hadn't mentioned that.”
“You were thinking about it.”
“I was.”
“Don't.”
“Fine.”
“Adrian.”
“I won't buy your diner.”
“Thank you.”
“I may fix the refrigerator.”
Charlotte narrowed her eyes.
“How do you know about the refrigerator?”
“Marco.”
“Your intelligence network is creepy.”
“I'll tell him.”
A crash came from outside.
They separated.
A brick had shattered the front window.
Wrapped around it was a note.
Adrian picked it up.
Charlotte read over his shoulder.
THE LEDGER CHANGES NOTHING.
Below it was a location.
And a time.
Tomorrow.
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“Your father?”
Daniel shook his head.
“He's under federal supervision.”
“Then who?”
Daniel stared at the handwriting.
His expression changed.
“I've seen this before.”
“Where?”
“My father's office.”
He swallowed.
“But it wasn't his handwriting.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Whose?”
May you like
Daniel looked at him.
“Your father's.”
