Chapter 12 - The Last Betrayal
Nora called hotel security.
Then Marcus.
Then Adrian’s security chief.
Nobody could reach Adrian.
His last verified location was Vale Capital headquarters.
His car had arrived at the Bellamy forty minutes later.
Security footage showed Adrian entering the private elevator.
No footage showed him leaving.
Nora went to the hotel anyway.
Not alone.
She brought Marcus, two federal agents assigned to Daniel’s investigation, and enough security to make the lobby look like a diplomatic summit.
Evelyn met them.
Her face was pale.
“I didn’t send Ethan that memory card.”
Nora held it up.
“He described you.”
“Someone wanted him to.”
Marcus asked, “Can we read it?”
They used an isolated computer.
The card contained one video.
Adrian.
Much younger.
Twenty-one.
Speaking to someone off-camera.
“If Nora Quinn ever learns who she is, Daniel will come for her.”
Nora froze.
Adrian had known her name.
Years before meeting her.
The video continued.
“I’ll keep watch from a distance. She can never know the Vale family is involved.”
Nora’s chest tightened.
Adrian knew.
He had known about her existence.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
Evelyn whispered, “I never saw this.”
Marcus stared.
“I did.”
Everyone turned.
Nora looked at him.
“You knew Adrian was watching me?”
Marcus nodded.
“I asked him to.”
Anger burned.
“How long?”
“Eight years.”
“Since before my mother supposedly died.”
“Yes.”
Nora felt betrayed all over again.
“Did Adrian recognize me in the bar?”
Marcus looked away.
That was answer enough.
Nora’s eyes filled.
“He knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
The playful stranger.
The accidental invitation.
His curiosity.
All of it changed shape.
Evelyn shook her head.
“He may not have known immediately.”
Marcus said nothing.
Nora looked toward the elevator.
“I’m going upstairs.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Nora.”
“Everybody who knows something about my life is upstairs or in this lobby. I’m done waiting.”
Federal agents accompanied her.
The penthouse door was open.
Inside, furniture had been overturned.
Blood on the floor.
Not much.
But enough.
Nora’s heart stopped.
“Adrian!”
No answer.
A sound came from the study.
They entered.
Adrian sat tied to a chair.
Bruised.
Conscious.
Nora ran toward him.
Agents cleared the room.
No attacker.
She untied him.
Adrian looked at her.
“You saw the video.”
Not hello.
Not are you okay.
“You knew.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Nora stepped back.
“How long?”
“Eight years.”
“You watched me?”
“Security reports.”
“You knew my mother?”
“No. I knew my father believed you were connected to Jonathan Quinn.”
“You recognized me at the bar.”
“Yes.”
The truth hurt.
“Why didn’t you say?”
“Because I promised Marcus.”
“And you liked having information I didn’t.”
“No.”
“Then why agree to the wedding?”
Adrian looked at her.
“At first, because I needed to know why Daniel suddenly wanted you there.”
Nora felt something inside her crack.
“At first.”
“Yes.”
“And later?”
“Because I wanted to be with you.”
She turned away.
He reached toward her.
“Nora.”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
For all his mistakes, Adrian respected that word.
A federal agent entered carrying a phone.
“We found this.”
A video call automatically connected.
Daniel appeared from detention.
Everyone froze.
“How are you calling?” Marcus demanded.
Daniel smiled.
“You still think prison means powerless.”
Agents moved to trace it.
Daniel looked at Nora.
“The memory card did what it was meant to do.”
“Turn me against Adrian.”
“Not entirely.”
Daniel’s smile widened.
“It was meant to make Adrian angry at Marcus.”
Adrian looked toward his father.
Daniel continued.
“Because Marcus left one detail out.”
Marcus’s face changed.
Adrian saw.
“What?”
Daniel laughed softly.
“Tell him.”
Marcus remained silent.
Adrian stood despite his injuries.
“What did you leave out?”
Marcus finally spoke.
“Claire’s disappearance seven years ago.”
Nora froze.
“What about it?”
Marcus looked at her.
“I helped arrange it.”
Claire had claimed Daniel forced her.
Marcus was involved.
Nora could barely process another betrayal.
“Why?”
“She asked me.”
That silenced her.
“She believed Daniel had found her. We staged the death together.”
Nora’s voice shook.
“She let me bury her.”
“She believed it kept you safe.”
Of course.
Always safety.
Always lies.
Daniel’s voice came through the phone.
“Beautiful family, isn’t it?”
Adrian walked toward the screen.
“You’re done.”
Daniel smiled.
“No, nephew.”
The lights flickered.
A warning alarm sounded.
Agents shouted in the hallway.
Daniel leaned closer to his camera.
“I told you prison doesn’t mean powerless.”
The call ended.
An agent ran into the room.
“Daniel Vale is missing from federal transport.”
Adrian stared.
“How?”
“We don’t know.”
Nora’s phone rang.
Claire.
She answered.
“Mom?”
Claire was crying.
“Nora, Daniel is here.”
Nora’s blood froze.
“Where are you?”
“At your apartment.”
A crash sounded.
Claire gasped.
Then Daniel’s voice came through.
“Bring me Marcus.”
The line went dead.
Nora looked toward Marcus.
His face had gone gray.
Adrian stepped beside her.
This time Nora did not pull away.
Marcus whispered:
“He doesn’t want the ledger anymore.”
Nora asked, “Then what?”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“Me.”
A loud knock hit the penthouse door.
Security raised weapons.
Another knock.
Then Claire’s voice called from outside.
“Nora?”
Nora ran toward the door.
Adrian caught her.
“That isn’t your mother.”
May you like
The handle slowly turned from the other side.
And someone began unlocking every security bolt with Adrian’s private code.
