Chapter 2 - INSIDE THE BLACK ROLLS-ROYCE: RECKONING AND REVELATIONS
The heavy armored door of the Rolls-Royce slammed shut behind us, plunging the luxurious leather-lined interior into an eerie, soundproof silence.
The partition separating us from the driver was rolled up tight, leaving only Adrian, the twins, and me trapped in the dimly lit sanctuary.
Noah and Lily sat squeezed between us on the plush leather bench, wide-eyed and clutching my sleeves.
Adrian didn't look at me; his entire focus remained locked on the two small faces sitting across from him.
His hands were clenched into tight fists resting on his knees, his knuckles stark white against his dark suit.
"What are your names?" Adrian asked softly, his imposing baritone gentled in a way I had never heard in all our years together.
"I'm Noah, and this is my sister Lily," my son answered cautiously, displaying the exact same guarded pride his father was famous for.
Adrian swallowed hard, a muscle ticking violently along his jawline.
"You have your mother's spirit," Adrian murmured, before looking up to meet my icy glare. "Evelyn, why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you?" I laughed bitterly, the sound lacking any trace of humor. "Tell the man who packed up my life while I was crying on the pavement? Tell the monster who chose his mistress over his wife?"
"Vanessa was having a heart attack, Evelyn!" Adrian shouted, before immediately catching himself and lowering his voice as Lily flinched. "She was dying on an operating table."
"And I was carrying your children alone in a freezing Cambridge apartment!" I fired back, my voice cracking with suppressed agony. "You made your choice six years ago, Adrian. You chose Vanessa. You chose your old life. We were nothing more than a convenient accessory until you discarded us."
Adrian reached out instinctively, his fingers hovering inches from my arm before he withdrew them as if burned.
"I never wanted a divorce," he whispered hoarsely. "The papers were drawn up by my consigliere while I was at the hospital because I thought... I thought keeping you away from the syndicate was the only way to protect you."
"Protect me?" I sneered. "By throwing me out into the rain without a backward glance?"
"By cutting all ties before my rivals realized how much I loved you," Adrian corrected, his voice dropping to a harsh, gravelly whisper. "I was vulnerable, Evelyn. And my enemies were circling like wolves. When Vanessa called claiming she was dying, my security team intercepted three separate threats against our estate within that same hour."
I stared at him, my mind desperately trying to process the web of lies and half-truths he had lived in.
"That doesn't explain why Vanessa had photographs of my children," I countered sharply.
Adrian's expression hardened into pure ice, the mafia boss returning in full force.
"It doesn't," he agreed, pulling his phone from his pocket and tapping the screen. "Because Vanessa hasn't been seen in Chicago for ninety-six hours."
The car slowed to a smooth stop inside the subterranean parking garage of Moretti Tower, our private fortress in downtown Chicago.
Armed guards in tactical gear surrounded the vehicle the moment we parked, scanning the shadows with practiced vigilance.
Marcus Reed opened our door, extending a gloved hand to help Lily down.
"Sir, the penthouse is secured," Marcus reported immediately. "No unauthorized entries, but the digital surveillance logs show someone accessed Vanessa's townhome database using her personal master key this morning."
Adrian stepped out of the car first, turning to lift Noah effortlessly into his arms.
My son instinctively wrapped his small arms around Adrian's neck, and for a terrifying second, I saw a generational reflection of power transferred in silence.
"Get the forensic tech team inside her townhome immediately," Adrian commanded as we walked toward the private elevator bank. "And trace every phone call made from her burner account prior to her disappearance."
"Boss, you think she staged her own vanishing?" Marcus asked, walking stride-for-stride beside us.
"No," Adrian replied coldly, his eyes narrowing as the private elevator doors slid open to reveal our destination. "Vanessa didn't vanish voluntarily. Someone hunted her down."
We stepped into the sprawling, multi-story penthouse that occupied the entire top floor of Moretti Tower.
Glass walls offered a panoramic view of the glittering Chicago skyline, but the breathtaking view brought zero comfort.
I ushered the twins toward the adjoining suite where a trusted female housekeeper was waiting to settle them in with snacks and cartoons.
Once the heavy oak door clicked shut behind the children, Adrian turned to face me, his imposing frame blocking the exit.
"You aren't safe here, Evelyn," he said without preamble.
"I wasn't safe in Cambridge either, apparently," I countered, crossing my arms over my chest. "Someone tracked me down, took photos of my children, and mailed them to you with a warning."
"Which means there is a leak inside my inner circle," Adrian stated grimly, pacing across the hardwood floor. "Only three people besides myself knew about Vanessa's secret safety deposit box where she kept archives of my past."
"And you think one of your own men sold us out?" I asked.
"I know they did," Adrian growled, slamming his fist onto the marble kitchen island with a force that rattled the glassware. "And whoever leaked your location to Vanessa is the same person who made her disappear."
He stopped pacing and turned his intense, piercing gaze directly onto me.
"Which means you and the twins are the primary targets now, Evelyn."
I refused to cower under his gaze, stepping forward until I was standing inches from his chest.
"I survived six years without your protection, Adrian," I whispered fiercely. "I can protect my children."
"You couldn't protect them from being photographed on a Cambridge sidewalk," he countered softly, his hand reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from my cheek.
The familiar scent of his sandalwood cologne hit me like a physical blow, awakening memories I had tried desperately to drown.
May you like
I slapped his hand away, stepping back as my breath caught in my throat.
"Don't touch me," I warned, my voice trembling with suppressed rage and fear. "Find out who has my children in their crosshairs, Adrian. Because if you don't destroy them first, I will."
