Chapter 4: The Woman Who Kept My Secret
The message on my phone kept glowing in the darkness.
*RUN. HE KNOWS YOU’RE ALIVE.*
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Adrian took the phone from my hand.
“Marco, trace that number.””
Marco was already typing.
“I’m trying.””
Vincent stood near the doorway, watching everything unfold with an expression I couldn’t read.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Something worse.
Recognition.
“You should leave,” Adrian told him.
Vincent looked at me.
“Before you trust everyone around you, Wren, ask yourself one question.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
He smiled faintly.
“Who found you first?””
Then he walked away.
Adrian didn’t stop him.
I couldn’t understand why.
“You let him leave?””
Adrian looked at the closed door.
“He wanted me to follow him.””
“And you didn’t?””
“No.””
“Why?””
His eyes moved to mine.
“Because I’m starting to realize every move Vincent makes is designed to distract me.””
The apartment suddenly felt too quiet.
I wrapped my arms around myself.
“I don’t know who to believe anymore.””
Adrian’s expression softened.
“Then don’t believe anyone.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Believe evidence.””
That was the first thing Adrian said that made sense.
Not promises.
Not emotional speeches.
Evidence.
A few minutes later, Marco finally looked up.
“I found the location.””
Adrian turned.
“Where?””
Marco hesitated.
“An abandoned apartment building in Queens.””
My heart dropped.
“Is Clara there?””
Marco didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
Adrian grabbed his coat.
“We’re going.””
I followed.
“No.””
He stopped.
“No?””
“I’m coming.””
“Wren—”
“I spent ten years wondering why I was alone.””
My voice shook, but I didn’t look away.
“I’m not hiding anymore.””
For a moment, Adrian said nothing.
Then he nodded.
“Stay behind me.””
The drive through New York felt endless.
Every street looked unfamiliar.
Every shadow felt like someone watching.
When we reached the building, the entrance door was half broken.
The hallway smelled like dust and rain.
Marco moved first.
“Clear.””
Adrian kept one hand near his weapon.
I hated that I noticed.
I hated that I understood why.
We reached the third floor.
Apartment 3B.
The door was open.
“Clara?”” I called.
No answer.
I stepped inside.
The apartment was almost empty.
A small table.
A broken lamp.
Old photographs scattered across the floor.
Then I saw one.
I picked it up.
It was me.
A little girl.
Maybe eight years old.
Standing beside Clara.
I touched the photograph.
“She kept me.””
Adrian looked around.
“She protected you.””
“Why?””
Before he could answer, Marco found something.
“Boss.””
We turned.
He was holding a locked wooden box.
Adrian opened it carefully.
Inside were newspaper clippings.
Photographs.
Documents.
Everything about me.
My entire life.
But one document caught my attention.
A birth certificate.
My hands started shaking.
The name on it was:
*Isabella Evelyn Whitmore.*
I sat down.
“No.””
Adrian crouched beside me.
“Wren.””
“I spent my whole life thinking nobody wanted me.””
My voice cracked.
“And I was someone’s daughter?””
Adrian looked like he wanted to say something.
But he didn’t.
Because suddenly, a sound came from the bedroom.
A floorboard.
Someone was inside.
Adrian stood immediately.
“Marco.””
Marco moved toward the hallway.
“Show yourself.””
Nothing.
Then a voice answered.
“You’re too late.””
A man stepped out holding a knife.
He wasn’t looking at Adrian.
He was looking at me.
“Isabella.””
The name felt like a wound.
Adrian moved between us.
“Who are you?””
The man smiled.
“Someone who remembers what happened that night.””
Marco raised his weapon.
“Drop it.””
The man laughed.
“You still think guns are the answer.””
Then he looked at me.
“Your parents trusted the wrong people.””
My heart raced.
“Who are you?””
His smile faded.
“Someone who watched your family die.””
Adrian’s face changed.
“You were there.””
The man looked at him.
“Yes.””
Silence.
Then Adrian whispered:
“You were one of them.””
The man didn’t deny it.
And that was the terrifying part.
Before anyone could move, he threw something onto the floor.
Smoke exploded through the room.
May you like
I heard Adrian shout my name.
Then everything disappeared.
