Chapter 11 - A Marriage Built on Half-Truths
Adrian spoke for nearly an hour.
By the end, Serena no longer knew which part frightened her more—the crimes of Roman’s father or the patience of Everett Shaw.
According to Adrian, Shaw had never simply been the Duca family attorney.
He had been the architect behind the legal side of the operation.
Roman’s father used intimidation.
Shaw used paperwork.
Judges.
Permits.
Shell corporations.
Police contacts.
When Vincent Vale discovered money disappearing through Shaw’s companies, he threatened to expose everything.
Shaw convinced Roman’s father that Vincent was the thief.
Evidence appeared.
Witnesses lied.
Vincent disappeared into the justice system under another identity.
“Why didn’t your father tell anyone?” Serena asked.
Adrian looked at the ceiling.
“He tried.”
“What happened?”
“Letters vanished.”
Roman’s expression tightened.
Just like Adrian’s letters.
“Shaw,” Roman said.
Adrian nodded.
“He controlled communication on both sides.”
“For twenty years?”
“He had reasons.”
Roman stepped closer.
“What reasons?”
Adrian looked at him.
“Because your father kept records.”
“The drive.”
“Part of them.”
“Where are the originals?”
Adrian gave a tired smile.
“That’s the question keeping Everett Shaw awake.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t have them.”
“No.”
“Then who does?”
“My father hid them before he was arrested.”
“Where?”
“He never said.”
Serena frowned.
“Then why is Shaw suddenly acting now?”
Adrian turned his head toward her.
“Because three years ago I found one page.”
“The ledger?”
“A copy.”
“And you tried contacting Roman.”
“Yes.”
Roman looked away.
Twelve letters.
All intercepted.
“How did you get our wedding photograph?” Serena asked.
Adrian’s face changed.
“I attended.”
Roman stared.
“You what?”
“Not inside.”
Adrian breathed carefully against the pain.
“I stood across the street.”
“Why?”
“I hated you.”
The honesty felt strange.
“I wanted to see the man who inherited everything my family lost.”
“And Serena?”
Adrian looked toward her.
“You looked happy.”
Serena swallowed.
“I almost walked away that day.”
Roman frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you weren’t your father.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Revenge is easier when your enemy looks like a monster.”
Serena understood more than she wanted to.
Roman asked, “Then why the recent photographs?”
“To force you to respond.”
“You threatened my wife.”
“I made you believe I threatened her.”
Roman’s eyes turned dangerous.
“That distinction means very little to me.”
“I know.”
“Why tomorrow’s date?”
Adrian hesitated.
Serena stepped closer.
“Why?”
“Because tomorrow is the anniversary of my father’s death.”
Serena released a breath.
Not a deadline for her.
A date connected to the past.
Roman’s shoulders relaxed only slightly.
“You could have explained that.”
Adrian laughed painfully.
“And you would have answered my thirteenth letter?”
Roman had no response.
Adrian looked at Serena.
“He ignores uncomfortable truth.”
She glanced at Roman.
“We’re working on that.”
Adrian almost smiled.
Then an alarm sounded in the hallway.
Roman turned.
Marcus entered quickly.
“Move.”
“What?”
“Fire alarm, east wing.”
Roman’s expression changed.
“Real?”
“Unknown.”
Adrian tried to sit up.
Marcus stopped him.
“Hospital protocol is evacuating.”
Roman immediately took Serena’s hand.
No hesitation.
They moved into the corridor.
Patients.
Nurses.
Security.
Chaos.
Roman hated chaos.
Serena could feel it in the pressure of his fingers around hers.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Darkness.
Emergency lights activated red along the floor.
Marcus shouted, “Lock the elevators!”
A nurse screamed somewhere down the corridor.
Roman pulled Serena behind him.
A figure appeared at the far end.
Dark clothing.
Medical mask.
Gun.
Roman pushed Serena into an open supply room.
“Stay down.”
“Roman—”
The door slammed.
Gunshots echoed outside.
Serena crouched behind a steel cabinet, heart pounding.
Then silence.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
The door opened.
Serena grabbed the nearest metal tray.
“Serena.”
Roman.
She almost collapsed.
He entered.
A cut marked his cheek.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Where’s Marcus?”
“Fine.”
“Adrian?”
Roman’s expression changed.
Serena understood before he spoke.
“He’s gone.”
“What?”
“The room was empty when we got back.”
“Taken?”
“We don’t know.”
Then Marcus appeared.
“Roman.”
He held up a phone recovered from the attacker.
A message remained open.
Vale secured. Bring him to Dock 17. Duca will follow.
Roman’s face became stone.
Serena felt something worse.
Recognition.
“Dock 17,” she whispered.
Roman looked at her.
“What?”
“I know that name.”
“How?”
Serena’s pulse accelerated.
“Because Julian mentioned it at the gala.”
Roman went completely still.
Suddenly Julian Cross was no longer just the man who had held Serena’s hand.
May you like
He might be connected to the entire trap.
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