Chapter 12 - The Night Serena Disappeared
Roman hated Julian Cross before there was evidence.
Now evidence gave hatred a purpose.
“What exactly did he say?” Roman asked.
They were back inside an armored SUV.
Serena tried to remember.
“At the gala he said he had a meeting Monday near the old docks.”
“Which docks?”
“I joked that nobody goes there anymore. He said, ‘Apparently Dock Seventeen still does business.’”
Marcus turned from the front seat.
“Could be coincidence.”
Roman gave him a look.
Marcus faced forward again.
“Noted.”
Serena touched Roman’s arm.
He immediately looked at her hand.
This time he covered it with his own.
“Do not decide Julian is guilty because he danced with me.”
“I’m not.”
“You absolutely are.”
“I disliked him before the dock.”
“Because he touched me.”
“Yes.”
Marcus stared very intensely through the windshield.
Serena almost smiled.
“Roman.”
“I’m capable of separating jealousy from investigation.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
At least he was learning honesty.
They returned to the house under heavier security.
Roman wanted Serena in the secure room.
Serena refused.
They compromised: she remained in Roman’s study while Marcus’s team investigated Julian.
At eleven that night, Roman received the first result.
Julian’s law firm represented a company leasing Warehouse 17.
Roman’s face darkened.
Serena read the report.
“Who owns the company?”
“Shell corporation.”
“Linked to Shaw?”
“Not yet.”
“Julian?”
“His firm processed the lease.”
“That doesn’t mean he knows.”
Roman looked at her.
“You’re defending him.”
“I’m defending evidence.”
“You’re very irritating.”
“You married me.”
“I remember.”
For the first time in months, Serena smiled at her husband without forcing it.
Roman stared.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re looking at me strangely.”
“I missed that.”
Her smile faded.
Roman reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
The tenderness was so unexpected Serena stopped breathing.
“Roman.”
“I know.”
“What?”
“I should have done that in the ballroom.”
She looked down.
“Maybe.”
His fingers remained against her cheek.
The room felt smaller.
Then Serena’s phone rang.
Julian.
Roman looked at the screen.
“No.”
She raised an eyebrow.
Roman sighed.
“Answer it.”
Serena put the call on speaker.
“Julian?”
“Serena, listen carefully.”
His voice was breathless.
Something was wrong.
“Where are you?”
“Don’t say anything about where you are.”
Roman signaled Marcus to trace the call.
Julian continued.
“I need to tell you something about last night.”
“What?”
“I didn’t approach you by accident.”
Roman’s face hardened.
Serena whispered, “What do you mean?”
“Someone asked me to.”
“Who?”
“I didn’t know at first.”
Roman stepped closer to the phone.
Julian heard movement.
“Roman’s there.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Julian exhaled.
“I received a message before the gala saying Serena might be in danger and Roman’s security team had been compromised.”
Marcus cursed softly.
Julian continued.
“The message told me to make contact and keep Serena away from exterior windows.”
Roman looked at Marcus.
Same warning.
Different recipient.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Serena asked.
“Because the sender included details about an investigation I’m handling. Details nobody should know.”
“Dock 17?”
Silence.
Julian’s voice changed.
“How do you know that?”
“We found evidence.”
“Serena, listen to me. I think someone is using all of us.”
A loud noise erupted through the phone.
Julian gasped.
“Julian?”
The line distorted.
Then a different voice spoke.
Male.
Calm.
“Mrs. Duca.”
Roman took the phone.
“Shaw.”
Serena’s blood chilled.
The voice laughed.
“Always quick, Roman.”
“Where is Cross?”
“Alive.”
“Adrian?”
“For now.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
“Then you have me.”
“No.”
A pause.
“I need leverage.”
Roman looked at Serena.
His face changed.
“No.”
Shaw said, “Midnight. Dock Seventeen.”
The call ended.
Roman immediately started issuing orders.
Serena listened.
Perimeters.
Tactical teams.
Surveillance.
She knew that tone.
Roman had gone somewhere she could not reach.
She walked upstairs.
Ten minutes later, Roman entered the bedroom.
Serena was sitting beside the packed suitcase.
He stopped.
“You’re still thinking about leaving?”
“No.”
Something softened in him.
“Not tonight,” she added.
He nodded.
“I’m going to the docks.”
“I know.”
“You stay here.”
She almost argued.
Then did something unexpected.
“Okay.”
Roman seemed suspicious.
“Okay?”
“Yes.”
He approached.
“Serena.”
“What?”
“You have never agreed that quickly in your life.”
“Maybe marriage is transforming me.”
He stared.
She smiled innocently.
Roman clearly did not believe her.
But Marcus called from downstairs.
Roman kissed Serena’s forehead.
A simple kiss.
Gentle.
Unhurried.
“I’ll come back.”
She whispered, “You better.”
Roman left.
Serena waited until she heard the convoy exit.
Then she took out the second phone she had hidden beneath the clothes in her suitcase.
She called the only person Roman would never expect.
Judge Shaw.
He answered after one ring.
“Serena.”
She stared at the dark window.
“You wanted leverage.”
Silence.
“I’m listening.”
“Leave Roman out of this.”
Shaw laughed softly.
“And why would I do that?”
“Because I have something you want more.”
“What?”
Serena looked at the flash drive she had quietly copied from Marcus’s evidence system.
“The ledger.”
Shaw went silent.
“Come alone,” Serena said.
Then she ended the call.
She had spent six years living inside Roman Duca’s rules.
Tonight she would break the biggest one.
She was going to protect him.
May you like
And Roman would discover too late that his wife was no longer at home.
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