Chapter 5 - The Choice Adrian Vale Never Made Before
Marin packed one bag.
Not two.
One.
Clothes for Ivy.
Medication.
Documents.
The stuffed rabbit Ivy had owned since infancy.
"We're leaving."
Adrian stood near the doorway.
"Where?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Marin—"
"Knowing you is putting my daughter in danger."
The words hurt.
Adrian didn't deny them.
"I can protect you."
"I don't want protection. I want normal."
He looked around her tiny apartment.
The broken lock.
The aging refrigerator.
Children's drawings covering water stains.
Normal.
Adrian had spent his entire life escaping places like this.
Now he envied it.
"I understand."
Marin looked surprised.
"You do?"
"Yes."
He stepped backward.
"I'll have Luca watch the building from a distance until you're gone. He won't follow afterward."
"Thank you."
Adrian turned.
Ivy stood behind him.
"Mr. Refrigerator?"
He stopped.
"Yes?"
"Are you leaving?"
He crouched.
"I think so."
"Did Mommy get mad?"
"Your mother is very good at getting mad."
Ivy smiled.
Adrian lowered his voice.
"Take care of her."
"I'm six."
"Then do your best."
Ivy unexpectedly hugged him.
Adrian froze.
Marin watched his face.
This feared man who could command rooms without raising his voice had absolutely no idea what to do with a six-year-old girl's arms around his neck.
Slowly, carefully, he hugged her back.
Then left.
Marin nearly called after him.
She didn't.
That decision lasted eleven hours.
At 5:40 the following morning, Marin's phone rang.
Eric.
"Anthony knows we found the ledger."
"What happened?"
"Adrian confronted him."
Marin sat up.
"And?"
"Adrian gave everything up."
"What?"
"He transferred control of the businesses under investigation to an independent trustee and turned the financial evidence over to his attorneys."
Marin stared into darkness.
"Why?"
"Because Anthony threatened you."
Marin said nothing.
Eric continued.
"Anthony told him he could keep his empire or protect you and Ivy."
"And Adrian?"
"He chose you."
By sunrise, Anthony Vale's network was collapsing.
Records were being seized.
Accounts frozen.
Partners disappeared.
Adrian himself remained inside Vale Tower.
Alone.
Marin arrived at 8:12.
Luca tried to stop her.
She ignored him.
Adrian was sitting behind his desk when she entered.
"You shouldn't be here."
"Apparently I have a bad habit of showing up when you shouldn't be alone."
He looked at her.
The same look from the alley.
Only this time there was no rain.
No blood.
No darkness to hide behind.
"I lost everything."
"No."
Marin walked closer.
"You lost things."
"There's a difference?"
"Yes."
She placed his wallet on the desk.
He frowned.
"You left this at my apartment."
Adrian opened it.
The money was still inside.
Every dollar.
Marin smiled faintly.
"Still not taking it."
Adrian laughed.
A real laugh.
Then Luca burst through the door.
"Adrian."
His face killed the moment.
"What?"
"Anthony's gone."
Adrian stood.
"Where?"
"We don't know."
Luca hesitated.
"But he left something."
A photograph.
Marin took one look and felt the room tilt.
It showed Ivy leaving school.
May you like
Taken yesterday.
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