Chapter 3 - MY HUSBAND'S DEAD BROTHER CALLED ME IN SECRET—BUT WHEN I LEARNED WHO HAD REALLY BETRAYED THE DUCA FAMILY, I REALIZED THE KISS THAT BROKE MY MARRIAGE HAD BEEN PART OF A DEADLY PLAN
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Adrian Duca.
The man I had mourned beside Mateo.
The brother whose photograph stood on our mantel.
The ghost that had haunted my husband's life for six years.
Alive.
And calling me.
***
"Vivienne?"
His voice sounded strained.
I swallowed.
"How do I know it's you?"
Silence.
Then he said:
"Mateo used to hide comic books inside the old piano because our father thought they were a waste of time."
My heart tightened.
I remembered Mateo telling me that story.
Only once.
Late at night.
When we were newly married.
***
Adrian continued.
"When he was sixteen, he broke his wrist trying to jump from the garage roof into the pool."
I closed my eyes.
It was him.
Or someone who knew him very well.
***
"Where are you?"
He hesitated.
"I can't tell you yet."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who I can trust."
My stomach tightened.
"Mateo has been looking for you."
"I know."
"Then why haven't you contacted him?"
Silence.
Then Adrian whispered:
"Because someone close to him helped make me disappear."
***
I sat down.
My heart hammered.
"Who?"
He hesitated.
"I don't know for certain."
I swallowed.
"Then what do you want from me?"
His voice softened.
"I need you to help me get a message to someone outside the family."
I frowned.
"Who?"
"Evelyn Cross."
***
I stared.
The blonde attorney.
The woman I had spent weeks believing was my husband's mistress.
***
Adrian continued.
"She's been trying to find me."
I swallowed.
"Why not contact her directly?"
"Because the people watching me know her name."
I looked toward the window.
My hands trembled.
***
I took a breath.
"Adrian, I'm not going to keep secrets that could put people in danger."
He was quiet.
Then said:
"Fair."
I swallowed.
"I'll contact Evelyn through my attorney."
He exhaled.
"Thank you."
***
Before hanging up, he said something strange.
"Vivienne."
"Yes?"
"Declan didn't come to that gala because he wanted you."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"He came because he knew Mateo would react."
I stared.
Adrian continued.
"And he needed everyone looking at you while something else happened."
***
The call ended.
I sat motionless.
Then immediately contacted Eleanor.
Within an hour, she arranged a meeting with Evelyn Cross.
Not at Mateo's office.
Not at the penthouse.
At a neutral location.
***
Evelyn arrived wearing a dark coat and carrying a leather folder.
Up close, she looked tired.
Older than I expected.
Her blonde hair was pulled back.
Her expression was serious.
"Mrs. Mercer."
I nodded.
"Ms. Cross."
She sat.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then I said:
"Adrian called me."
Her face changed.
"What?"
I explained everything.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she closed her eyes.
"Thank God."
***
I stared.
"You've been looking for him?"
She nodded.
"For months."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
Evelyn opened her folder.
Inside were photographs.
Shipping records.
Bank transfers.
And names.
Several I recognized.
Others I didn't.
***
She explained that Adrian had uncovered evidence of a criminal network operating through legitimate shipping businesses.
The network involved stolen goods.
Money laundering.
Bribery.
And corruption.
Adrian had tried to expose it.
Then disappeared.
***
I looked at the documents.
"Who was involved?"
Evelyn hesitated.
"We're still establishing that."
I swallowed.
"Declan?"
She nodded.
"His organization appears connected."
I looked down.
"And someone inside the Duca family?"
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Possibly."
***
For a moment, I stared at the table.
Then asked:
"Why did Declan approach me at the gala?"
Evelyn looked at me.
"Because he knew Mateo would react."
I swallowed.
She continued.
"The security response created confusion."
"People moved."
"Entrances were closed."
"Staff were redirected."
I stared.
"And?"
She looked down.
"Someone used that confusion to attempt to access a secure room."
My stomach dropped.
"What room?"
Evelyn hesitated.
"One containing records connected to the investigation."
***
I felt sick.
Declan hadn't approached me because he was attracted to me.
He had approached me because he knew I was hurt.
Lonely.
Angry.
And desperate to make Mateo notice.
He had used my pain.
And I had let him.
***
I closed my eyes.
"I'm an idiot."
Evelyn shook her head.
"No."
I looked up.
She continued.
"He manipulated you."
I swallowed.
"But I kissed him."
She nodded.
"That was your decision."
I looked down.
She continued.
"And you can take responsibility for it without accepting responsibility for his crimes."
***
The distinction mattered.
I had made a terrible choice.
But Declan had made a calculated one.
***
That evening, I called Mateo.
He answered immediately.
"Vivienne?"
I swallowed.
"We need to talk."
His voice tightened.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
I hesitated.
"Adrian called me."
Silence.
Then Mateo whispered:
"What?"
***
I told him everything.
The call.
Evelyn.
The investigation.
Declan's plan.
For several seconds, Mateo didn't speak.
Then he asked:
"Is Adrian safe?"
I swallowed.
"I don't know."
His breathing changed.
I could hear him struggling to remain calm.
***
Then he said:
"Thank you for telling me."
My eyes filled.
I swallowed.
"I almost didn't."
He was quiet.
Then whispered:
"I know."
***
The following days were tense.
Authorities worked to locate Adrian safely.
Evelyn coordinated through legal channels.
Mateo cooperated with the investigation.
And I stayed away from the family's internal operations.
***
But something else was changing.
Mateo began communicating.
Not with orders.
Not with vague reassurances.
With actual information.
He called when he said he would.
He answered questions.
He respected my boundaries.
And when he didn't know something, he said so.
***
One evening, he asked whether I wanted dinner.
I hesitated.
Then agreed.
We met at a small Italian restaurant.
The same place where we'd had our third date.
***
Mateo arrived early.
No entourage.
No dramatic entrance.
Just my husband.
He stood when I approached.
"Vivienne."
I smiled faintly.
"Hi."
***
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he pulled out my chair.
I sat.
He smiled nervously.
"Thank you for coming."
I nodded.
"Thank you for asking."
***
Dinner was awkward.
Then easier.
Then surprisingly familiar.
We talked about ordinary things.
Books.
Movies.
Work.
The restaurant's terrible music.
For the first time in months, I remembered why I had fallen in love with him.
***
After dinner, Mateo walked me outside.
The city lights reflected on the wet pavement.
He stopped beside my car.
"Vivienne."
I turned.
"Yes?"
He swallowed.
"I need to apologize."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"Not for being afraid."
"For how I treated you because I was afraid."
My eyes filled.
He looked down.
"I made you feel unwanted."
"I kept secrets."
"I decided what you could handle."
He swallowed.
"And I was wrong."
***
I stood quietly.
Then said:
"I owe you an apology too."
He looked up.
I swallowed.
"Kissing Declan was cruel."
Mateo's expression tightened.
I continued.
"I wanted to hurt you."
My eyes filled.
"I wanted you to feel what I was feeling."
He looked down.
I whispered:
"I'm sorry."
***
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Mateo nodded.
"Thank you."
***
We didn't kiss.
We didn't promise everything would be fine.
We simply stood together.
Two people who had hurt each other.
Trying to decide whether love could survive the damage.
***
Then Mateo's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
"Vivienne."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
He answered.
Listened.
Then closed his eyes.
***
When he hung up, his hands were shaking.
I stepped closer.
"Mateo?"
He looked at me.
His eyes filled.
"They found Adrian."
I froze.
"Is he okay?"
Mateo swallowed.
"He's alive."
Then his expression changed.
May you like
"But he says the person who betrayed him is still inside my house."
END OF CHAPTER 3
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