Chapter 3 - The Bodyguard Had Been Keeping a Secret for Twelve YearsClara stared at Marco's gun.
Adrien stepped between them immediately.
“Put it down.”
Marco did.
Without hesitation.
He placed the weapon on the floor.
“If I killed Daniel, Arthur wouldn't need to tell you.”
Clara's heart pounded.
“Then explain.”
Marco looked at her.
“I was there the night your father died.”
Silence.
He had been twenty-two.
Daniel had called Salvatore Moretti after discovering Arthur and Robert Kane's operation.
Salvatore sent Marco to retrieve him.
When Marco arrived, Daniel was already hanging from a damaged line above the Marlo stage.
Still alive.
Marco climbed toward him.
Arthur appeared.
Gun drawn.
Arthur threatened to kill both men.
Daniel cut his own secondary line.
He fell.
Not because he was careless.
Because if Arthur shot Marco, Salvatore would never receive Daniel's evidence.
Daniel sacrificed himself to let Marco escape.
Clara cried silently.
“You left him.”
“I was twenty-two.”
“You left him!”
“Yes.”
Marco's voice broke.
“I've regretted it every day.”
Adrien had never seen Marco cry.
Not once.
Marco continued.
“Your father made me promise something before he cut the line.”
“What?”
“To make sure you never entered this world.”
Clara laughed bitterly.
“Great job.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Arthur disappeared. Your mother wanted you away from everything connected to Moretti.”
“My mother knew?”
“Yes.”
Another piece of Clara's life broke.
But this time Adrien didn't touch her.
He simply stood close enough that she could choose.
Eventually, she reached for his hand.
He closed his fingers around hers.
Arthur Vale was alive.
And hunting them.
The second ledger contained enough evidence to destroy him.
But Robert Kane remained a mystery.
He had supposedly died ten years earlier.
Then Clara found a photograph dated three months ago.
Robert was alive.
And standing beside someone Adrien trusted.
His uncle.
Vincent Moretti.
The betrayal went deeper.
Vincent controlled three Moretti companies and had helped raise Adrien after Salvatore died.
Adrien refused to accuse him without proof.
So Clara proposed something dangerous.
Use her as bait.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said no.”
“That isn't an argument.”
“It is in my house.”
“Then I'll leave your house.”
Adrien stared.
Clara smiled.
“See the problem?”
He hated that she was right.
The plan was simple.
Leak information that Clara had decoded the ledger.
Vincent took the bait.
He contacted her within six hours.
Come alone.
Bring the ledger.
Clara went.
Adrien followed despite promising he wouldn't.
Naturally.
The meeting happened inside an abandoned theater.
Vincent appeared.
But he wasn't the mastermind.
He was terrified.
“Arthur owns everything.”
“Why?”
“Because your father wasn't clean either.”
Vincent revealed the final secret.
Salvatore Moretti had discovered Arthur's crimes.
But instead of exposing him, Salvatore blackmailed him.
For years.
That gave Arthur motive to destroy the Morettis.
Daniel's evidence could expose all of them.
Then a red laser appeared on Vincent's chest.
Clara saw it first.
“DOWN!”
The shot hit Vincent's shoulder.
Adrien dragged Clara behind a seat.
Marco fired toward the balcony.
Arthur escaped again.
But Vincent survived.
And finally agreed to testify.
Outside, Adrien confronted Clara.
“You could have been killed.”
“So could you.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
He grabbed her shoulders.
Stopped.
Then released them.
Clara looked at him.
“What?”
Adrien turned away.
“I can't lose you.”
The words surprised both of them.
Clara's voice softened.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“Adrien.”
“I know you notice things everyone else ignores.”
He stepped closer.
“I know you're stubborn.”
“Compliment?”
“Not remotely.”
She smiled.
“I know you're brave when being brave makes absolutely no sense.”
“Still not romantic.”
“I know that when that chandelier fell, the first thing you did afterward was check whether anyone else was hurt.”
Clara's smile disappeared.
“And I know I've spent three days thinking about you every minute you're not in the room.”
Silence.
Clara whispered, “That's slightly better.”
Adrien kissed her.
Slowly.
Giving her time to move away.
She didn't.
Then gunfire erupted from the street.
Because apparently their lives refused to allow romantic timing.
Marco shouted.
“MOVE!”
They ran.
But Arthur wasn't targeting Adrien anymore.
He was targeting Clara.
And by morning, Clara disappeared.
Her bedroom window was broken.
Blood marked the floor.
On the bed was Daniel Hayes's old safety harness.
And a note.
May you like
YOUR FATHER FELL.
LET'S SEE IF YOU DO.
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