Chapter 4 - MICHAEL
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
He was in his early forties, soaked from the rain, with blood running down one side of his forehead.
Adrian raised his gun.
Michael stopped.
"I don't want to hurt either of you."
"Who are you?"
"Michael Reed."
Claire stared at him.
"You were shot."
"Not badly."
Adrian's weapon remained aimed at his chest.
"Why have you been following my wife?"
Michael looked at Claire.
"Because she's the only reason you're still alive."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Explain."
Michael closed the door.
"Your wife discovered the Harbor Project before you did."
Adrian stared.
"The project was mine."
"Not the one you think."
Michael reached into his coat.
He slowly removed a folder.
"I worked for Victor Hale."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"How long?"
"Six years."
"Doing what?"
"Moving money."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"How much?"
"Enough to build a second empire."
Claire looked at Michael.
"You said the money was being used for medical research."
"Some of it."
"What about the rest?"
Michael looked at Adrian.
"Your enemies have been financing themselves with your money."
Adrian said nothing.
Michael opened the folder.
Photos.
Bank accounts.
Shipping manifests.
Names.
Victor Hale.
Daniel Mercer.
Marcus Vale.
Three judges.
Two city officials.
A hospital administrator.
And one name Adrian never expected.
His older brother.
Ethan Cross.
Adrian stared at the photograph.
"Ethan died twelve years ago."
Michael shook his head.
"No."
Claire's hand covered her mouth.
Adrian stepped closer.
"Don't play games."
"I saw him."
"Where?"
"Seattle."
Adrian's pulse hammered.
Ethan had supposedly died in a boating accident.
His body had never been recovered.
Adrian had spent years believing his brother was dead.
Michael continued.
"Your brother is alive."
"Why?"
"Because he helped build the network."
Adrian looked at Claire.
She had known.
Or suspected.
"How long?"
"Since last year."
Claire whispered.
"I found his name in the records."
Adrian felt betrayed again.
"You knew my brother might be alive and you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't know if it was true."
"You should have told me."
"I was trying to protect you."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Michael stepped closer.
"Because everyone knows what happens to people who get too close to you."
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"Enough."
Michael pulled another photograph from the folder.
This one showed Claire entering Mercy General.
Behind her stood Daniel Mercer.
But Daniel wasn't looking at Claire.
He was looking directly at the camera.
Michael pointed.
"He knows about the evidence."
"What evidence?"
"The original records from Saint Mary's."
Claire whispered,
"The baby."
Michael nodded.
"Someone changed the medical records because the miscarriage wasn't an accident."
Adrian's voice was barely audible.
"Who?"
Michael looked at him.
"Your brother."
Adrian's world tilted.
"Why would Ethan hurt my wife?"
"He didn't want you to have an heir."
Adrian stared.
Michael continued.
"Your family charter says control of the Cross organization passes to a direct descendant."
Adrian frowned.
"If I die without a child, Ethan's line controls everything."
"Exactly."
Claire looked at Adrian.
"So the miscarriage..."
"Was an attempt to make sure you never had an heir."
Adrian felt sick.
"Who gave Claire the drug?"
Michael shook his head.
"We don't know."
"Then what do you know?"
Michael looked toward the window.
"We know someone has been trying to kill Claire for months."
Adrian immediately turned toward his wife.
"How many attacks?"
Claire looked down.
"Three."
His face darkened.
"What?"
"The car accident."
She swallowed.
"The balcony railing."
Her voice broke.
"And the medication switch."
Adrian felt rage building.
"You never told me."
"I tried."
"When?"
"Every time you were with Victor."
Adrian went still.
Michael nodded.
"Victor has been isolating you from her."
"Why?"
"Because your marriage is the one thing he couldn't control."
Adrian looked at Claire.
She was crying silently.
"I thought you wanted the divorce."
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because I thought you were part of it."
Adrian's chest tightened.
"You thought I was trying to kill you?"
"I thought you knew."
The answer broke something inside him.
He lowered his weapon.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel.
Adrian answered.
"Where are you?"
Daniel's voice was calm.
"At your office."
"Why?"
"Because I have something you need to see."
"What?"
"Your wife has been lying to you."
Adrian looked at Claire.
Daniel continued.
"She isn't just sick."
A pause.
"She's pregnant."
Adrian's entire body went still.
Claire closed her eyes.
Adrian slowly turned toward her.
"Claire?"
She whispered,
"I'm sorry."
Daniel's voice came through the phone.
"And Adrian?"
"Yes?"
"That baby is the reason they're going to kill her."
The call ended.
Adrian stared at his wife.
She placed one trembling hand over her stomach.
"I found out three weeks ago."
Adrian couldn't speak.
After everything.
After the divorce papers.
After twelve years of mistakes.
After believing their marriage was already dead.
There was a child.
May you like
His child.
And someone had been waiting for him to find out.
