Chapter 3 - The Ghost of Pennsylvania
The next morning, sunlight failed to break through a thick blanket of gray fog rolling over the Bedford hills.
Adrian sat in his formal office, staring at a confidential report Marcus had dropped on his desk. The report wasn't about the port raid or the encrypted server leak. It was a background file on Claire Bennett.
“Her real name is Claire Vance,” Marcus explained, placing his hands on his hips. “Her ex-husband, Mason Vance, isn't just a small-time gambler from Pennsylvania. Two weeks ago, Mason was released from state prison after serving time for assault. And guess who paid his two-hundred-thousand-dollar bail?”
Adrian’s dark eyes lifted. “Speak.”
“A shell company registered in Delaware. A company owned by the rival Genovese family here in New York,” Marcus said grimly. “Mason Vance has been spotted in Queens. He’s looking for Claire, and he’s being funded by people who want you dead.”
Adrian’s fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. The pieces were beginning to fit together into a sinister picture. Someone was feeding information to his rivals, using Mason Vance as a weapon to locate Claire and disrupt Adrian’s life from the inside.
At that moment, the door to the office creaked open.
A tiny head poked through. Lily was wearing her pink floral dress, carrying her stuffed yellow bear under her arm. She marched into the office completely unbothered by the heavy atmosphere, walking right up to Adrian’s desk.
“Uncle Adrian!” she announced loudly. “The toast today was round. That’s wrong.”
Marcus coughed, turning his head to hide a sudden grin.
Adrian’s icy posture melted instantly. He pushed the intelligence file under a leather folder and reached down, lifting Lily onto his lap.
“Round toast?” Adrian asked solemnly. “Who authorized such a crime?”
“The kitchen man,” Lily said solemnly, pressing her small hand against Adrian’s cheek. “You need to fix it.”
Claire rushed into the room seconds later, out of breath and flustered. “Lily! I told you not to run off—oh, Mr. Moretti, I am so sorry!”
“It’s fine, Claire,” Adrian said gently, keeping his arm secure around Lily’s waist. He looked up at Claire, his expression softening further as he saw her pale face. “Marcus, leave us.”
Marcus nodded and stepped out, closing the heavy doors behind him.
Claire walked closer to the desk, her hands trembling slightly. “Adrian... something happened last night. Charles came to the door. He said things... strange things about distractions and crossfire.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Did he touch you?”
“No. But he looked at Lily like... like she didn't belong here. Like she was a target.”
Adrian stood up, carrying Lily over to Claire. He placed his hand on Claire’s shoulder, his thumb gently brushing against her collarbone. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through both of them.
May you like
“Listen to me, Claire,” Adrian said, his voice deep and absolute. “I will burn New York to the ground before I let anyone touch you or Lily. Do you believe me?”
Claire looked up into his dark, fierce eyes and felt a sudden wave of warmth wash over her fear. “I believe you, Adrian.”
