CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
THE SHOT IN THE DARK
The gunshot exploded through the house.
I screamed.
Malik grabbed me and pulled me down just as another shot shattered the glass window beside us.
"Get down!"
We hit the floor.
My heart was beating so violently I thought it might tear through my chest.
"Malik!"
"I'm here."
"Where did that come from?"
"I don't know."
Another shot.
Bang!
The sound echoed through the hallway.
I covered my ears.
Then I remembered Adrian.
I looked toward him.
He was standing completely still.
Not afraid.
Not surprised.
Watching the darkness.
"Adrian?"
He raised one finger to his lips.
"Don't move."
Malik pulled me closer.
"Why aren't you scared?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Because I know who fired the shot."
A cold feeling spread through me.
"Who?"
Before he could answer, the lights came back on.
The hallway was empty.
Adrian was gone.
I stared at the space where he had been standing.
"He disappeared."
Malik immediately got up.
"Stay here."
"No."
I followed him.
We searched the hallway.
Nothing.
The front door was still locked.
The windows were closed.
There was no sign of Adrian.
"How did he leave?"
Malik looked around.
"He didn't."
I swallowed.
"What?"
"He's still inside."
My blood ran cold.
We checked the living room.
The kitchen.
The staircase.
Nothing.
Then I noticed something.
The photograph of my mother had fallen from the wall.
I walked toward it.
Behind it was a narrow opening.
A hidden passage.
I stared.
"My mother knew about this."
Malik looked inside.
"Probably."
I turned to him.
"You knew?"
"No."
I didn't believe him.
But before I could question him, I heard footsteps coming from inside the passage.
Slow.
Heavy.
I stepped backward.
Someone emerged.
It was Adrian.
He had blood on his shirt.
"Adrian!"
He raised his hands.
"It's not mine."
Malik immediately moved between us.
"Who shot you?"
"No one shot me."
"Then whose blood is that?"
Adrian looked at me.
"The man who fired the gun."
My stomach tightened.
"Where is he?"
"Dead."
I stared at him.
"You killed him?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Adrian hesitated.
"Your father."
The room seemed to spin.
"My father is here?"
Adrian nodded.
"He came looking for you."
"Where is he?"
"Gone."
"Why?"
"Because he didn't expect me to be here."
I stared at Adrian.
"Why does my father know you?"
Adrian looked away.
"Because we worked together."
My mouth fell open.
"You and my father?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"Years."
I felt betrayed all over again.
"What did you do together?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Malik stepped forward.
"Tell her."
Adrian looked at him.
"You tell her."
Malik's face tightened.
"Don't."
"Why not?"
"Because she deserves to hear it from you."
Adrian looked at me.
"I was assigned to protect your mother."
I frowned.
"By whom?"
"Your father."
Silence.
I couldn't understand.
"My father hired you?"
"Yes."
"Then why would he want me dead?"
"Because he changed."
"When?"
"After Samuel died."
My heart sank.
"You knew Samuel."
"Yes."
"You knew my biological father?"
Adrian nodded.
"He was my friend."
I stared at him.
"Then you knew I was his daughter."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I promised your mother."
"What promise?"
"That I would keep you alive."
I laughed bitterly.
"And did you?"
"Yes."
"Then why has someone been trying to kill me?"
"Because the people your mother fought are still alive."
I looked at Malik.
"And you?"
He nodded.
"I've been protecting you too."
I closed my eyes.
Three men.
Malik.
Daniel.
Adrian.
All connected to my childhood.
All hiding pieces of my life.
I didn't know whom to trust.
Then I remembered the flash drive.
I pulled it from my pocket.
"I'm opening this."
Adrian's expression changed.
"Not here."
"Why?"
"Because your father knows about it."
"Then where?"
"Somewhere safe."
Malik shook his head.
"No."
Adrian looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because every place you've called safe has been compromised."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Then where do you suggest?"
Malik looked at me.
"Your mother's old apartment."
Adrian went silent.
I noticed.
"What's wrong with that place?"
"Nothing," Adrian said.
Malik disagreed.
"Everything."
I looked between them.
"What happened there?"
Malik took a deep breath.
"That's where Samuel was killed."
My blood ran cold.
I stepped backward.
"You want to take me to the place where my biological father died?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because that's where your mother hid the final piece of evidence."
I stared at the flash drive.
"What evidence?"
Malik's voice dropped.
"Your birth certificate."
I froze.
"My birth certificate?"
"Yes."
"Why would that matter?"
"Because the name on it isn't Lina's father."
I felt dizzy.
"Then whose name is on it?"
Nobody answered.
I looked at Adrian.
He seemed terrified.
"Tell me."
He shook his head.
"It's better if you see it yourself."
I clenched the flash drive.
"Fine."
I walked toward the door.
Malik followed.
Adrian remained behind.
I stopped.
"Aren't you coming?"
He looked at me.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if I go with you, your father will know exactly where you are."
I frowned.
"You just said he already knows."
"He knows you're in danger."
Adrian looked toward the window.
"But he doesn't know what you're about to discover."
He reached into his pocket and handed me a folded piece of paper.
"Read this when you get there."
I took it.
"What is it?"
"A name."
"Whose?"
Adrian looked directly into my eyes.
"The person who ordered Samuel's death."
My fingers tightened around the paper.
"Who?"
Adrian's voice was barely a whisper.
"Read it when you're alone."
Then he turned away.
Malik opened the door.
We stepped outside.
I looked back one last time.
Adrian was standing in the hallway.
Watching me.
And for the first time, I realized something terrifying.
Maybe my mother hadn't warned me about Adrian because he was dangerous.
Maybe she had warned me because he knew exactly how dangerous the truth was.