Chapter 6 - The Safe HouseThe Name Her Father Left BehindClara never felt the impact.
Adrien tackled her sideways.
The bullet struck the windshield.
Security vehicles appeared from behind the SUV.
Gunfire erupted.
The masked men scattered.
Within seconds, the road was empty.
Adrien pulled Clara up.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
He checked her anyway.
Hands on her shoulders.
Her face.
Her neck.
"Adrien."
He stopped.
"I'm okay."
He stared at her.
For the first time, she saw fear in his eyes.
Not fear for himself.
For her.
They reached the safe house before dawn.
It was an old stone residence overlooking a frozen lake two hours outside the city.
No staff.
No guards in sight.
No decorations.
Just silence.
Clara stepped through the door.
"What is this place?"
"My mother's."
She turned.
"You said she died."
"She did."
"Then why does nobody know about this?"
"Because nobody knew she owned it."
Adrien started a fire.
Clara watched him.
"Your mother planned for this."
"She planned for betrayal."
He looked at the flames.
"She was always better at seeing danger than my father."
The tension between them had changed.
No ballroom.
No security.
No guests.
Just a man with a bandaged shoulder and a woman who had entered his world by accident.
Clara sat near the fireplace.
Adrien placed a blanket around her shoulders.
"You should sleep."
"So should you."
"I'm used to not sleeping."
"That's not healthy."
"I'm a mafia boss."
She gave him a look.
"That isn't a medical condition."
A small smile finally appeared.
He sat opposite her.
Then his phone vibrated.
Luca.
Adrien answered.
"What did you find?"
A pause.
His expression changed.
"Send it."
The message arrived.
Adrien placed the phone on the table.
It showed an old insurance report.
Clara leaned closer.
Her father's accident.
She read it quickly.
Then again.
"That's my father's report."
Adrien nodded.
"Look at the investigator's signature."
She did.
Her face went pale.
"I know this name."
"Who?"
"Mr. Harmon."
"He worked for Valente Security."
She looked at him.
"You're saying my father's death was investigated by your family."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Clara stood.
"This is insane."
Adrien caught her arm gently.
"Clara."
"Everyone keeps saying they don't know."
She pulled away.
"My father died and somehow his accident is connected to your family, my business vanished, someone planted your mother's angel in my bag, and now men are trying to kill me."
Adrien said nothing.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't ask for any of this."
"I know."
"I want my old life back."
His voice softened.
"I know."
"Do you?"
He stared at her.
Then he said the one thing she wasn't prepared to hear.
"I don't think you have an old life to go back to."
Clara froze.
"What does that mean?"
Adrien reached into an old cabinet.
He pulled out a leather folder.
Inside was a photograph.
Her father.
Standing beside Elena Valente.
Clara's breath caught.
"When was this taken?"
Adrien turned the photograph over.
A date was written on the back.
Twenty years ago.
Three years before Clara's birth.
Beneath it were six words.
HE PROMISED TO PROTECT HER DAUGHTER.
Clara looked at Adrien.
"Who is he talking about?"
Adrien didn't answer.
Because another photograph had fallen from the folder.
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This one showed a younger Elena holding a baby.
And written beneath the photograph was Clara's full name.
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